Gain Enhancement of Antenna Arrays with
BeamSteering
Mona El Abbasi ∗ , Mervat Madi † , Mohamad Farran
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
American University of Beirut
Email: ∗ mke28@aub.edu.lb, † mm102@aub.edu.lb, ‡ yn10@aub.edu.lb, § mhd.farran@gmail.com , ¶ kabalan@aub.edu.lb
Abstract—This paper describes the design and analysis of
multiple Rectangular Patch Antenna Arrays operating at 2.4
GHz. Several Arrays namely single, 2x2, 4x2, and 4x4 all
of rectangular shapes are designed and evaluated using the
High Frequency Simulation Software Tool (HFSS). The antenna
parameters gain, directivity, and return Loss are all examined for
conclusion making. The maximum directivity reached is 17.058
dBi of four by four (4x4) arrangement of 16 patches comparable
to 7.99dBi for single patch for the aim to work at the WI-FI center
frequency of 2.4 GHz. Another contribution of the paper is the
4x2 antenna array which is beamsteered into different directions
25◦ , 0◦ and 345◦ by using varactors of varying capacitance.
All the antenna arrays are fabricated at low cost to measure the
parametric performance of the different array characteristics and
comparasion with the simulated ones is obtained.
Index Terms—Rectangular Patch Antenna Arrays ,HFSS, FR4,
WiFi,varactors.
I. I NTRODUCTION
Wireless communication system antennas play a very
important role in transmitting and receining information
at different frequencies of interest. In 1950s, microstrip
patch antennas, which are originted from printed circuit
technology, are introduced and are, nowadays, used in various
applications[1, 2]. This idea stood up, as this technology is
inexpensive and can be easily integrated in feed netwroks
portable wrieless communication systems. Some of the
challanges of these antennas are like limited bandwidth,
low gain, and stimulation of undesirable exterior waves [3].
Thus, most the latest designs were introduced to improve
the antenna performance, manely; the high gain, adequate
beamwidth, and beamsteering. In this paper, the designed
array introduces a gain enhancement with beamsteering as
compared to existing technolgies. The main components of
a microstrip antenna is a perfect electric conductor radiating
patch on one side and a copper ground plane on the other side
of a dielectric substrate [4,5]. This design considers typical
rectangular microstrip patch antenna arrays which subsists
of rectangular patch of length [L1] and width [W2] of the
patch. The proposed antenna works on the Wi-Fi frequency of
2.4GHz (2400-2484MHz), which is based on IEEE 802.11b
for WLAN applications [2, 3]. The substrate material used is
FR-4 Epoxy with a permittivity constant of 4.4. The antenna
arrays, with different number of elements, are first designed
without varactors to study the gain of theses arrays and
then varactors are used to beam steer the antenna ararys in
‡ , Youssef Nasser § and Karim Y. Kabalan ¶
specific directions as mainly required in many applications.
These antennas are fabricated and tested and results a great
similarities between the obatined results. In this work, a simple
rectangular patch antenna was first designed followed by two
by two (2x2) array, four by two array (4x2), and four by four
(4x4) antenna arrays and are all made to resonate at 2.4 GHz.
Quarter wave transformers are used to match the impedance of
the transmission lines fed with SMA connector. The objective
at this stage is study the gain of these arrays and to select
an optimal one for beamsteeing. In the next stage, varactors
of different capacitors were introduced for the 4x2 antenna
array to show that beamsteering can be achived. All these
antennas were fabricated and tested. Results, shown in this
paper, summmarizs the good results obatined for all theses
cases.
II. A NTENNA D ESIGN
Starting with the design of a single element rectangular
microstrip patch antenna, many specifications must be adapted.
First, the substrate relevant parameters such as its relative
permittivity, loss tangent, and height are considered. Available
dielectric lies in the range 2.2¡ r ¡12, however the lower
permittivity is selected for the improvment of the gain [2].
FR4 substrate is chosen because of its low costand it can be
easily applicable for large size antenna array. This substrate
is characterised by a 4.4 dielectric constant, a 0.01 loss
tangent, anda 1.6mm thickness. Table I illustrates the material
specifications preferred for the design and application.
A. Single Element Patch Antenna Design Dimension:
This sections shows a single model of a microstrip patch
antenna, feedline, as well as the quarter wave transformer.
Transmission line method is used for designing of this single
patch antenna [4] and the detailed design variables are shown
in Fig. 1. The
efficiency performance of the microstrip antenna that depends
on dimensions are calculated for a specific operating frequency
as well as for the the radiation efficiency,the directivity, the
return loss, and for other related parameter. The realistic width
W and length L of the patch are calculated as accordance:
c
L= √ (1)
2f0 ef f − 2δL
c
W = q (2)
2f0 r2+1
 It has been observed that the
higher the dielectric constant of the substrate the narrower the
bandwidth of the patch antenna. Furthermore, the higher the
dielectric constant the smaller the size of the patch antenna
which is very effective to hold many antenna elements within
a small space [5]. Fig. 2 shows a single patch antenna that
has been modeled on HFSS to cover operating frequency of
2.4GHz with input impedance 50 Ω .

