IETE Journal of Research

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Triple Band Microstrip Patch Antenna Useful for

Wi-Fi and WiMAX

Vishal Asnani & Sudeep Baudha

To cite this article: Vishal Asnani & Sudeep Baudha (2019): Triple Band Microstrip Patch Antenna
Useful for Wi-Fi and WiMAX, IETE Journal of Research, DOI: 10.1080/03772063.2019.1582365

To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/03772063.2019.1582365

Published online: 01 Mar 2019.

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IETE JOURNAL OF RESEARCH
https://doi.org/10.1080/03772063.2019.1582365

Triple Band Microstrip Patch Antenna Useful for Wi-Fi and WiMAX
Vishal Asnani and Sudeep Baudha
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, BITS PILANI, K K Birla Goa Campus, Goa, India

ABSTRACT KEYWORDS
In this paper, a compact microstrip patch antenna is designed having a partial ground plane with Extended microstrip;
symmetrical parasitical elements, an extended microstrip line and an I-shaped patch having a rectan- impedance matching;
gular slot. The size of the proposed antenna is 15 × 20 × 1.6 mm3 having a substrate of FR4 material multiple applications; patch
having a relative permittivity of 4.3 and a loss tangent of 0.025. The combined effect of an extended antenna; parasitic element;
rectangular slot
microstrip line and a rectangular slot in I-shaped patch produces bandwidth enhancement in the
design. Simulated results show that the impedance bandwidths (S11 < −10 dB) of the proposed
antenna are 2.34–2.46 GHz, 4.61–5.92 GHz and 9–9.9 GHz. The peak gain of the proposed antenna is
3.0209 dB which is coming in the high-frequency band. Although the gain of the antenna is very low
in the low-frequency band as the size is very small, the gain in the middle frequency band is 2.17 dB.
The antenna is most suitable for Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz), WiMAX (5.8 GHz) and X band (9–10 GHz). Measured
results show good agreement with the simulated result of the proposed antenna.

1. INTRODUCTION
with a partial ground plane are incorporated in design-
Microstrip patch antennas with their exponential growth ing the antenna in [9]. A combination of rectangular
have captivated the attention of most researchers mainly patch, two rings and a slot is used in the construction
because they are relatively inexpensive to manufac- of the antenna proposed in [10]. Large impedance band-
ture and easier to design because of their simple width is obtained in [11,12] by cutting a curved slot in
two-dimensional structure. In this paper, a compact patch and by introducing a parasitic patch. Improvement
microstrip-fed patch antenna, with a patch having a rect- in the bandwidth of the antenna in [13] is reported by
angular slot with the extension of the microstrip line mostly adding various parasitic elements and by rotating
symmetrically to both sides with a partial ground plane, is the slot. In [14], a combination of two types of notches:
proposed. An antenna with a wide slot fed by a microstrip triangular and rectangular makes it resonate at lower fre-
line with a tuning stub having a for-like structure is pro- quencies. A higher order resonance is created in [15,16]
posed in [1]. In [2], a parasitic patch is introduced in by placing rectangular patches and a U-shaped slit. Also
a slot antenna to report bandwidth enhancement. Vari- in [17], a super wideband antenna is created by introduc-
ous curved slots, EBG structure and a pair of parasitic ing a partial ground plane tapered slightly and a tapered
elements have been introduced for enhancement of the microstrip line with a semi-circular patch. Modifica-
bandwidth in [3,4]. In [5], the impedance matching takes tion of ground plane has been done to create ultra-wide
place at higher frequency range because of the introduc- band behaviour in [18]. Higher order resonating modes
tion of the circular slots and also due to the truncation of are exited at much higher frequencies by rotating the
two corners. patch by 15°. Detailed comparison of the above-proposed
structure along with the other proposed structure is given
A dual band monopole antenna having a combination in Table 1. Compared to the referenced designs, the pro-
of C- and T-shaped slots is proposed in [6]. In [7], the posed design offers a much usable bandwidth with a
antenna is designed by joining a rectangular patch and a significant reduction in the size of the antenna.
triangular patch. This new formed patch helps to make
the antenna resonate in different frequency bands used In this paper, bandwidth enhancement has been observed
mainly for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GSM. The rectangular for the proposed antenna with the introduction of a rect-
patch antenna in [8] is designed by using different slots angular slot in the complex patch and also due to exten-
and shorting pins which therefore gives the antenna tri- sion of microstrip line symmetrically to both sides. The
band characteristics. A U-shaped slot on the feed patch proposed antenna of size 15 × 20 × 1.6 mm3 has been
line and a stair-like structure in the bottom of the patch developed in three stages as discussed later and simulated
© 2019 IETE
2 V. ASNANI AND S. BAUDHA: TRIPLE BAND MICROSTRIP PATCH ANTENNA

