Leveraging EBG integration for microstrip patch antenna performance enhancement

This article proposed a design of an Electromagnetic Band Gap (EBG) integrated Microstrip Patch Antenna (MPA) at the 2.45 GHz ISM band. The design employed the use of two quarter-wavelength (λ/4) resonators coupled close to a radiating patch for bandwidth enhancement. The proposed design is made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) flexible substrate with a dielectric constant of 2.7, loss tangent of 0.02, and thickness of 2.5 mm. Zelt, a nylon-based material, with a surface resistivity of 0.01 ohm/sq and thickness of 0.063 mm was used as the radiating patch. The designed antennas were studied and analyzed using CST (Computer Simulation Technology) Microwave Studio. Different parameters such as Return Loss, Bandwidth, Gain, and Efficiency were studied and compared for the antenna with and without EBG. The antenna achieved a fractional bandwidth of 9.4%. To improve other parameters, EBG was used thereby improving the gain of the antenna from 4.03dBi to 4.58dBi, and radiation efficiency from 52% to 53.2%. Such improvement showed that this antenna offers better performance compared to existing solutions, which often face limitations in bandwidth of 4%. The proposed antenna can be utilised in various wearable devices operating in the Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) band of 2.45 GHz for healthcare monitoring, military communications, and implantable medical tools.