Design of Microstrip Patch Antenna At 3.5 GHz Frequency Using FEKO Simulation

Abstract

A fundamental microstrip patch antenna is made up of a ground and a metallic patch separated by a dielectric layer known as the substrate. These antennas are commonly used in communications, especially in military and civil applications. This study uses FEKO simulation software to design and simulate a microstrip patch antenna that operates at 3.5 GHz. The design process involves selecting an appropriate substrate material and its thickness, determining the patch dimensions, selecting the ground plane dimensions, creating a simulation model in FEKO, and analysing the performance in terms of directivity, radiation pattern, and gain. Several challenges involved in the design process are discussed, including substrate material selection, patch dimensions, ground plane dimensions, simulation accuracy, optimization, and fabrication tolerance. These challenges are addressed through careful consideration of the antenna design parameters and the use of FEKO simulation software to accurately model and simulate the antenna's performance. The simulation results demonstrate that the designed microstrip patch antenna at 3.5 GHz frequency meets the desired performance specifications. The antenna has a return loss of −20 dB, a radiation pattern that is nearly omnidirectional, and a gain of 2.5 dBi. The simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed design process and the utility of FEKO simulation software for designing microstrip patch antennas at 3.5 GHz frequency.