Table 1: A comparison between previously published monopole antennas

Ref. Substrate Overall size in (mm3 ) −10 dB S11 BW (GHz) Antenna
1 FR4 24.7 × 24.7 × 1.5 2.2–4.5 Monopole
2 FR4 37 × 37 × 1.5 2.8–11.8 Monopole
3 FR4 37 × 37 × 1.5 2.1–11 Monopole
4 FR4 115 × 60 × 0.8 1.7–11 Monopole
5 RT5870 14 × 14 × 1.57 10.8–13.2 Monopole
6 FR4 12 × 18 × 0.8 2.7–12.06 Monopole
8 RT5880 36 × 49 × 0.15 2.4, 3.5, 5.7 Monopole
9 RT3003 30 × 32.1.6 2.6, 10.92, 16.30 and 24.24 Monopole
10 FR4 27.7 × 31 × 1.6 1.57, 2.1, 3.6 and 5.3 Monopole
11 FR4 25 × 25 × 1.5 2.4–6.1 and 9.4–13.8 Monopole
12 FR4 50 × 55 × 1.6 2–6.8 Monopole
13 FR4 51.5 × 61 × 1.6 1.8–6.9 Monopole
14 FR4 15 × 20 × 1.5 3.5–100 Monopole
15 FR4 35 × 25 × 1.5 2.9–16.3 Monopole
16 RT5870 52 × 42 × 1.57 1.3–20 Monopole
17 FR4 30 × 30 × 1.5 1.2–5.3 Monopole
Presented FR4 15 × 20 × 1.6 2.34–2.46, 4.61–5.92 and 9–9.9 Monopole

Figure 2: Simulated and measured return loss of the proposed

Figure 1: Configuration of the proposed antenna: (a) top view, antenna.
(b) bottom view and (c) side view.

permittivity of 4.3 and 0.025 loss tangent. The thick-

ness of the dielectric substrate is 1.6 mm and a 50 ohm
results, as shown in Figure 2, show that the impedance microstrip line with 3 mm width and partially extended
bandwidths (S11 < −10 dB) of the proposed antenna to 0.5 mm to both sides has been used to feed the antenna.
are 2.34–2.46 GHz, 4.61–5.92 GHz and 9–9.9 GHz. Mea- The exact dimensions of the designed antenna are shown
sured results, as shown in Figure 2, are in good agreement in Table 2. Simulated results, as shown in Figure 2, show
with the simulated result of the proposed antenna. Stable the impedance bandwidths (S11 < −10 dB) of the pro-
radiation pattern is observed throughout the operating posed antenna are 2.34–2.46, 4.61–5.92 and 9–9.9 GHz.
region of the proposed design. Simulation of the proposed antenna is carried out using
Computer Simulation Tool (CST) which is commercial
Electromagnetic simulator based on a finite integration
2. ANTENNA GEOMETRY technique (FIT).
The geometric configuration of the antenna is shown
in Figure 1. A partial ground plane is constructed and
3. PARAMETER STUDY
symmetrical parasitic elements have been introduced, as
shown in Figure 1(b), to get a resonant bandwidth in the In this section, a parameter study of the various sec-
lower range. Now, the patch, as shown in Figure 1(a), is tions of the proposed antenna is carried out. The pro-
constructed with the rectangular slot to make the antenna posed antenna has been constructed in three stages.
resonate at 2.4 GHz. Finally, the width of the microstrip The return loss graph of various stages is shown in
line is extended partially by 0.5 mm on to both sides. The Figure 3. Initially there is a normal rectangular patch
side view of the proposed antenna is shown in Figure 1(c). and a partial ground plane is constructed with symmet-
The above structure has 15 × 20 × 1.6 mm3 dimension ric parasitic elements making the antenna resonate in
having a substrate made of FR4 dielectric with a relative 2.92–3.35 GHz. Next, modifications were made in the
 V. ASNANI AND S. BAUDHA: TRIPLE BAND MICROSTRIP PATCH ANTENNA 3

Table 2: Parameter value of different sections of the pro-

posed antenna (all dimensions are in millimetres)
Parameter Value (in mm) Parameter Value (in mm)
a 15 L 1
b 20 m 3.5
c 9 n 1
d 3 o 2
e 4 p 10
f 3 q 2
g 6.5 r 5
h 2 s 5
i 1 t 6
j 3.5 u 1.6
k 2
Figure 4: Comparisons of the simulated return loss result of the
proposed antenna with various values of variable “m”.

