Comparison of 16 GHz Microstrip patch antenna array configurations

Design of a Microstrip single element and three different array antennas are presented in this paper. Two different array configurations are designed and simulated for 4 element arrays, along with a 2 element array. The design is done for Ku Band Applications at 16 GHz. The substrate height is 0.254 mm and the dielectric constant is 2.2 of RT/duroid 5880 (tm). Simulation is done in HFSS and the results are exhibited, which show increase in directivity and gain with the increase in patch elements. Radiation patterns, 3dB Beamwidths, Side Lobe levels, VSWR and Radiation efficiency of the four element 1 × 4 Array and 2 × 2 Array are analyzed in detail. Also as a prototype the two 4 element antenna arrays were fabricated and tested.