Metamaterial Loaded Antenna Devices

An antenna device, comprising:

• a first substrate having a first surface;
• a second substrate placed in parallel to the first substrate and having a second surface engaged with the first substrate and a third surface opposite to the second surface;
• a ground electrode formed on the second surface;
• a feed line formed vertical to the first surface and the second surface, having a first end on the first surface and a second end on the second surface;
• and
• a loading element having a first portion formed on the first surface and a second portion formed vertical to the first surface and the second surface, the first portion coupled to the first end of the feed line and the second portion coupled to the ground electrode on the second surface,
• wherein the feed line directs an antenna signal to or from the loading element, and
• wherein the feed line and the loading element are structured to form a composite right and left handed (CRLH) metamaterial structure that supports a plurality of frequency resonances associated with the antenna signal.

An antenna device comprising:

• a dielectric structure made of one or more electrically insulating materials;
• one or more ground electrodes formed on the dielectric structure as an electrical ground;
• a metamaterial (MTM) loading element formed on the dielectric structure to form part of a radiating structure of the antenna device that receives an antenna signal or radiates an antenna signal;
• a feed line formed on the dielectric structure and made of an electrical conductor, the feed line coupled to the MTM loading element to direct the antenna signal to the MTM loading element or to receive the antenna signal from the MTM loading element;
• a via conductor formed on the dielectric structure having one end in direct contact with the MTM loading element and another end in direct contact with the one or more ground electrodes;
• and
• a shorting stub formed of an electrical conductor and in direct contact with the MTM loading element at a location different from a contact location between the MTM loading element and the via conductor, the shorting stub in direct contact with the one or more ground electrodes and structured and positioned to facilitate impedance matching of the antenna device,
• wherein the dielectric structure, the one or more ground electrodes, the MTM loading element, the feed line and the via conductor are structured to collectively form a composite right and left handed (CRLH) metamaterial structure that supports two or more frequency resonances associated with the antenna signal.