Journal of Aviation Science & Technology JAST 2023

Bandwidth Enhancement of a Tri-Band Slotted Microstrip Patch Antenna

Bich Ngoc Tran-Thi1,* and Phuong Lan Le-Thi1

1
Vietnam Aviation Academy, Vietnam
*Corresponding Author/Email: [email protected]

Manuscript received: October 16, 2023 / Revised: November 15, 2023 / Accepted: November 20, 2023

ABSTRACT

A tri-band microstrip patch antenna, designed for 5G applications, has been developed in this work. The antenna, with
dimensions of 6 × 4 × 0.508 mm3, was simulated using CST Microwave Studio 2019. The proposed design used a
rectangular patch with a dielectric constant of 2.2 and a dielectric loss tangent of 0.001. The antenna dimensions were
optimized using the Design of Experiments (DOE) method. Slotting the patch achieved a minimum return loss of up to -25
dB for each band, with the largest bandwidth of 2.78 GHz. Additionally, the influence of the antenna cutting slot on antenna
properties is analyzed to show the trade-off between slot width and reflection coefficient (S11) parameter value.

KEYWORDS: Design of Experiments (DOE); patch antenna; tri-band; CST Microwave Studio

1 Introduction instance, T-shaped, H-shaped, and U-slotted patch microstrip

patch antennas are studied (Ngoc, 2020, Li et al., 2020, Shaw et
The antenna is an essential part of a communication system al., 2018).
since it is the device that transmits electromagnetic waves into Abdullah et al. designed a triple band antenna for energy
free space and reverses that process (Balanis, 2016, Chen et al., harvesting, demonstrating acceptable performance in VSWR
2020). Multiband antennas are crucial for mobile and return loss, but operating only in licensed frequency bands
communication due to their ability to operate in various (Abdullah et al., 2022). AlShaikhli et al. (2022) proposed a
frequency bands with just one antenna (Chen et al., 2020, triple band antenna for WiMAX, UAV drone data link systems,
Elkorany et al., 2022, Mathew et al., 2015, Sharma et al., 2018). and WLAN applications. The antenna's design focuses on
They are capable of supporting many frequency-operated ground layer slits for enhanced electrical characteristics. The
devices at once, including Wi-Fi, WLAN bands (802.11 b/n/g), authors in Elkorany et al. (2022) proposed a planar microstrip
WiMAX (IEEE 802.16) and the 5th Generation (5G) patch antenna (MPA) with two F-shaped resonators for three-
applications (Al-Saeedi et al., 2021, Ramahatla et al., 2022, band operations, offering higher gain and radiation efficiency
Ullah et al., 2018). with a small fractional bandwidth.
Wireless communication has significantly advanced in the Recently, the growing number of smartphone subscribers
past decade, necessitating the use of various antennas, including and Internet of Things (IoT) devices demands large capacity
small, broadband, and multifrequency types, for fast data and faster data rates, which the 4th Generation (4G) technology
transfer. There are different types of antennas such as spiral cannot provide. Therefore, the 5G technology uses multiple
antennas, dipoles, monopoles, etc. Microstrip patch antenna antennas at transceivers to increase channel capacity without
satisfies such requirements. Microstrip patch antennas are low increasing frequency bandwidth or transmitted power.
profile, easy to construct, lightweight, cost-effective, Researchers are motivated to explore the electromagnetic
comfortable on surfaces, simple, and manufactured using spectrum of the unused millimeter-wave (30-300 GHz) for high
printed circuit boards. The microstrip patch antenna can meet data rate transmission due to the low latency and high-quality
multiple frequency requirements without using separate transmission demands of 5G applications. This is because the
antennas, making it a challenging task for designers to design available bandwidth in this spectrum is widely available and
antennas with broadband characteristics (Masroor et al., 2021, can be exploited for high-speed data transmission. A variety of
Ngoc, 2020). A microstrip antenna, on the other hand, has a antenna designs have been developed for 5G applications in
restricted bandwidth (Balanis, 2016). Several methods have recent times (Saad and Mohamed, 2019, Imran et al., 2018,
been used to increase the bandwidth of microstrip antennas such Dadgarpour et al., 2017, Kadhim et al., 2023).
as the dual feed line technique (Alam et al., 2021), using In this paper, a microstrip planar antenna is proposed. The
parasitic elements (Wang and Zhu, 2021), using a holey patch cuts enable multiband operation with improved
superstrate (Asaadi and Sebak, 2017), stacking of patches bandwidth for each band. The antenna that is being proposed
(Kewei et al., 2013) and fractal-based geometries (Reddy and has the ability to operate at three different frequency bands,
Sarma, 2014) allowing them to operate in multiple frequency namely 28GHz, 38GHz, and 54GHz. This suggests antenna can
bands. One popular method for enhancing the bandwidth and be applied in 5G mobile communications. Additionally,
gain of microstrip patch antennas is through patch-etching. For methods for experimental design are utilized to ascertain the