Figure 3: Simulated stage-wise result of the proposed antenna.

patch and a rectangular slot near the microstrip line Figure 5: Comparison of the simulated return loss result of the
is made making the antenna resonate in 2.35–2.48 and proposed antenna with various values of variable “n”.
4.35–4.71 GHz due to impedance matching at these fre-
quencies. In this stage mode splitting phenomenon is
observed where single mode in the first stage splits into range. At m = 3.5 mm, the frequency 5.8 GHz comes in
two resulting into two resonances which is clearly evi- the bandwidth of the antenna; therefore, m = 3.5 mm is
dent from Figure 3. By this change in the patch we have selected as the optimum value for the design. If we further
got a very important frequency 2.4 GHz used in Wi-Fi. increase the value of “m”, then the band keeps getting
Finally, the microstrip line is extended to both sides sym- shifted upwards. Therefore, m = 3.5 mm is selected for
metrically by 0.5 mm to cover 5.8 GHz frequency which the design. As we can see in the front view of the design,
is used in WiMAX not covered in stage 2. This is due as shown in Figure 1(a), a connecting strip is introduced
to proper impedance matching. Therefore, the final pro- to connect the patch and the upper parasitic element to
posed antenna has three resonating bands: 2.35–2.48, make an I-shaped structure. The width “n” of the strip
4.61–5.91 and 9–9.91 GHz. The first and second reso- is varied and the return loss graph is plotted for differ-
nances are controlled by properly adjusting the mode ent values of “n”, as shown in Figure 5. As the value of
splitting phenomenon so as to adjust the resonances at “n” is increased, the resonant frequency in the lower fre-
2.4 and 5.8 GHz, whereas the third band (resonance) was quency band keeps on increasing which we don’t want.
essentially maintained in all the stages. Hence all the three Therefore, the optimum value of 0.5 mm is selected for
stages can be controlled by the concerned parameters. the variable “n”.

After extension of the microstrip line to both sides, a Next, a parametric analysis has been done on the length
parametric analysis has been done on the variable “m” of the rectangular slot in the patch, i.e. variable “j” as
which is the length of the extended microstrip line. By shown in Figure 6. As we can observe, as the value of “j”
comparing the return loss graph, as shown in Figure 4, is increased, the band in the lower frequency range keeps
it can be seen that with the increase in the value of the shifting to left. At j = 3.5 mm, the band is able to cover
variable “m”, the bandwidth of the graph in the mid- 2.4 GHz which is used for Wi-Fi. Furthermore, when the
dle frequency range keeps on increasing in the higher value of “j” is increased, 2.4 GHz frequency goes out of
4 V. ASNANI AND S. BAUDHA: TRIPLE BAND MICROSTRIP PATCH ANTENNA

Figure 8: Proposed fabricated antenna: (a) top view and (b) bot-
Figure 6: Comparison of the simulated return loss result of the tom view.
proposed antenna with various values of variable “j”.

Figure 9: Simulated and Measured Radiation Efficiency and the

Figure 7: Comparison of the simulated return loss result of the Gain (in dB) of the proposed antenna.
proposed antenna with various values of variable “q”.