Fig. 1. Microstrip patch antenna top view.

Where,

TABLE I
A NTENNA S PECIFICATIONS

Velocity of light(c) 3.108

Loss tangent (tanδ) 0.002
Operating frequency (f0 ) 2.4 GHz Fig. 2. Single element rectangular patch antenna
Height of substrate (h) 1.6 mm
Width of the feedline (Wf ) 3.05 mm The final dimensions of the patch are 29.44mm x
Inset length of the feedline (y0 ) 12.89 mm 38.036mm. The width of the transmission line is set to be
Impedance of the patch (Zp ) 307.11 Ω
Characteristic Impedance(Z0 ) 377 Ω
3.05mm.
Quarter wave transformer impedance (Z1 ) 340.26 Ω
Dielectric constant of the substrate (r ) 4.4 B. 2x2 Microstrip Patch Antenna Design Dimension:
π 3.14
The configuration of the proposed patch antenna (2x2) array
In addition to ef f and δL denote effective permittivity and designed on HFSS using the same geometry of the single patch
fringing extension length, respectively, as expressed in (3) and is illustrated in fig. 3. Transmission lines is used to connect
(4). the array elements. All the above formulas are used to obtain
r + 1 r − 1 the width and length dimension of the patch in addition to
ef f = + q (3) the feed lines [6]. Quarter wave transformer of λ/4 length
2 2 1 + 12 h W and impedance 70Ω is stuffed to match 100 and 50Ω lines.
W Distance between patches is kept as λ/2, which is 62.5mm to
ef f + 0.3 + 0.264
δL = 0.412h( )( hW ) (4) prevent any mutual coupling and correlation between elements.
ef f − 0.258 h + 0.8 But, for inset fed method the 50Ω is divided into two 100Ω
microstrip lines thus dividing the power and phase equally
L = Lef f − 2δL (5) forming uniform array. The 100 Ω and 50 Ω is matched by
Design of Strip Line: The practical width and the length of quarter wave transformer. The inset length for the inset fed
the quarter wave transformer and 50 Ω feedline are concluded method is calculated using the above equations (9), (10) and
as below [9], [10] and [11]: (11). A 50 Ω coaxial probe via a connector feeds the different
r r types of antenna.
Z 0 r + 1 r − 1 0.11
A= + (0.23 + ) (6)
60 2 2 r
377π
B= √ (7)
2Z0 

2h −1 0.61
Wf = (B − 1 − ln(2B − 1) + (ln(B − 1) + 0.39 − ))
π 2 r
(8)
902r L 2
Zp = ( ) (9)
r − 1 W
Hence, the impedance of the quarter-wave transformer can be
obtained using: p
Zp = Z0 Zp (10) Fig. 3. The proposed 2x2 patch antenna array with coxail feed.
 Another microstrip 2x2 rectangular patch array antenna that
is fed by microstrip line has been designed, simulated and
compared with the 2x2 rectangular patch array with coxail
probe fed.
Fig. 4. The proposed 2x2 patch antenna array with microstrip feed.
C. 4x2 Microstrip Patch Antenna Design Dimension:
As shown in Fig. 4, the 4x2 dual linear polarized models
are fed by coaxial probe. This was implemented using 2x2
dual polarized array antenna and fed at center of the quarter
wave transmission line.
Fig. 5. Layout of the 4x2 dual linear polarized array antenna.
In comparison with the expected result for a single element
design, this can be considered as an improved result in terms
of higher gain where a single microstrip element generates a
very depressed gain [5]. The most critical effects of the array
design that should be attained are the return loss, bandwidth,
radiation pattern, and gain which will be examined later in the
simulation results section.
D. 4x4 Microstrip Patch Antenna Design Dimension:
A coaxial probe feed is connected to the middle of the
array via ground plane. The proposed patch antenna array
comprises 16 rectangular patches arranged in 4 rows 4
columns to achieve the extreme gain possible characteristic.
Each patch is fed using a 50 Ω microstrip feeding line in which
each feeding line makes a configuration of corporate feeding
network. Power dividers can be used and the best known are
the T-junction and the Wilkinson power divider, whose main
advantage is the isolation between output ports [6]. In this
design, the structure of the power divider is symmetric. Fig.
5 shows the configuration of the 4 x 4 microstrip patch array
antenna design operating at 2.4 GHz. A coaxial probe feed is
connected to the middle of the array via ground plane. The
proposed patch antenna array comprises 16 rectangular patches
arranged in 4 rows 4 columns arrangement to achieve the
extreme gain possible characteristic. Each patch is fed using a
50 Ω microstrip feeding line in which each feeding line makes
a configuration of corporate feeding network. Similar to above,
power dividers is used and the best known are the T-junction
and the Wilkinson power divider, whose main advantage is
the isolation between output ports [6]. In this design, the
structure of the power divider is symmetric [6]. Fig. 5 shows
the configuration of the 4 x 4 microstrip patch array antenna
design at 2.4 GHz.
Fig. 6. 4 x 4 configuration of microstrip patch antenna array.
T-junction power divider and quarter wave transformer
impedance matching sections were used to couple the power
to each element. A quarter-wave transformer is simply a
transmission line with characteristic impedance Zo and length
l =λ/4=31.25mm at 2.4 GHz resonance frequency . The output
line impedances Z1 = 50Ω and Z2 = 100Ω can then be selected
to provide various power divisions ratio.It is well known that a
-3dB power divider is ideally a passive lossless reciprocal three
port device that divides power equally in magnitude and phase
[7].Thus for 50 ohm input line, a 3 dB power divider can be
made using two 100 ohm output lines. The spacing between
the patch elements is λ/2=62.5 mm to avoid grating lobes
generated by the coupling between the patches, which can
significantly influence the gain achievement of patch antenna
array.
There is a new designing idea of patch antenna array to
reach the optimum parameters including return loss, VSWR,
gain and radiation pattern as shown above in Fig. 6. A very
compact and low cost new design can be realized because
of the integrated feeding network structure in which extra
radiating elements can be etched off. By optimizing and
designing a newly configured feeding network in which it
summarizes the idea of one antenna and the faced one 180Ł
shifted. Magnitudes of the antennas will be optimized in order
to minimize the side lobe level and to increase the gain.