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 Journal of Aviation Science & Technology JAST 2023

most suitable dimensions for the antenna. 𝑊

𝑐 (𝜀𝑒 + 0.3) (
+ 0.26ℎ)
The paper is structured as follows: Section 2 describes the 𝐿𝑝 = − 0.824ℎ [ ℎ ] (4)
recommended antenna geometry and method DOE to obtain the 2𝑓𝑟 √𝜀𝑒 𝑊
(𝜀𝑒 − 0.258) ( + 0.26ℎ)
optimal dimensions. Proposed simulation results are discussed ℎ
Length of the ground plane
in Section 3, while Section 4 presents conclusions.
𝐿𝑠 = 6ℎ + 𝐿𝑝 (5)
Width of the ground plane
2 Methodology for Designing Antennas
𝑊𝑠 = 6ℎ + 𝑊𝑝 (6)
The antennas proposed in this study are based on Based on these calculation results, this paper focuses on
conventional rectangular patch antennas. They are slotted in optimizing the antenna dimensions to meet specific goals.
different ways to achieve better control over the radiation Design of experiments (DOE) was invented by Ronald A.
behavior. Figure 1 shows the geometry of the proposed Fisher in the 1920s and 1930s (Fisher, 1960), is applied in this
antennas in process. The original antenna is built on a work. DOE is a mathematical methodology used for planning,
rectangular Roger substrate. conducting, and analyzing experiments, a branch of applied
statistics, to study systems, processes, or products (Durakovic,
2017). The purpose is to find antenna sizes with return loss
parameters that satisfy the condition of less than -25 and at
resonant frequencies in the 5G frequency bands. The
dimensions of the designed antenna are optimized using the
DOE method.
Table 1. Dimensions of the original rectangular patch antenna
(mm)
Ws Ls Wp Lp Wf Lf h g
4 6 2.4 2 0.2 2 0.508 0.035

(a) (b) (c)

3 Results and Discussion
Figure 1. Geometrical representation of designs: (a) the original
The optimization of antenna dimensions is carried out using
rectangular patch antenna, (b) symmetrical slotted antenna, (c)
DOE. The CST Studio Suite 2019 software was used to design
asymmetrical slotted antenna
and simulate the results of the designed microstrip patch
antenna. From this, the study can derive the most optimal
A microstrip patch antenna is made up of an active radiating
parameter set for each type of antenna. The performance of
patch on one side of a dielectric substrate and a ground plane on
microstrip patch antennas is evaluated based on various
the other. The microstrip line feeding technique is used for
radiation parameters including the resonant frequency (how
feeding. Although there are other feeding techniques available,
close it is to the desired frequency band), reflection coefficient
they do not offer easy impedance matching. However, with
(S11), bandwidth, number of bandwidths, gain, directivity,
microstrip line feeding, impedance matching can be easily
Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR).
controlled by adjusting the width of the line.
Error! Reference source not found. presents the
In general, the dimensions of a microstrip antenna are
performance result obtained from the conventional rectangular
typically calculated using equations found in Balanis (2016).
patch antenna in terms of the reflection coefficient (S11)
The well-known formulae used to calculate the dimension
parameter value.
of this antenna are listed below.
Resonance frequency:
𝑐
𝑓𝑟 =
2𝑊√(𝜀𝑟 + 1)/2 (1)
where 𝜀𝑟 −dielectric constant, c is the speed of the light.
Width of the patch:
𝑐
𝑊𝑝 =
2𝑓𝑟 √(𝜀𝑟 + 1)/2 (2) Figure 2. Reflection coefficient (S11) parameter value with
Effective dielectric constant: respect to resonant frequency for the conventional rectangular
patch antenna
𝜀𝑟 + 1 𝜀𝑟 − 1 1 (3)
𝜀𝑒 = + The design exhibits resonance at 38GHz, which is a target
2 2 ℎ
√ frequency for 5G. To be more precise, this antenna achieves a
[ 1 + 12 (𝑊 )] resonant frequency very close to 38GHz (accurately at 38.9
Length of the patch: GHz). It has a low reflection coefficient value of -19.7dB and a
bandwidth of 2.4 GHz. However, this design has only single-
band. Visualizing the current is an important aspect of gaining
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 Journal of Aviation Science & Technology JAST 2023

