Miniaturised planar antenna with enhanced gain characteristics for 5.2 GHz WLAN application

Abstract

ABSTRACT In this paper, the construction of a miniaturised hexagonal microstrip antenna (MSA) loaded with Defected Ground Structure (DGS) and Metamaterial (MTM) superstrate proposed for 5.2 GHz WLAN application is presented. Initially, the fundamental resonant frequency of the hexagonal MSA was reduced from 14.8 GHz to 5.2 GHz using a rectangle DGS. For the suggested antenna model a miniaturisation of about 64.86% is achieved, which makes the antenna to approach electrically small antenna. Finally, the characteristics of MSA loaded with DGS and an MTM superstrate, which enhances the peak gain, directivity, and efficiency. The suggested miniaturised antenna with substrate dimensions of 0.25λ0 × 0.243λ0 mm2 (or) 14.4 × 14 mm2 of thickness h1 = 1.6 mm fabricated on an FR4 epoxy of dielectric constant 4.4. By employing an MTM superstrate, of RT Duriod substrate of thickness h2 = 1.575 mm above the proposed miniaturised hexagonal MSA at a height of h3 = 14.4 mm, a gain increased from 3.32 dBi to 6.38 dBi is attained at 5.2 GHz. The simulated outcomes of the suggested model are in association with experimental results of the prototype model.