Broad Band Microstrip Patch Antenna Based on Foam-Filled and One Open Slot on Backward of Radiating Layer

Abstract

A broadband microstrip patch antenna, loaded E-U-shaped open slot on backward of radiating layer is proposed and experimentally investigated. The antenna employs a foam-filled dielectric substrate, whose dielectric constant is within the lower end of the range. The proposed antenna has been designed for electromagnetic analysis including the impedance bandwidth, reflection coefficient, radiation pattern, and antenna gain. The open slot is loaded on the back radiated layer, which is perpendicular to the radiating edge of the oblong microstrip patch component, where the symmetric line feed is selected. This new technique used to increase the bandwidth and the gain of antenna through increasing current path by slot location, width and length on backward of radiating Layer. The main structure in this research was a single microstrip patch antenna planar with three layers operating at two resonant frequencies 4.440 GHz and 5.833 GHz. All the simulated results are confirmed by two packages of electromagnetism simulation. An impedance bandwidth (S11 ≤ −10 dB) up to about 41.03% and 30.61% is achieved by individually optimizing its parameters. The antenna exhibits nearly stable radiation pattern with a maximum gains of 8.789 dBi and 9.966 dBi, which is suitable for Wi-Fi Band, satellite communications, and wireless presented. Whereas the results before this design that we have a proof of publication are 36.17% and 28.43%.

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Almuzwghi, A. and Brian, L. (2019) Broad Band Microstrip Patch Antenna Based on Foam-Filled and One Open Slot on Backward of Radiating Layer. Journal of Computer and Communications, 7, 15-28. doi: 10.4236/jcc.2019.76003.

1. Introduction

With a booming period and desire in modern wireless communication applications, microstrip patch antennas have attracted much interest due to their compatibility with printed circuits without problems, light weight, profile, and ease of fabrication [1] [2] [3] [4] . A major challenge of microstrip patch antenna design comprises its commercialization that requires wide impedance bandwidth, high efficiency and high gain along with taking care at a low price in a single design. For over a period two decades, investigators and scientists have developed several methods to increase the impedance bandwidth, high efficiency and high gain of patch antenna. One of that methods, the impedance bandwidth of the microstrip patch antenna, increases with a decrease in the relative permittivity dielectric constant (Єr) [5] [6] [7] or with an increase in the layer thickness (h) [7] [8] [9] [10] . However, there is an experiential limit on increasing the layer thickness (h), while if increased beyond 0.1 wavelength (λ0), surface-wave propagation comes out, resulting in degradation in antenna performance. The bandwidth larger than 25% is accomplished utilizing gap-coupled coplanar microstrip resonators [10] . Another conventional broad-banding technique includes the use and inserting relatively thick air-gap [11] or foam-gap substrate [12] , and in addition, organizing a two or more patches antenna on different layers of the dielectric substrates in one pile (stacked) [13] to achieve wide bandwidth.

In recent years, many designs have been reported to achieve wideband patch antenna for modern wireless communication devices. That includes use of various formed slot, slit and patch like U-shape slot antenna [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] , wide band E-shape patch antenna [19] [20] . However, their realizable bandwidths of these designs are below 30%. As example on that, covered dielectric layer which is separated from feed patch by air as another dielectric [21] , an impedance bandwidth of 220 MHz, is achieved and gain is found as 13.4 dBi. The structure in this design is 2 by 2 microstrip patch planar array antenna using air substrate with (Єr = 1) at frequency 5.8 GHz [22] . The results show that the gain increases up to 14.63 dBi if using air substrate compared to FR-4 substrate (9.04 dBi). In another novel antenna structure which contains five substrate layers [23] , the eight-element antenna array with feeding network achieved frequency band from 5.28 to 6.05 GHz 15.4% and antenna gain of 16.24 dBi. Most of the reported papers in the literature are more complexes, high-cost, and have achieved a maximum bandwidth of 30% with gain below 16.24 dBi. The proposed design is low-cost and very simple with a single patch. It has achieved gain of 8.789 dBi and 9.966 dBi at a resonant frequency of 4.450 GHz and 5.833 GHz with directivity of 9.782 dBi and 10.262 dBi and a bandwidth of 41.03% and 30.61% respectively.

In our design, the results are accomplished by a little change in the distance between the top of the printed figure (open slot) and the end edge of the patch antenna while keeping the gap of the foam layer thickness constant. This modification provided relatively greater bandwidth with perfect radiation, higher efficiency, and higher gain. In general, this technique slot location and slot width and length with foam gap cause the increase in inductance on the current path of the signal. This should increase the bandwidth of the antenna as well as the efficiency and gain.

2. Antenna Design

The one that is most recommendable for good reception apparatus execution are thick substrates, whose dielectric steady is in the lower value enclosed to 1 since they give better they provide better efficiency, produce high gain, and increase wide band. In this paper the impedance band and the gain proposed has been improved using foam substrate where dielectric constant Єr = 1.03 has thickness 3.2 mm.

