IEEE ANTENNAS AND WIRELESS PROPAGATION LETTERS, VOL.

8, 2009 665

Multibeam Antenna for Telecommunications

Networks Using Cylindrical EBG Structure
H. Chreim, M. Hajj, E. Arnaud, B. Jecko, C. Dall’omo, and P. Dufrane

Abstract—We present in this letter the study of a multibeam an-

tenna for telecommunication networks by using cylindrical electro-
magnetic band-gap (EBG) structures. The EBG structure behaves
as a partially reflecting surface (PRS) and enhances the directivity
of a simple radiating source. We begin by presenting the principle
of the multibeam antenna, and then we present a first version, con-
ceived to operate in WiMAX band [5.4–5.7] GHz. Simulation re-
sults of this antenna will show us that the strong mutual coupling
between the different excitation sources of the EBG structure badly
influences its performance. In order to reduce the mutual coupling,
metallic walls are inserted between the excitation sources. More- Fig. 1. Electromagnetic field distribution and three-dimensional (3D) radiation
over, excitation sources have been changed to improve the radia- pattern of the omnidirectional antenna.
tion performance of the antenna. A prototype of the final antenna
is fabricated to validate our simulation results, and the measure-
ments results are compared to the simulated ones.

Index Terms—Coupling, electromagnetic band-gap (EBG)

structure, multibeam antenna, patch, sectoral radiation pattern.

I. INTRODUCTION

Fig. 2. Electromagnetic field distribution and 3D radiation pattern of the sec-

E LECTROMAGNETIC band-gap (EBG) materials are pe-

riodic structures that can control the propagation direc-
tion of electromagnetic waves [1]. In the antenna domain, EBG
toral antenna.