a better understanding of the physics involved and serves as a the value of y, increasing x
starting point for future optimization. The surface current of the
original antenna is depicted in Figure 3.

(d) Keeping all parameter in the an original design, fix

the value of y, decreasing x

Figure 4. The reflection coefficient (S11) parameter value of

the symmetrical slotted antenna at different frequencies: (a)
decreasing y, fixed x; (b) increasing y, fixed x; (c) increasing x,
fixed y; (d) decreasing x, fixed y.

Figure 3. The surface current of the original antenna at the It should be noted that the reflection coefficient (S11)
resonant frequencies parameter value is obtained at double frequency bands.
Additionally, Figure 3 illustrates a trade-off between reflection
Figure. 3 displays the surface current, which shows that the coefficients of the two frequencies by modifying slotted
strongest current flows between the edges of the patch. parameters. Based on the observations, it is evident that the
Research can be conducted to change the antenna parameters reflection coefficient (S11) parameter value in those two
by modifying the shape and adding apertures in these important frequency bands is a trade-off for each other, regardless of
regions of the patch to obtain special properties. Furthermore, whether the x or y values or both are changed. Thus, the antenna
two options are suggested to achieve compatibility with 5G and can operate efficiently in two frequency bands. By determining
improve results in multi-bandwidth. the optimal x and y values using the DOE method, a target
A symmetrical slotted antenna reflection coefficient (S11) parameter value of -25 dB can be
In this design, the patch has been slotted symmetrically achieved.
while maintaining all of the original parameters as shown in Asymmetrical slotting antennas were studied by altering
Figure 1b. The optimal slotted parameters can be determined the slot dimensions on each side of the patch while retaining
using the DOE method. In this case, the optimal slotted size is original antenna parameters. This is illustrated in Figure 1c. The
received as x= 0.3mm and y = 0.5mm. optimal slotted dimensions for the asymmetrical antenna are
The frequency-dependent reflection coefficient (S11) x1=0.01mm, y1=0.3mm, x2=0.5mm, and y2=1.1mm, obtained
parameter value for the symmetrical slotted antenna with using the DOE approach. Figure 5 displays the reflection
variations in x or y is illustrated in Figure 3. coefficient (S11) parameter value.

(a) Keeping all parameter in the an original design, fix

Figure 5. Three bandwidths of proposal antenna
the value of x, decreasing y
In Figure 5 it can be observed that the simulated reflection
coefficient of the antenna indicates that the antenna resonates
well in three frequency bands. Table 2 lists the values of
coefficients such as bandwidth, the reflection coefficient (S11)
parameter value and gain of each resonant frequency band of
the proposed antenna.
The current distribution of the symmetrical slotted antenna
(b) Keeping all parameter in the an original design, fix is displayed in Figure 6. When the original antenna is cut, the
the value of x, increasing y current on the patch is concentrated in the patch, which results
in a reduction in the current flowing under the patch in the
asymmetric antenna (about 8 A/m) as compared to the original
antenna (about 40 A/m). This indicates that the impact on the
patch can change the antenna characteristics and enable it to
operate in multiple frequency bands.