Fig. 8. Beam Steerable 4x2 Microstrip Patch Antenna Array.

of the patches to obtain improved radiating results as in Table

II.

A. Results of a Single Patch Antenna:

A single patch having L=29.89mm and W = 38.3934mm is
observed to give S11 = -35 dB and very low VSWR at the
center resonant frequency 2.4 GHz.

Fig. 7. 180 ◦ inverted patch of 4 x 4 Microstrip Patch Antenna Array.

E. Antenna Arrays and Beamforming Using Varactors:

It has been that in beamforming, the phases specifically Fig. 9. Simulated GAIN of a Single Patch Antenna.
the amplitudes of the feed network are adapted to adjust
the received signal. Many characterizations control the
accomplishment of the array from the geometry of an array,
patterns, orientations, and polarizations of the elements.
Beam steering is the same as phase shifting is about
changing the direction of the main lobe of a radiation
pattern [13]. The phased array antennas can effectively steer
the main beam effectively and minimize the side lobes but
in return have a limited bandwidth. However, this study
aims at highlighting the necessity of identifying the varactor
specifications depending on the targeted operating frequency Fig. 10. Reflection Loss of a single patch antenna.
range to beam steer the antenna array. Therefore, a varactor
with wide capacitance range is chosen ranging from 7-80 pF The single patch antenna design radiation results are
and connected at different positions in a 4x2 antenna array. required for performance comparison with the remaining patch
The basic schematic of the proposed 4x2 beam steerable phase array antennas .
shifter array with ten varactor diodes isshown in the belown
figure.
B. Results of a 2x2 Microstrip Patch Antenna:
Overall, the performance of the 2x2 antenna array meets the
III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
desired requirement in terms of return loss and VSWR. While
Means to maximize gain can be obtained by altering the modeling and fabrication processes of the array with inset fed
material or by increasing the number of elements; however, patch array antenna, usually the quarter wave transformer is
many optimizations are done by varying the width and length not used. In this way, the reflection loss will increase.
 By designing more patches, the enhancement of gain
were 9.87 dB. This enhancement was achieved without any
significant degradation of the radiation patterns as shown in
the above figure.
C. Results of a 4x2 Microstrip Patch Antenna:
Likewise, 4x2 array with no varactors is modeled and
fabricated using the network analyzer to have S11= -23.45
db.

Fig. 11. Fabrication prototype of a 2x2 patch antenna array

The simulation return loss of the 2x2 microstrip fed is equal

to -20.24 dB and VSWR is 1.215 at the center frequency of
2.4GHz. However, the center frequency has been shifted about
1from the simulated value in the measurement part.This leads
to conclusion that the performance of the microstrip array
antenna strongly depends on several factors such as feeding
technique which can give better performance in terms of higher
Fig. 14. Fabrication prototype for 4x2 patch antenna array.
gain and lower S11.The measured return losses found to 15
dB whereas the simulated reflection coefficient is about 32 dB,
at around 2.4 GHz as shown in the below figure .