materials have been used to conceive high-gain antennas with
different radiation patterns, which avoids the use of arrays and
their complex feeding mechanisms. For example, planar EBG
structures have been used to conceive highly directive [2], [3] or
sectoral [4], [5] antennas. Cylindrical EBG structures have also
been used to conceive other types of antennas, like omnidirec-
tional ones [6], [7]. Generally, this type of antenna is composed
of a thin metallic core acting as a ground plane and surrounded
by a cylindrical EBG structure. An excitation source is posi-
tioned between the EBG and the metallic core. The EBG struc-
ture behaves as a partially reflecting surface (PRS) and forms a
coaxial resonant cavity with the ground (core). A significant en-
hancement of the excitation source directivity is achieved. The
aim of our work is to use the omnidirectional antenna to con-
ceive a multibeam antenna for WiMAX applications [5.4–5.7]
GHz, by using cylindrical EBG structures. The different simu-
lations have been performed using CST 2006B, a finite-integra-
tion-technique (FIT)-based software.
Manuscript received January 20, 2009; revised March 03, 2009. First pub-
lished April 14, 2009; current version published July 09, 2009.
H. Chreim, M. Hajj, E. Arnaud, and B. Jecko are with the Faculté des Sciences
et Techniques, XLIM—CNRS UMR 6172, 87060 Limoges, France (e-mail:
hassan.chreim@xlim.fr).
C. Dall’omo and P. Dufrane are with Radiall Systems, 87069 Limoges,
France.
Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/LAWP.2009.2020923
1536-1225/$25.00 © 2009 IEEE
II. PRINCIPLE OF THE MULTIBEAM ANTENNA
In the omnidirectional antenna case, the central metallic core
has a small diameter. Thus, the electromagnetic field is able to
resonate all around the core, providing an omnidirectional ra-
diation pattern in the azimuth (Fig. 1). By increasing the di-
mensions of the central core, we can obtain a sectoral antenna,
where the electromagnetic field will be evanescent around the
core, providing a sectoral radiation pattern (Fig. 2).
The multibeam antenna can be obtained by adding multiple
excitation sources between the core and the cylindrical EBG
structure, which feed separately the coaxial resonant cavity
using a background switching system.
III. ANTENNA DESIGN AND SIMULATION
A. Antenna Design
The required antenna is vertically polarized and must produce
18 beams in the azimuth with 50 of radiation beamwidth and
15 dBi of directivity, which requires 18 excitation sources to be
placed around the central core. As a first step, we will simulate
the antenna with only the excitation source that feeds the reso-
nant cavity “one source case” and compare its performance to
those of the one without the EBG structure to notice the direc-
tivity enhancement. Then, the antenna will be simulated with
the presence of all the excitation sources “multisource case.”
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Fig. 3. Schematic of the antenna with the presence of the source that feeds the
coaxial resonant cavity. (a) 3D view and (b) top view.
Fig. 4. E-plane and H-plane radiation patterns of the antenna without and with
the EBG structure at 5.6 GHz in one-source case.
Fig. 5. Mutual coupling between two adjacent sources.
B. One-Source Case Simulation
The first studied antenna is shown in Fig. 3. It is composed of
a large cylindrical metallic core with a diameter mm.
The EBG material composed of 36 cylindrical metallic rods
with a diameter mm is surrounding the core with a ra-
dial distance mm. The angular periodicity of the rods
is . The excitation source is a simple patch antenna.
The height of the antenna is mm.
This antenna has been simulated without and with the
metallic rods in order to emphasize the EBG structure’s effects
on the directivity. Fig. 4 shows the radiation patterns of copo-
larization with and without the cylindrical EBG structure in the
E-plane (xoz) and H-plane (xoy) of the antenna at 5.6 GHz. We
can see clearly that the E-plane radiation pattern of the antenna
without the rods is rippled due the presence of the central core,
while it is less disturbed in the H-plane. After introducing
the cylindrical EBG structure, the directivity is increased by
IEEE ANTENNAS AND WIRELESS PROPAGATION LETTERS, VOL. 8, 2009
Fig. 6. E-plane and H-plane radiation patterns of the antenna at 5.6 GHz in
multisource case.
Fig. 7. Schematic of antenna with metallic walls. (a) 3D view and (b) top view.
Fig. 8. Return loss and mutual coupling between two adjacent sectors of the
antenna.
7.2 dB. The E-plane radiation pattern becomes directive with a
radiation beamwidth of 20 , while it remains sectoral with 55
of radiation beamwidth in the H-plane due to the cylindrical
shape of the EBG.
C. Multisource Case Simulation
Now, all 18 patches, including the one that feeds the coaxial
resonant cavity, will be introduced around the central core every
20 to notice their influence on the performance of the antenna.
Before presenting the radiation patterns, let us take a look at the
mutual coupling between two adjacent sources (Fig. 5).
The coupling reaches high values inside our desired fre-
quency band, especially at 5.6 GHz, where we find its max-
imum of dB. This is due the multiple reflections inside
the coaxial resonant cavity, which allows the field excited
CHREIM et al.: MULTIBEAM ANTENNA FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS
Fig. 9. Antenna with metallic walls: Directivity versus frequency, E-plane and H-plane radiation patterns.
Fig. 10. Schematic of the new antenna with only three unit cells. (a) 3D view
and (B) top view.
by the feeding patch to reach the others close by. This high
coupling between two adjacent sources will clearly influence
the radiation patterns of the antenna (Fig. 6).
In the E-plane, the coupling did not change the pattern’s
shape. However, the sources are placed in the H-plane; this
means that this plane’s radiation pattern will be influenced.
