Performance enhancement of patch antenna array for 5.8Â GHz Wi-MAX applications using metamaterial inspired technique

Though a microstrip patch antenna has advantages of low profile and structural planarity, but a single microstrip patch antenna has limitation of low gain and narrow bandwidth. To overcome these problems, multi-layer structures are used. The antenna performance can further be enhanced, if multi-layer structures are designed for array of patch antennas. Moreover, the simultaneous improvement of gain and bandwidth, which are two conflicting parameters, is another challenge. To meet these challenges, this article proposes a microstrip patch antenna array, inspired with a superstrate - comprising of Split Ring Resonators (SRR) and wire strips. Gain and bandwidth of 4.3 dBi and 425 MHz, respectively, is achieved by an unloaded array at IEEE 802.16a 5.8 GHz Wi-MAX band. However, by covering this array with the proposed superstrate, gain and bandwidth of 12.1 dBi and 780 MHz, respectively, is obtained, thus providing the gain improvement of 7.8 dBi and bandwidth enhancement of 355 MHz. Fabrication and testing of the proposed antenna is done for comparing simulated and measured results. Equivalent circuit of this newly devised array has been designed and discussed.