A Miniaturized Multi-layer Microstrip Antenna for Linear Wireless Sensor Network Monitoring Systems

Abstract

This article presents a sub-GHz ISM band microstrip patch antenna based on the use of multi-layer compact structure, which overcomes the shortcomings of typical microstrip antennas such as low gain and high resonant frequency. The antenna was simulated using an electromagnetic simulator, ANSYS HFSS, and fabricated on two different substrates: RT Duroid 5880 and FR4 epoxy with a compact size of 100 x 100 x 8 mm3 (0.29λ × 0.29λ × 0.02λ). The simulated results of the antenna were then compared with the measured ones, and the two were observed to have a reasonable agreement. The proposed antenna operates in the sub-GHz license-free ISM band (862-875 MHz), with a gain value of 2.92 dB. Two prototypes of the proposed antenna were fabricated and used in a Linear Wireless Sensor Networks (LWSNs) monitoring system. Results show that the proposed antenna is a good candidate for those types of LWSNs systems.

Keywords

• ISM band
• LWSNs
• Microstrip antenna
• Miniaturized antenna
• Multi-layer antenna

References

1. [1] Balanis, C. A., Antenna theory: analysis and design, John Wiley & Sons, (2016).
2. [2] Manjunath, G., Sadyojatha, KM., “Design and analysis of Circular MPA using Multi-layer Substrate Sandwich for bandwidth Enhancement”, In 2017 International Conference on Information Communication and Embedded Systems (ICICES), Chennai, India, (2017).
3. [3] Nejdi, I. H., Rhazi, Y., Lafkih, M. A., Bri, S., “Designing Multiband Multilayered Microstrip Antenna for UMTS, ISM, Communication Satellite, HiperLAN and C-Band”, In 2018 International Symposium on Advanced Electrical and Communication Technologies (ISAECT), Kenitra, Morocco, (2018).
4. [4] Raj, N A., Dwivedi, R. P., “High gain antenna with DGS for wireless applications”, In 2015 2nd International Conference on Signal Processing and Integrated Networks (SPIN), Noida, New Delhi NCR, India, (2015).
5. [5] Pachauri, N., Gupta, A., Changlani, S., “Analysis of multilayer stacked microstrip patch antenna for bandwidth enhancement”, International Journal of Innovative Research in Science, Engineering and Technology, 4 (9): 8321-8334, (2015).
6. [6] Hussein, A. T., Luhaib, S., “Designing E-Shape microstrip patch antenna in multilayer structures for WiFi 5GHz network”, In 2012 20th Telecommunications Forum (TELFOR), Belgrade, Serbia, (2012).
7. [7] Chen, S., Liu, G., Chen, X., Lin, T., Liu, X., Duan, Z., “Compact dual-band GPS microstrip antenna using multilayer LTCC substrate”, IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, 9: 421-423, (2010).
8. [8] Hategekimana, B., and Nithianandam,, “A wideband multilayer microstrip patch antenna for telemetry applications”, Recent Advances on Data Networks, Communications, Computers, (2009).