The first design, the foam substrate is inserted between the radiation layer and ground plane. The radiation layer used the Rogers_RT_Duroid5881 substrate with thickness 1.6 mm and permittivity (Єr) = 2.17 when the tangent loss is 0.0009 at top layer, whereas, the ground layer used the Rogers_RT_Duroid5870 substrate with thickness 1.6 mm and permittivity (Єr) = 2.33 when the tangent loss is 0.0012 at the bottom layer as shown in Figure 1.

The second design inserted driven layer (printed figure) between the radiating layer and foam gap. The driven layer is E-shaped or U-shaped. The dimensions of the patch antenna and driven layer are shown in Figure 2 and Table 1. This technique making multilayer microstrip antenna has ability obtained enhanced bandwidth, enhanced gain of antenna, and better efficiency. In addition, the feed line used to feed the antenna. Microstrip line feed structure is more suitable if compared to Coaxial feed, due to no difficulty of fabrication, compatibility with printed circuits without problems and lower costs. Finally, the idea of this paper is to present the simulation results of our study of the antenna parameters under conditions, by means of an adjustable the distance between the top printed figure and the end edge of the point feed (D-L) and printed-figure style.

Figure 1. Design of the proposed antenna.

Figure 2. Design of the proposed antenna with driven layer E-U shaped.

Table 1. Optimized values of proposed patch antenna parameters.

Optimized Antenna Design

The sizes of the metallic antenna were slightly changed in order to enhance the antenna performance parameters. It is optimized from 28.8 mm to 38.2 mm in 1.0 mm increments, where the other parameters are constant. Finally, the total area of the ground plane is 80 mm × 80 mm and the total area of the patch antenna is 62.5 mm × 41.5 mm.

3. Results and Discussion

3.1. Antenna Design without Printed Figure and Foam Gap

Microwave office (AWR) version 2018 and Advance Design System (ADS) version 2016 were used, whereas MATLAB used to compare the simulation results. All the results are displayed graphically and numerically, where the simulators have been utilized to acquire these outcomes. The main purpose of different algorithms simulation are to support objective decision making by means of results analysis, to enable design to safely plan their operations, and to compare favorably with present different algorithms. The results simulated a successfully to operate at specified frequencies are perfect agreement between different algorithms simulation.

3.1.1. Simulation Results of Patch without Foam Gap and Driven Layer

The simulated plot of reflection coefficient (S11 ≤ −10 dB) against frequency is shown in Figure 3. Four return losses of (RL-1)-12.626 dB at 4.433 GHz, (RL-2)-19.43 dB at 5.833 GHz, (RL-3)-35.42 dB at 6.442 GHz, and (RL-4)-19.23 dB at 6.662 GHz was obtained by AWR, whereas, the return losses are (RL-1)-15.29 dB at 4.443 GHz, (RL-2)-10.65 dB at 5.833 GHz, (RL-3)-27.52 dB at 6.438 GHz, and (RL-4)-15.57 dB at 6.662 GHz was obtained by ADS. The corresponding impedance bandwidths are (BW-1) 0.066 GHz, (BW-2) 0.065 GHz, (BW-3) 0.055 GHz, and (BW-4) 0.079 GHz. That is clear sure, the reflection coefficients and the resonant frequencies show better agreement between two software simulations. Both results prove that the antenna has good performance both. The small discrepancies between two simulated results could be attributed, because the two software’s have the different logarithmic (Table 2).

3.1.2. Simulation Results of Patch with Foam Gap and without Driven Layer

Simulated results of microstrip patch antenna show the effect the thickness of foam gap in Figure 4, which have −40.46 dB and −35.37 dB return losses with increased bandwidth up to 1.589 GHz at 4.423 GHz and 5.634 GHz frequencies, which are 35.91 and 28.23 percent more than single patch antenna without gap.

Figure 3. Return loss obtained by AWR and ADS of antenna without Gap and driven layer.

Figure 4. Return loss of microstrip patch antenna with foam gap.

Table 2. Summary of simulated results of design an antenna without gap and slot.

3.1.3. Simulation Results of Patch with Foam Gap and Driven Layer

In order to fully understand the influence of the space between the top of printed figure and the edge of feed the patch (D-L) parameter, the parametric investigation was carried out by varying this parameter, while holding still existing parameters values as Section 2. This simulation was conducted using two different designs.

3.2. Antenna Design with Printed Figure

3.2.1. The Effect of Print Figure E Shape on Power Reflection Coefficient and Resonance Frequency

Figure 5(a) shows the parametric effect (D-L) on the reflection coefficient (S11 ≤ −10 dB), and resonant frequencies when (D-L) parameter are varied.

The following section in Figure 5(b) shows the effect of a variable parameter (D-L), with the increase in the (D-L), the resonant frequency (FR-2) curve shifts towards lower resonant frequencies, while there is no significant change in the resonant frequency (FR-1).

AS the D-L smoothly increased, there are more amount to the fringing effects occurred, this leads to a better return loss (RL-1), whereas return loss (RL-2) has a maximum amount at D-L is equal 34mm, after that, it turn into inverse direction as shown in Figure 5(c).

