Evolutionary optimisation of pixelated IFA inspired antennas

Abstract

As wireless communication systems increasingly require compact and efficient antennas, conventional antenna design methods are proving difficult to meet the rigorous demands of modern applications. For this purpose, this study introduces a methodology which uses pixelated Inverted-F Antenna (IFA) inspired designs optimised through genetic algorithms to enhance performance in constrained spatial environments. As pixels the antenna features the exemplary use of Einstein Hat-shaped tiles, enabling the antenna to efficiently utilize space. A with the proposed method optimised antenna is compared to traditional IFA designs and shows improved properties like enhanced antenna gain and efficiency as well as smaller reflection coefficient offering a promising solution for future compact antenna systems in the Internet of Things and beyond. Finally, a prototype was manufactured and the scattering parameters and antenna gain were measured within an anechoic chamber.