Fig. 15. Simulated vs measured reflection coefficient of a 4x2 antenna array.

Fig. 12. Simulated vs measured reflection coefficient for 2x2 patch antenna
array. Fig. 15 presents the return loss of 4x2 microstrip patch
antenna array for both simulation and measurement.The flaws
during the fabrication process may result in the shift of the
operating frequency about 1.2% of measurement result.

Fig. 13. Simulated vs measured radiation pattern for 2x2 patch antenna array

The maximum simulated gain is found to be 7.38 dB

as shown in the above radiation pattern while the gain is Fig. 16. Simulated vs. measured radiation pattern of a 4x2 antenna array.
expressed as function of dB while the radiation pattern from
the fabrication results is about 6.2 dB
D. Results of a 4x2 Microstrip Patch Antenna Array with
Varactors:

Similarly, 2.4-GHz-band beam-steerable antenna utilizing

varactor diodes is measured using the network analyzer which
shows there is no tunability in frequency when varactors are
used with arrays. However, S11 is found to -23.45 db over the
operating frequency.

Fig. 19. BeamSteerable 4x2 microstrip patch antenna array to left.

The proposed experimented beamsteerable antenna shows

the ability to steer in two specific directions 25◦ and 345◦ at
the frequency of 2.4 GHz.

E. Results of a 4x4 microstrip patch antenna:

We fabricated the 4x4 antenna array and examined its
performance in terms of high gain and low reflection
Fig. 17. Beam Steerable 4x2 microstrip patch antenna array fabrication coefficient. A simulated gain of more than 12.01 dB is
prototype.
achieved for a 16 antenna element compared to a measured
gain of 10.2 dB.
The 4x2 antenna array with varactors will be able to steer
the beam by varying the capacitor values in 3 main directions
25◦ , 0◦ and 345◦ .The fabricated antenna array shown in Fig.
17 was measured in an anechoic chamber at our university
RF lab .For simulation in HFSS the varactor configurations
(SMV121 series-Skyworks)are tested with wide capacitance
range (7-80 pF) as bias voltage will change from 0 increasing
gradually till 9v and we will configure at which capacitor
value beamsteering is achieved. As well known the varactor
configuration is a capacitor parallel to a resistor. Note that
there is no frequency tunability due to fixing the value of
resistance to 0.8 ohm and varying the capacitance values.
Moreover, the connection between antenna performance and
the different arrangements of radiation pattern elements will
be also identified at simulation and measurement.

Fig. 20. Fabrication prototype of a 4x4 antenna array

Fig. 18. BeamSteerable 4x2 microstrip patch antenna array to right.

In beamforming, the phases specifically the amplitudes of

the feed network are adapted to adjust the received signal.By
adjusting a bias voltage of 3v and a capacitor value of 40pF,
beamsteering of the main beam of antenna array is shifted to
right. Fig. 21. Measured vs simulated reflection coefficient of a 4x4 antenna array.
 A simulated gain of more than 12.01 dB is achieved for a
16 antenna element compared to a measured gain of 10.2 dB.
Fig. 22. Measured vs simulated radiation pattern of a 4x4 antenna array.
IV. CONCLUSION
An improved gain of five different design microstrip patch
antenna arrays were proposed for WLAN applications. The
antennas were designed at resonant frequency, around 2.4GHz
with low VSWR. The return loss, radiation pattern, and
antenna gain have been noted for single, 2x2, 4x2 and 4x4
microstrip patches array antennas positioned on a 1.6mm
thick FR4 Epoxy dielectric substrate with a maximum peak
directivity of 17.05dBi. As a conclusion, the responses from
the 4x4 and 4x2 patches achieved higher gain in comparable
with 2x2 array antenna and single patches antenna. Although
the results from the measurement were not accurately the
same as in the simulation, there were still small acceptable
percentage error for the reason that the manual fabrication
process.It is also shown that beam steering can be achieved
with the use of varactors with no frequency tunability at the
specified operating frequency.
TABLE II
A COMPARISON TABLE OF THE ARRAYS DESIGNED RADIATION RESULTS .
Single Antenna 2x2 Antenna Array 4x2 Antenna Array
GAIN(dB) 4.15 8.09 9.64
Directivity(dB) 7.99 12.53 13.61
S11(dB) -35 -22.5 -23
VSWR(dB) 0.05 1.3 0.8
• If we are increasing the number of patch elements in the
array the gain will be be enhanced so directivity will also
be improved.
• Proper impedance matching is required for feeding
network arrangement. If we are using large number of
patch elements in array then more calculations for length
& width of impedance line are required.
• Power consumption is more in 4x4 arrays as compared
to smaller arrays 2x2(4 elements), 4x2(8 elements).
• It is shown that beam steering can be achieved with the
use of varactors at the specified operating frequency.
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