Simulated and measured gain and radiation efficiency

curve of the proposed antenna is shown in Figure 9.
the band. Therefore, j = 3.5 mm is selected as the opti-
The proposed antenna has a peak gain of 3.0209 dB. It is
mum value for the design. Furthermore, a parametric
very small in the lower frequency band because of very
analysis has been done on the width of the partial ground
small size. It has a gain of 2.17 dB in the middle fre-
plane, i.e. variable “q”. As we can see in the return loss
quency band. The proposed antenna’s peak radiation effi-
graph in Figure 7, as the value of “q” is changed from
ciency is 75.9351% and radiation efficiency is maintained
1 to 2 mm, the bandwidth in the middle frequency is
above 40% in the entire operating range (2.34–2.46,
increased. But when the value is further increased, the
4.61–5.92 and 9–9.9 GHz). After observing both graphs,
bandwidth keeps on decreasing and the band in the lower
i.e. gain and radiation efficiency, we can see that gain
frequency range goes above −10 dB; therefore, q = 2 mm
of the designed antenna is lower in the low-frequency
is selected as the optimum value in the design.
band (frequency < 2.5 GHz) than in the high-frequency
band (frequency > 7 GHz), but the radiation efficiency
is higher in the low-frequency band than the one in the
4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
high-frequency band and they both are approximately
The proposed antenna is designed and simulated using same in the middle frequency band, i.e. 2.5–7 GHz. This
a standard finite integration technique (FIT)-based com- can be explained by viewing the directional properties of
mercial electromagnetic simulator (CST Microwave stu- the antenna. At higher frequencies, directional properties
dio). The proposed antenna is fabricated on the FR-4 of the antenna are increased because of larger electri-
substrate using the chemical etching method (Phoenix) cal size giving rise to high gain, but it starts decreas-
in the laboratory and measurement is carried out using ing in the low-frequency range due to higher order
Agilent Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) with a 50 modes. But radiation efficiency mainly depends on losses
SMA connector connected to the microstrip feed line in and normally the dielectric loss is increased with fre-
an anechoic chamber. Figure 8 shows the photograph of quency; therefore, there is a gradual decrease in radiation
the fabricated prototype. efficiency of the antenna. Also, when the gain of the
 V. ASNANI AND S. BAUDHA: TRIPLE BAND MICROSTRIP PATCH ANTENNA 5

50 ohms impedance is maintained throughout the oper-

ating region, more specifically, it is maintained between
30 and 70 ohms in the operating region. Imaginary part
of the input impedance depicts that for major part of the
operating frequency band, the proposed antenna behaves
as capacitive in nature, but it becomes inductive in nature
mainly in the low-frequency range.

From the current distribution shown in Figure 11, it can

be seen that at frequency 2.4 GHz, the current is mainly
diverted to the part of the patch above the rectangular
Figure 10: Simulated and Measured Input impedance (real part slot but at frequency 5.8 GHz and 5.63 GHz, the current is
and imaginary part) of the proposed antenna. diverted to the part of the strip below rectangular slot also
including the extended microstrip line which is playing a
antenna decreases, radiation efficiency of the antenna key role here. Also, at 9.43 GHz, current is mainly flowing
also decreases. through the ground plane means that ground plane has a
key role for 9–9.9 GHz band.
Input impedance curve with both real and imaginary part
of the proposed antenna is shown in Figure 10. The real Simulated and Measured Co-pol. and Cross-pol. Radi-
part of the input impedance curve illustrates that the ation patterns of the proposed antenna at (I) 2.4 GHz

Figure 11: Simulated surface current distribution of the proposed antenna at (a) 2.4 GHz, (b) 5.63 GHz, (c) 5.8 GHz, (d) 9.43 GHz.
6 V. ASNANI AND S. BAUDHA: TRIPLE BAND MICROSTRIP PATCH ANTENNA

Figure 12: (a) Simulated and measured Co-pol. and Cross-pol. Radiation pattern of the proposed antenna at (I) 2.4 GHz E-plane, (II)
2.4 GHz H-plane, (III) 5.63 GHz E-plane and (IV) 5.63 GHz H-plane. (b) Simulated and measured Co-pol. and Cross-pol. Radiation pattern
of the proposed antenna at (I) 5.8 GHz E-plane, (II) 5.8 GHz H-plane, (III) 9.43 GHz E-plane and (IV) 9.43 GHz H-plane.
 V. ASNANI AND S. BAUDHA: TRIPLE BAND MICROSTRIP PATCH ANTENNA 7

