A novel microstrip grid array antenna with both high-gain and wideband properties

Abstract

A novel microstrip grid array antenna that is simultaneously high in gain and wide in bandwidth is proposed. To enhance its bandwidth, the antenna adopts elliptically shaped and variably dimensioned radiation elements as well as a linearly tapered ground plane, and is optimized by a parallel genetic algorithm (GA) on a cluster system. A prototype antenna was fabricated and tested. Results of simulation and measurement agree well and show the antenna exhibits encouraging properties, e.g., a maximum gain of approximately 15.1 dBi at 5.8 GHz; the S11