Optimization of a broadband directional gain microstrip patch antenna for X–Ku band application

Abstract

In this paper, optimization of a microstrip patch antenna is presented. The optimization uses a genetic algorithm in the IE3DTMSimulator. The optimization is done in several steps, first by changing the position of parasitic patches on the top layer, second by placing a feeding patch at the middle layer of geometry, and third by indirect coupling between the top and middle layer patches. Overall, we have performed many possible iterations and found appropriate geometry. From this appropriate geometry we have achieved maximum directional gain (6.2–8.8 dBi) over a 6 GHz bandwidth slot, 38% impedance bandwidth of the X-band and 14.8% impedance bandwidth of the Ku-band. The broadband frequency of operation is demonstrated by single geometry. The geometry of a single probe fed rectangular microstrip antenna incorporating a slot, gap coupled with a parasitic and an active patch on geometry, has been studied. We have investigated the height between active and parasitic patches as 0.0525λ and the height between parasitic patches itself as 0.0525λ. We have investigated the enhancement in maximum directional gain by stacking geometry with one active patch and two parasitic patches of different dimensions. This optimized antenna is used for X-band and Ku-band applications. The hardware validation and simulation results are matched to the proposed design.