In this work, the authors report the operation of a cylindrical dielectric resonator antenna (CDRA) in the high gain HEM13δ mode, for the first time. This mode, excited with a standard microstrip slot, radiates in the broadside direction with gain in the range of 8−10 dBi. It is shown that through feed optimization, the HEM13δ mode can be excited dominantly by suppressing the fundamental HEM11δ mode of the CDRA. Detailed simulation studies show that the HEM13δ mode is supported by cylindrical dielectric resonators with an aspect ratio (radius to height ratio or a/d) >1, and it resonates at a frequency approximately 2.2 times that of the fundamental HEM11δ mode. The above features of the HEM13δ mode CDRA can be used as approximate design rules. For a CDRA with dielectric constant ɛr = 24, diameter 2a = 19.43 mm, and height d = 7.3 mm (a/d = 1.3), the HEM13δ mode is excited at 6.125 GHz with a peak gain of 10.14 dBi in simulation. Corresponding values from prototype measurement are 5.981 GHz and 9.62 dBi, respectively for the resonant frequency and the gain, verifying the simulation.

A novel design of compact and light-weight horn mounted cylindrical dielectric resonator antenna (CDRA) fed by substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) resonator has been investigated for high gain and multiband applications. SIW resonator contains two closely spaced longitudinal slots of equal length and unequal width to excite the CDRA. These slots are responsible for introducing triple resonating bands. The excited mode in dielectric resonator by longitudinal slots is EH11δ mode. The achieved impedance bandwidths are 65, 180, and 240 MHz at resonant frequencies 9.78, 10.58, and 11.84 GHz, respectively, for |S11| <−10 dB. Copper-taped horn enhances the gain of antenna more than 2 dB for all resonating bands. The measured peak value of gain is 9.3 dBi at ~11.84 GHz.