Comparative analysis of microstrip moody patch antenna for space applications

Abstract

This paper draws a comparison between thestructural variants and the corresponding result characterizations of a compact microstrip moody patch antenna at their resonant frequencies in terms of reflection coefficient, bandwidth, radiation pattern, gain, VSWR and directivity and brings the best out of them. The structures have been built over a 53 mm × 50 mm × 1.6 mm FR4 epoxy substrate with a relative permittivity of 4.4 and a dielectric loss tangent of 0.02. The coaxial feeding mechanism has been employed. Simulations have been carried over HFSS v-15. The initially designed antenna resonates at 6.95 GHz and 7.2 GHz with respective reflection coefficients of −24 dB and −19.5 dB and a gain of 4.4 dBi and 8 dBi respectively. The bandwidth attained around 6.95 GHz is 160 MHz while that attained around 7.2 GHz is 160 MHz. The proposed structuremay be used for fixed satellite and mobile applications at 6.95 GHz and for fixed mobile and space research at 7.2 GHz. The modified structure has center frequencies of 5.56 GHz and 6.21 GHz that offer respective reflection coefficients of −21.1 dB and −21.2 dB with gain of 17.1 dBi and 11.6 dBi respectively. The attained bandwidths are 170 MHz and 290 MHz. This structure may be used for earth exploration satellites, mobile except aeronautical mobile, radio location, maritime radio navigation and space research at 5.56 GHz and for fixed satellite and mobile applications at 6.21 GHz.