(c) Keeping all parameter in the an original design, fix

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 Journal of Aviation Science & Technology JAST 2023

(a) 28.11GHz Figure 8. The radiation pattern for the proposal antenna at
38GHz in 3D (left) and in 2D (right)

(b) 38.09 GHz Figure 9. The radiation pattern for the proposal antenna at
54GHz in 3D (left) and in 2D (right)

These Figures 7, 8, 9 show that the antenna's maximum

gains occur at almost zero degrees azimuthal angle and have a
value of roughly 6.5 dB. It should be noted that the
asymmetrical slotted antenna can be seen radiating in an almost
omnidirectional pattern. Its main lobe, which contains the
majority of its energy, is shown by red pixels. Significantly, the
yellow and green pixels in these figures represent a small
quantity of energy. Table 2 presents a comparison between the
design of this work and the existing ones.
(c) 54.45 GHz Table 2. The comparison of our proposed antenna with existing
designs
Figure 6. The surface current of the symmetrical slotted
antenna at the resonant frequencies ((a) 28.11GHz; (b) 38.09 Frequency BW S11 Gain
GHz, (c) 54.45 GHz) (GHz) (GHz) (dB) (dB)
Imran et 38 1.94 -15.5 6.9
The radiation pattern is another potential aspect that may be al. (2018) 54 2 -12 7.4
utilized to deduce the real nature of an antenna. The simulated Darboe et
27.95 0.85 -13.48 8.37
two- and three-dimensional (2D, 3D) realized gain of the al. (2019)
asymmetrical slotted antenna at three frequency bands are Abdelaziz 10 0.343 -25.8 5.67
shown in Figures. 7, 8, 9. and
28 0.761 -24.9 9.33
Hamad
(2019) 38 1.5 -32.9 9.57
Elfatimi et 28 0.921 -23.81 8.05
al. (2018) 38 1.05 -17.09 8.28
28.11 0.51 -20.97 6.46
This work 38.09 2.78 -25.99 6.97
54.45 2.38 -20.65 6.64
Figure 7. The radiation pattern for the proposal antenna at
28GHz in 3D (left) and in 2D (right) It is evident that this work offers better bandwidth and the
reflection coefficient (S11) parameter value than Imran et al.
(2018), while maintaining similar gain values. Although its gain
is about 1.5 times lower, this designed antenna has a bandwidth
up to 3 times wider than others. It is important to note that only
the specific antenna design is capable of operating on the tri-
band frequency of the 5G network.

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 Journal of Aviation Science & Technology JAST 2023

4 Conclusion Elfatimi, A., Bri, S. and Saadi, A. (Year) Published. Single feed
compact millimeter wave antenna for future 5G
In this work, a slotted microstrip patch antenna is designed applications. 2018 International Conference on
for 5G wireless communication. The antenna provides a tri- Intelligent Systems and Computer Vision (ISCV), 2018.
band of 28GHz, 38GHz, and 54GHz frequencies that are all IEEE, 1-4.
used in 5G communication. The microstrip antenna has a gain Elkorany, A.S., Mousa, Alyaa Nehru, Ahmad, S., Saleeb, Demyana
of 6.46, 6.97, and 6.64 for 28GHz, 38GHz, and 54GHz, Adel, Ghaffar, A., Soruri, Mohammad and Dalarsson, M.,
respectively. To obtain the optimal dimensions of the designed Alibakhshikenari, Mohammad, Limiti, Ernesto (2022),
antenna, the DOE method is used. This antenna has up to three "Implementation of a miniaturized planar tri-band
times wider bandwidth than reference antennas. Furthermore, microstrip patch antenna for wireless sensors in mobile
the effect of the antenna cutting slot on antenna attributes is
applications", Sensors, Vol. 22 No. 2, pp. 667.
carried out to demonstrate the trade-off between slot width and
Fisher, R.A. (1960), "The design of experiments", No. 7th Ed.
the reflection coefficient (S11) parameter value.
Imran, D., Farooqi, MM, Khattak, MI, Ullah, Z., Khan, M.I. and
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