A Novel Compact GNSS Antenna with Plasma Frequency Selective Surface

Abstract

In this study, a plasma frequency selective surface (PFSS) was designed with an array of ordinary fluorescent lamps backed by a conducting plate. The proposed PFSS structure was used as a reflector with the spiral two arms Archimedean type Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) antenna to reduce the overall size of the antenna system. Characteristics and the performance of the proposed system were presented by using the results of simulations and experiments in the GNSS band. The optimum distance between antenna and PFSS was found to be around 35 mm to achieve a maximum gain in the simulation which is a lower profile than antenna with conventional conductive plate (66 mm at the GNSS center frequency). Experimental results show that the antenna system has mean values of around 6.7 dBiC gain, 1.27 dB axial ratio and less than -10 dB return loss in the range of 1.14 and 1.61 GHz. All these results show that the proposed novel antenna system is suitable for the reception of the GNSS signals with the advantage of its low profile design.