A novel theta-shaped slotted patch antenna with a unique DGS for Sub-6 GHz 5G communication

A slotted theta-shaped patch antenna (TSPA) featuring a distinctive defected ground structure (DGS) is designed and presented for 5G (fifth-generation) Sub-6 GHz applications. The prototype is designed and fabricated using an affordable, widely available FR-4 (εr=4.3,tanδ=0.025) substrate and 1oz copper printed on both size. The proposed antenna's dimensions have been optimized to 35 × 34 × 1.6 mm3 (0.39λ×0.37λ×0.02λ). A conventional DGS for the TSPA is also modeled and fabricated to facilitate comparison. A thorough comparison of the two designs is made to show that the proposed antenna performs better than conventional DGS single-band patch antenna. The suggested antenna is suitable for the n77 (3.3–4.2 GHz) and n79 (4.4–5 GHz) bands, as it operates across two separate frequency bands at 4.19 GHz and 4.91 GHz, respectively. The proposed antenna demonstrates a dual-band performance, offering a broader bandwidth of 130 MHz at 4.19 GHz and 890 MHz at 4.91 GHz, along with an improved reflection coefficient of -30 dB at both frequencies. This contrasts with the conventional DGS of the single-band TSPA, which has a reflection coefficient of -26 dB at 4.85 GHz. By incorporating a modified DGS-based partial ground, the proposed antenna is enhanced from a single-band to a dual-band design with improved bandwidth. Parametric studies examine the impact of different substrate materials and variations in DGS line width and length on antenna performance. The findings of this research are crucial for deploying wider bandwidth patch antennas in sub-6 GHz 5G wireless communications, demonstrating the proposed design's potential to significantly boost performance.