E-plane, (II) 2.4 GHz H-plane, (III) 5.63 GHz E-plane 4. Z. Guo, H. Tian, X. Wang, Q. Luo and Y. Ji, “Bandwidth
and (IV) 5.63 GHz H-plane are shown in Figure 12(a), enhancement of monopole UWB antenna with new slots
whereas Simulated and Measured Co-pol. and Cross- and EBG structures”, IEEE Antennas Wirel. Propag. Lett.,
Vol. 12, pp. 1550–1553, Nov. 2013.
pol. of the proposed antennas at (I) 5.8 GHz E-plane,
(II) 5.8 GHz H-plane, (III) 9.43 GHz E-plane and (IV) 5. S. Baudha and D.K. Vishwakarma, “Corner truncated
9.43 GHz H-plane are shown in Figure 12(b). Simulated broadband patch antenna with circular slots”, Microw. Opt.
and measured results are in good agreement with the Technol. Lett., Vol. 57, no. 4, pp. 845–849, Apr. 2015.
simulated design process. Low levels of cross polariza-
6. N. Ojaroudi and M. Ojaroudi, “Novel design of dual band-
tion have been observed in the entire band of opera-
notched monopole antenna with bandwidth enhancement
tions, which is required for linear polarization. As we can for UWB applications”, IEEE Antennas Wirel. Propag. Lett.,
depict from the graph, the proposed antenna is showing Vol. 12, pp. 698–701, May 2013.
omnidirectional behaviour in H-Plane and Bidirectional
behaviour in E-Plane at 2.4 GHz and the same behaviour 7. J. Costantine, K. Y. Kabalan, A. El-Hajj and M. Rammal,
exists for 5.63 and 5.8 GHz. But at 9.43 GHz, the antenna “New Multi-band microstrip antenna design for Wireless
Communications”, IEEE Antennas Propag. Mag., Vol. 49,
is showing bidirectional behaviour which can be approx- no. 6, pp. 181–186, Dec. 2007.
imated as omnidirectional in H-Plane, but it is showing
tri-directional behaviour in E-Plane. 8. G. Sami, M. Mohanna and M. L. Rabeh, “Tri-band
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5. CONCLUSION Jan. 2013.

In this paper, a compact microstrip-fed patch antenna, 9. R. K. Gupta, T. Shanmuganantham and R. Kiruthika, “A
with a patch having a rectangular slot with the exten- tree house shape microstrip patch antenna for multi-band
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structure of patch with a rectangular slot and the exten-
sion of the microstrip line make the antenna resonate in 10. M. Ur-Rehman and B. Allen, “A compact Multi-band slot-
2.35–2.48, 4.61–5.91 and 9–9.91 GHz. The peak gain of ring microstrip patch antenna for Wireless applications”,
the proposed antenna is 3.0209 dB and the peak radiation Loughborough Antennas & Propagation Conference, pp.
595–598, Nov. 2013.
efficiency of the proposed antenna is 75.9351%. Stable
radiation patterns are being exhibited by the antenna 11. S. Baudha and D.K. Vishwakarma, “Miniaturized dual
in the entire frequency range. Simulated and Measured broadband printed slot antenna with parasitic slot and
results are in good agreement for the proposed design. All patch”, Microw. Opt. Technol. Lett., Vol. 56, no. 10, pp.
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ful for Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz), WiMAX (5.8 GHz) and X band
12. S. Baudha and D.K. Vishwakarma, “Bandwidth enhance-
(9–10 GHz). ment of a planar monopole microstrip patch antenna”,
Microw. Opt. Technol. Lett., Vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 237–242, Nov.
ORCID 2014.

Sudeep Baudha http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8349-4565 13. J.Y. Jan and L.C. Wang, “Printed wideband rhombus slot
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Authors Sudeep Baudha is an Assistant Profes-

sor in the Department of Electrical and
Vishal Asnani is an undergraduate stu- Electronics Engineering, BITS Pilani, K K
dent pursuing B.E. (Hons.) in Electronics Birla Goa Campus, India. He received his
and Instrumentation Engineering from M. Tech. degree in Radio Frequency and
BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus, India. Microwave engineering from Indian Insti-
His major field of interest are Microstrip tute of Technology, Kharagpur (India) in
antennas, wideband antennas, Signal and 2009 and Ph.D. degree from Indian Insti-
audio processing, etc. tute of Information Technology Design and Manufacturing
(IIITDM), Jabalpur (India), in 2016. His fields of interest are
Email: vishalasnani08113477@gmail.com microstrip antenna, planar antenna, microwave communica-
tion, etc.

Corresponding author. Email: sudeepb@goa.bits-pilani.ac.in