Indeed, the radiation beamwidth is increased (55 to 70 ); thus,
the directivity is decreased by 2 dB.
IV. MUTUAL COUPLING REDUCTION
As we saw in the previous paragraph, the strong mutual cou-
pling influenced the radiation patterns and changed their char-
acteristics. That is why we will try to reduce this parameter
by reducing the intensity of the electromagnetic field before it
reaches the patches close by. A simple solution consists of in-
serting metallic walls between the patches.
A. Antenna Design
The new antenna is shown in Fig. 7. In fact, introducing the
metallic walls has shifted the operating frequency. That is why
we have changed the radial distance to 33 mm to get back to
the desired frequency. The metallic walls are 3 mm thick with
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Fig. 11. Return loss of the new antenna.
the same height of the antenna. Thus, the new antenna is
considered like a cylindrical array of EBG sectoral antennas,
where each one is composed of two metallic walls, three rods,
and a part of the core as a ground plane.
B. Antenna Simulation
The antenna, as we said before, is fed by only one patch at
a time. The antenna is well matched (return loss lower than
dB) in the frequency band [5.57–5.7] GHz, and the mutual
coupling between two adjacent sectors is lower than dB
(Fig. 8).
Since the coupling between two adjacent sectors is lower than
dB, we will simulate from now on only three unit cells
(sectors) of the complete antenna, where the fed sector is the
middle one, in order to reduce the simulation time. The fol-
lowing presented results are those of one sector. Other sectors’
performance will be the same, but with other radiation direc-
tions. In the frequency band [5.4–5.7] GHz, the directivity varies
between 12.9 and 15.8 dBi, while the radiation beamwidths in
the E-plane and H-plane are respectively 18 and 54 (Fig. 9).
In the next paragraph, we will apply some changes to the
antenna with the metallic walls, in order to ameliorate the return
loss on the one hand and the directivity on the other hand. Then,
the fabricated prototype will be presented, and the measurement
results will be compared to the simulated ones.
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Fig. 12. New antenna: directivity versus frequency, E-plane and H-plane radiation patterns.
Fig. 13. Photograph of the fabricated prototype.
Fig. 14. Measured return loss of each sector compared to the simulated one.
V. PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT AND FABRICATED
PROTOTYPE
A. Performance Improvement
Until now, the antenna is well matched over 130 MHz (2.3%).
The directivity presents 3 dB of variations between 5.4 and
5.7 GHz. Thus, our objective is to widen the well-matched fre-
quency band and decrease the directivity variation throughout
our desired band. In order to achieve this task, we have re-
duced the number and the diameter of the used metallic rods
(one 3-mm-diameter rod per unit cell instead of three 4-mm-di-
ameter rods). By doing this, the cavity becomes less resonant,
which will help to ameliorate the matched band. However, the
directivity will decrease, and its variation inside our frequency
band will be lower. The directivity can be increased again by
feeding each sector with two patches instead of one. Fig. 10
shows the new antenna to which we have added two polycar-
bonate discs to maintain the components. As we said before, the
IEEE ANTENNAS AND WIRELESS PROPAGATION LETTERS, VOL. 8, 2009
Fig. 15. Measured E-Plane radiation patterns compared to the simulated one.
Fig. 16. Measured H-plane radiation patterns compared to the simulated one.
antenna with only three unit cells is simulated. We note that the
patches are glued on a metallic sheet using a thin layer (100 m)
of cyanoacrylate adhesive, which is also considered in our sim-
ulation.
The well-matched band of this structure, as shown in Fig. 11,
is now 220 MHz (4%). The directivity reaches a maximum of
15.3 dBi at 5.6 GHz, with lower variation (1.3 dBi) between 5.4
and 5.7 GHz. Finally, the radiation beamwidths in the E-plane
and H-plane are 17 and 48 (Fig. 12).
B. Fabricated Prototype
The fabricated prototype, shown in Fig. 13, is composed of
nine sectors—three adjacent sectors every 120 . The metallic
components are made of aluminum, and they are maintained by
CHREIM et al.: MULTIBEAM ANTENNA FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS
two discs of polycarbonate (Fig. 13). The patches are glued on
metallic sheets using cyanoacrylate adhesive
. tion results, a protototype of the antenna with nine beams is
The measured return loss of the nine sectors are presented in
Fig. 14 and compared to the simulated one. We notice a fre-
quency shift that is due to manufacturing tolerances (in fact,
there was an air gap between the patches and the metallic sheet
on which the patches are glued).
The maximum measured realized gain of each sector is
around 13.2 and 13.6 dB at 5.64 GHz, while the maximum
simulated directivity is 15.3 dBi at 5.6 GHz. This difference of
values is due to different losses (dielectric and metallic losses,
losses of the divider and coaxial cables—which have been used
during the measurement session—and coupling losses).
Figs. 15 and 16 show the measured copolarization radiation
patterns of the nine sectors in the E-plane and H-plane, respec-
tively, at 5.64 GHz, where we notice a very good agreement
between the simulation and measurements. For three adjacent
sectors, the beam overlapping is located at dB.
VI. CONCLUSION
We presented in this letter the concept of a multibeam antenna
using cylindrical EBG structure. The antenna structure and its
components are detailed. Several steps of the design process are
669
described, and predicted performance values obtained by com-
puter simulation are presented. Finally, to validate our simula-
fabricated and characterized. The measured results agreed well
with the simulated ones.
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