9. [9] Kara, A., Al Imran, M. A., Karadag, K., “Linear wireless sensor networks for cathodic protection monitoring of pipelines”, In 2019 International Conference on Mechatronics, Robotics and Systems Engineering (MoRSE), Bali, Indonesia, (2019).
10. [10] Wheeler, H. A., Fundamental limitations of small antennas, Proceedings of the IRE, (1947).
11. [11] Sievenpiper, D. F., Dawson, D. C., Jacob, M. M., Kanar, T., Kim, S., Long, J., Quarfoth, R. G, “Experimental validation of performance limits and design guidelines for small antennas”, IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, 60: 8-19, (2011).
12. [12] Yilmaz, V. S., Bilgin, G., Aydin, E., Kara, A., “Miniaturised antenna at a sub-GHZ band for industrial remote controllers”, IET Microwaves, Antennas & Propagation, 13 (9): 1408-1413, (2019).
13. [13] Turkmen, M., Gunes, Y. E., Hakanoglu, B. G., Yalduz, H., Sen, O., “Dual-Band Patch Antenna with Simple Rectangular Shaped Slots for Local Area Networks”, Wireless Personal Communications, (2021).
14. [14] Hakanoglu, B. G., Koc, B., Sen, O., Yalduz, H., Turkmen, M., “Stub Loaded Patch Antenna and a Novel Method for Miniaturization at Sub 6 GHz 5G and Wi-Fi Frequencies”, Advances in Electrical and Computer Engineering, 21(2): 23-32, (2021).
15. [15] Yang, X., Feng, Q., Zheng, Z., “First-order minkowski fractal circularly polarized slot loop antenna with simple feeding network for UHF RFID reader”, Progress In Electromagnetics Research, 77: 89-96, (2018).
16. [16] Singh, A., Singh, M. K., “Design and Simulation of Miniaturized Minkowski Fractal Antennas for microwave applications”, International Journal of Advanced Research in Computer and Communication Engineering, 3: 5309-5311, (2014). [17] Lai, X., Xie, Z., Cen, X., “Compact loop antenna for near-field and far-field uhf rfid applications”, Progress In Electromagnetics Research C, 37: 171–182, (2013).
17. [18] Yu, B., Jung, C. W., Lee, H., Park, M. J., Kim, B., Wi, H., Lee, B., “Closely mounted compact wideband diversity antenna for mobile phone applications”, International Journal of Antennas and Propagation, (2012).
18. [19] Bilgin, G., Yilmaz, V. S., Kara, A., Aydin, E., “Comparative assessment of electromagnetic simulation tools for use in microstrip antenna design: Experimental demonstrations”, Microwave and Optical Technology Letters, 61 (2): 349-356, (2019).
19. [20] Aflaki, P., Xiao, G., Taeb, A., Ye, T., Py, C., “Printed single-feed circularly polarized UHF reader antenna for RFID applications”, In 2017 IEEE International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation & USNC/URSI National Radio Science Meeting, San Diego, California, USA, (2017).
20. [21] Firmansyah, T., Kurniawan, F., Denny, Y. R., “Multiband microstrip antenna array with slot and array method for GSM, WCDMA, and LTE”, In 2017 International Conference on Broadband Communication, Wireless Sensors and Powering (BCWSP), Jakarta, Indonesia, (2017).
21. [22] Adriandi, G., Wijoyono, D., Pradnyana, K. D., Devara, K., Zulkifli, F. Y., “Microstrip octagonal patch wideband antenna for mobile communication application”, In TENCON 2017-2017 IEEE Region 10 Conference, Penang, Malaysia, (2017).
22. [23] Shi, Z., Ren, W., Liu, H., Chen, K., “Novel ′′buried‐on‐wall′′ 900 MHz cavity‐backed slot antenna with circular polarization”, Microwave and Optical Technology Letters, 49 (12): 3169-3172, (2007).
23. [24] Pozar, D. M., “A review of aperture coupled microstrip antennas: history, operation, development, and applications”, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, (1996).
24. [25] Bilgin, G., Yilmaz, V. S., Aydin, E., Kara, A., “Design considerations for sub-GHz multilayer microstrip antenna for near ground communication links in rural areas”, In 2017 10th International Conference on Electrical and Electronics Engineering (ELECO), Bursa, Turkey, (2017).
25. [26] Ali, W. K. W., Al-Charchafchi, S. H., “Using equivalent dielectric constant to simplify the analysis of patch microstrip antenna with multi-layer substrates”, IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society International Symposium. 1998 Digest. Antennas: Gateways to the Global Network. Held in conjunction with: USNC/URSI National Radio Science Meeting (Cat. No.98CH36194), Atlanta, GA, USA, (1998).
26. [27] Al Imran, M. A., Dalveren, Y., Tavli, B., Kara, A., “Optimal operation mode selection for energy-efficient light-weight multi-hop time synchronization in linear wireless sensor networks”, EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking, (2020).