Design and Optimization of a

Microstrip Patch Antenna

Session 5
A Microstrip Patch Antenna

The patch antenna consists of three basic components:

1. Feed line.

2. Microstrip Patch

3. Matching transformer.

h
Sub_wid

Mohamed Kheir - GUC

 Feeding Methods

1. Microstrip Feed.
2. Inset Feed.
3. Coaxial Probe Feed.
4. Proximity Feed.
5. Aperture-Coupled Feed.

Mohamed Kheir - GUC

 Feeding Methods

Inset Feed Coaxial Probe Feed

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 Feeding Methods

Proximity Feed

Aperture-Coupled Feed

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 Feeding Methods

Linearly-Polarized Circularly-Polarized

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 Design Steps

1. Calculation of the patch width W

L
2. Calculation of the patch length L

Sub_wid

Mohamed Kheir - GUC

 Design Steps

ΔL

Leff

ΔL

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 Design Steps

Design the patch length and Observe the resonance

Design the feed network
width frequency

(1) (2) (3)

Adjust the patch length to Design the quarter wave

Shift the reference plane to
optimize resonance transformer
the patch edge to obtain Zin
frequency if required

(4) (5) (6)

Optimize for the best

performance

(7)
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 Problem

It is required to design a microstrip patch antenna operating at a frequency of

10 GHz. The antenna should be realized on an FR4 substrate material with the
following parameters.

εr = 4.4 W
h = 1.5 mm
Feed_wid = 2.87 mm
L
Sub_wid = 20 mm
Sub_len = 20 mm
L = 5.93 mm h

W = 9.12 mm Sub_wid
Ignore metallization
thickness!

Mohamed Kheir - GUC

 Shift Reference Plane

This step is essential for

evaluating the input impedance
of the patch antenna at
resonance (Zin = Rin + Xin).

From the waveguide port icon,

add the required length to be
moved in calculations at
“Reference plane”

You may define a new variable “feed_len” and

insert it in the reference plane field!

Mohamed Kheir - GUC

 Input Impedance Calculation

From “Template based Post

processing” choose 1D results
and then Z parameters

Select the real and imaginary

values of Z11.

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Initial Results (Before Matching)

It is clear from both graphs that

the antenna resonates at 10.54
GHz (Rin is max and Xin is
zero at resonance).

The value of Rin is 245.4 Ω.

This value will be further used
for matching the patch antenna
with the input feed.

Mohamed Kheir - GUC

 Resonance Impedance

300 X: 2.39
Y: 272.4

250 Real

200 Imaginary

150
Zin = 272.4 Ω
Zin ()

100

50

-50

-100

-150
1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5
Frequency (GHz)

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 Parameter Sweep

It is now necessary to adjust the resonance

frequency of the antenna to 10 GHz before the
matching process. This can be done by varying the
patch length “L” using “parameter sweep”.

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 Quarter-Wave Matching Transformer

50 Ω 50  254.5 Ω 245.4 Ω

λg/4

By using the microstrip line design equations, the

transformer width will be calculated from its characteristic
impedance while its length from the electrical length λg/4.
This yields the following physical dimensions:

Match_len = 4.4 mm
Match_wid = 0.44 mm

Mohamed Kheir - GUC

 Final Results

Mohamed Kheir - GUC