Dual-Band Multilayer Patch Antenna for Multiband Internet-of-Vehicles Applications

The growing demand for internet-of-vehicles (IoV) communication requires compact antennas capable of supporting multiple frequency bands while maintaining stable radiation characteristics. This paper presents the design and validation of a multilayer microstrip patch antenna that achieves dual-band operation through the integration of shorting vias, a coupled ring, and an embedded parasitic patch. Parametric studies confirm that the adopted techniques yield impedance bandwidths of 28% at 1.8 GHz and 6.4% at 2.4 GHz, with a low-profile structure of 0.055λ0. Measured results demonstrate omnidirectional radiation patterns across the intended bands with a maximum gain of 4.46 dBi at 2.57 GHz. Beyond simulated and laboratory verification, field tests were conducted using LTE communication to evaluate the antenna’s quality of service (QoS) under realistic vehicular conditions. To reduce system cost and simplify testing, a low-cost in-house signal meter based on a Raspberry Pi microcontroller was developed and employed to compare the proposed antenna with a commercial monopole. The results confirm that the multilayer patch antenna provides improved bandwidth, gain, and radiation stability, making it a compact and cost-effective candidate for multiband IoV and V2X communication systems.