Design and Performance Analysis of Microstrip Patch Array Antennas with different configurations

Abstract

This abstract demonstrates simple, low cost and high gain microstrip array antennas with suitable feeding technique and suitable dielectric substrate for applications in the GHz frequency range. The objective of this paper is to design, and fabricate a 16 element rectangular microstrip patch array antenna. Therefore, a novel particle swarm optimization method based on IE3D was used to design an inset feed linearly polarized rectangular microstrip patch antenna array with sixteen elements. .Initially we set our antenna as a single patch and after evaluating the outcomes of antenna features; operation frequency, radiation patterns, reflected loss, efficiency and antenna gain, we transformed it to a 2x1 array. Finally, we analyzed the 2×2 array, then 4×2 array and finally 4 × 4 array to increase directivity, gain, efficiency and have better radiation patterns. The simulation has been performed by Zeland software version 14.0 and the desired antenna provides a return loss of -42.154dB at 2.45 GHz by using RT Duroid dielectric substrate with Є r = 2.45 and height , h= 1.58mm. The gain of the antenna is found to be 19.455 dBi and the side lobe is maintained lower than the main lobe. Since the resonant frequency of these antenna is around 2-4 GHz, so these are suitable for S – band applications and can be used in WLAN communication systems. .