INNOVATIVE PATCH ANTENNA DESIGN WITH ENG MATERIALS FOR 5G AND HEALTHCARE APPLICATIONS

This paper introduces a novel microstrip patch antenna utilizing Epsilon-negative (ENG) metamaterials and L-shaped parasitic elements. The antenna achieves dual-band operation by incorporating four vertical metal vias along the patch antenna's boundaries. In patch mode or at the upper frequency band, circular polarization is attained by adding Minkowski fractal edges to the corners of the four-way patch design. The inclusion of L-shaped parasitic patches enhances the bandwidth in both frequency ranges. At the upper and lower resonant frequencies, a 10 dB bandwidth enhancement of 27.84% (2.88 – 3.81 GHz) and 6.11% (2.22 – 2.36 GHz) was achieved, respectively. When applying a 3 dB axial ratio in the upper band, the bandwidth is 5.05% (2.90 – 3.05 GHz). The accuracy of the antenna can be validated by comparing simulation results with experimental measurements. This innovative antenna design offers greater efficiency, lower cost, ease of integration, and provides faster, more reliable communication, making it particularly suitable for healthcare applications and 5G technology.