Design of RF Energy Harvesting Antenna using Optimization Techniques

Abstract

This paper deals with the design, analysis and Optimization of Radio Frequency (RF) energy harvesting antenna for Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) sources .The designed antenna is simulated using ANSYS HFSS(High Frequency Structure Simulator) and FR4 epoxy material as a substrate with a dielectric constant of 4.4 with a loss tangent of 0.02. It is a rectangular microstrip patch antenna with H&E slots and consists of a radiating element with 50 ohm microstrip inset feed. Moreover, the combined configuration of proposed antenna with H&E shaped slots in design provides maximum efficiency.More simulation iterations are performed in order to maximize the Gain of ISM band operating at a frequency of 2.45GHz which provides a return loss of-24.77 dB, Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR) of 1.07 and Gain of 6.58 dB.The optimization of the antenna is carried out by employing Genetic Algorithm (GA). Antenna optimization and gain enhancement by applying genetic algorithm is implemented with the help of MATLAB and ANSYS Optimetrics tool. After applying optimization algorithm the performance of the antenna has been improved with a Gain of 7dB. The design methodology of microstrip patch antenna and optimizations are presented.