Enhanced performance of a patch antenna using spiral-shaped electromagnetic bandgap structures for high-speed wireless networks

This study describes the improvement of gain and bandwidth of a microstrip patch antenna achieved using a spiral-like electromagnetic bandgap (EBG) structure for high-speed wireless local area networks. The size of the antenna is only 45 × 45 × 2.47 mm and resonates at a frequency of 2.4 GHz. The gain and bandwidth of this antenna is 3 dBi and 67.4% greater than a conventional patch antenna. The working frequency of the patch antenna falls inside the EBG bandgap, which leads to the suppression of surface waves. Simulations of the antenna are conducted using the finite-difference time-domain analysis technique. The electromagnetic (EM) simulated and measured return loss, gain, directivity, radiation pattern, antenna efficiency and voltage standing wave ratio are presented for the proposed antenna array. These results allow one to determine the structures giving the best focusing performance and to obtain the frequency band for directive radiation.