Microstrip Width Calculator

What is a Microstrip?

A Microstrip is a type of transmission line in which a strip of a conducting material like copper is mounted on a dielectric material and routed to a ground plane. The width of the conducting layer is important to calculate the radiation intensity since it directly affects the bandwidth of the signal waves.

The microstrip consists of a very thin conducting layer mounted on a dielectric surface. The conducting layer is routed to a thick ground plane which is beneath the dielectric substrate. The radiating element and feed lines are then etched on the dielectric material. This process is somewhat similar to the fabrication of a PCB hence, these microstrip antennas are low-cost and versatile.

When the current from the power source reaches the conducting layer through the feed, electromagnetic waves are generated. When the current passes, an electric field is created throughout the patch. The electric field is zero at the center of the patch, maximum (positive) on one side, and minimum (negative) on the opposite side. The polarity of the sides of the antennas changes with each current cycle, and hence the electromagnetic field is generated. 

Large quantities of microstrip antennas can be manufactured because of the low fabrication cost. Since the conducting layer is etched on the substrate, it becomes easier for the designers to integrate other components. These antennas are very lightweight and compact. They are capable of dual and triple frequency operations. Owing to their small size and light-weight, the microstrip antennas are suitable for a wide range of applications. They are integrated into mobile communications, radars, alarms, in complex medical devices where microwave radiators are required to induce hyperthermia, command and control systems, remote sensing and environmental instrumentation, and in antenna array applications.