3.2.2. Bandwidth by Taking the (D-L) as a Parameter for Patch Antenna

The distance (D-L), is varying from 28.0 mm to 29.0 mm, there is very little variation in the absolute value of the bandwidth (BW-1) and the bandwidth (BW-2). The bandwidth (BW-1) and the bandwidth (BW-2) have a rapid increase to the maximum value where the distance (D-L) has an increase from 29.0 mm to 30.0 mm, whereas the distance 30.0 mm to 38.0 mm all bandwidths are a slowly decrease as shown the result in Figure 6. A significant bandwidth is observed at distance of the printed figure beyond at 30.0 mm, it is appreciable extent. In these points of observation, the bandwidths are close to 1.821 GHz or 41.03% and 30.61%.

3.2.3. Gains and Directivities by Taking the (D-L) as a Parameter for Patch Antenna

Figure 7 shows directivities and gains Vs distance (D-L). All directivities are slowly increasing from 28.0 mm to 35.0 mm, whereas the distance at 35.0 mm to

(a)(b)(c)

Figure 5. (a) Power reflection coefficient (S11) and resonance frequency different values of (D-L); (b) Resonance frequency for figure E shape at different values of (D-L); (c) Power reflection coefficient (S11) for figure E shape at different values of (D-L).

Figure 6. Bandwidth for figure E shape at different values of (D-L).

Figure 7. Gains and directivities for different values of (D-L).

38.0 mm directivities are a slowly decrease. However, gains are slowly increasing from 28.0 mm to 34.0 mm, whereas the distance at 34.0 mm to 38.0 mm gains are a slowly decrease.

3.3. Design Antenna with Printed Figure U-Shaped

The Effect of Print Figure U Shape on Power Reflection Coefficient and Resonance Frequency

The simulated plot of varied reflections coefficient (S11 < −10 dB) and resonant frequencies that obtained by effect various lengths D-L from 28 mm until 38mm is shown in Figure 8(a).

Figure 8(b) shows the general effect of the variable parameter (D-L), with the increase in the (D-L), there is a significant change in the resonant frequency (FR-2) and curve shift towards lower resonant frequencies, while there's no change in the resonant frequency (FR-1).

(a)(b)(c)

Figure 8. (a) Power reflection coefficient (S11) and resonance frequency different values of (D-L); (b) Resonance frequency for different values of (D-L); (c) Power reflection coefficient (S11) for different (D-L).

AS the D-L move towards a higher increased there more amount to the fringing effects occurred, and this leads to a better return loss (RL-1), whereas return loss (RL-2) has a maximum amount at D-L is equal 36mm. After that, it turns into inverse direction as shown in Figure 8(c).

3.4. The Dissimilarity between the Figures E and U

3.4.1. The Dissimilarity of Resonance Frequencies

Two resonant frequencies obtained from the conventional patch antenna with the figures E and U. The results very similar of the simulation of two different designs as shown in Figure 9(a) and Figure 9(b) were obtained.

(a)(b)

Figure 9. (a) Dissimilarity between the figures of E-shape and U-shape of reflection coefficient and resonant frequency; (b) Dissimilarity between the figures of E-shape and U-shape of resonant frequencies.

3.4.2. The Dissimilarity of Return Losses

The results of return loss (RL-1) very similar of the simulation of two different designs as shown in Figure 9(a) and Figure 10 were obtained, whereas, return loss (RL-2) dissimilar it's irregular, It is a balanced values with activities efficiency by a specified way of the current path that pass through the patch antenna.

3.4.3. The Dissimilarity of Bandwidths

Two bandwidths obtained from the conventional patch antenna with the figures E and U. The results very similar of the simulation of two different designs as shown in Figure 11 were obtained.

The simulated of bandwidths are 41.03% and 30.61% covering the (4.270 - 6.091 GHz) obtained by figure-E, whereas the simulated bandwidths are 40.18% and 30.12% covering the (4.277 - 6.061 GHz) obtained by figure-U, as shown in Figure 12, Figure 13 and Table 3.

Figure 10. Dissimilarity between the figures of E-shape and U-shape of return losses.

Figure 11. Dissimilarity between the figures of E-shape and U-shape of Bandwidths.

Figure 12. Variation reflection coefficient and resonant Frequency under the Foam Gap, E-Figure, and U-Figure influences.

Figure 13. Variation VSWR and resonant frequency under the Foam Gap, E-Figure, and U-Figure influences.

Table 3. Summary of simulated results of final design an antenna.

4. Conclusion

In this paper, the antenna design has been simulated successfully to operate at specified frequencies through specified new technique simulated by different algorithms with perfect agreement of results, whereas, the specified frequencies are 4.440GHz and 5. 5.833 GHz. The simulation results demonstrate clearly and definitely that new technique can be used to optimize bandwidth and gain for specified antenna. The bandwidths have been obtained 41.03% and 30.61% for specified frequencies respectively to operate in wireless communications application at Wi-Fi band. The designed antenna has power reflection coefficient (S11) of −28.62 dB and −23.41 dB for specified frequencies respectively. The designed broad band antenna has a VSWR value of 1.086 and 1.248. The value of the directivity is 9.782 dBi and 10.262 dBi and the gain magnitude is 8.789 dBi and 9.966 dBi.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

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