A novel microstrip patch antenna design enhanced by mushroom like electromagnetic band gap structures with different via configurations

In this study, the designs with suitable combinations of a microstrip patch antenna and mushroom like EBG structures having different via locations are presented. The performance of the reference antenna is improved with the designs having removed and/or offset via configuration. It has been experienced with different designs that the vias removed and/or shifted from the first row of EBG structures, which are closest to the radiating patch of the antenna, have a significant effect on antenna performance. With the proposed designs, up to 32% bandwidth enhancement and up to 2.9 dBi gain increment are achieved according to the reference antenna. Moreover, the front to back ratio (F/B) of the reference antenna is enhanced to values between 26 and 29 dB from the 16.9 dB by the presented designs. In addition, while the simple single layer designs of the presented antennas facilitate their manufacturing, they also achieve a good thin profile merit (h/𝜆0 , 𝜆0 is the free-space wavelength at the centre frequency) with a value of 0.05.