Realization of Different-Shaped Electromagnetic Band Gap Antennas for Wi-Fi Applications

Abstract

The primary objective of this paper is to conduct a comparative analysis of diverse Electromagnetic Band Gap (EBG) antennas in terms of their suitability for Wi-Fi applications operating at 5 GHz. Wi-Fi primarily operates within the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands, with the 5 GHz band offering higher data rates and reduced interference compared to the 2.4 GHz band. Furthermore, its larger number of available channels makes it an optimal choice for environments with high user density. The antennas in this study are designed with dimensions of 28.11x32.40x1.6 mm³ (length x width x height) using RT/Duroid 5880 substrate, which has a thickness of 1.6 mm and a relative permittivity (εr) of 2.2. The integration of Electromagnetic Band Gap structures in antenna designs has gained substantial attention due to their unique properties that enhance antenna performance characteristics. The paper presents sixteen distinct EBG antennas, all designed using CST software. These antennas incorporate various EBG shapes, such as Fork, L-shape, C-shape, Hash, and Z-shape, positioned on a rectangular patch and in the ground plane. The study's results reveal that the Hash EBG on the patch offers superior performance compared to other EBG types. As a result, the Hash EBG on the patch, alongside various Z-shaped EBGs on the ground plane, is assessed for different antenna performance parameters, including return loss, radiation patterns, and gain. Finally, a diagonal Z-shaped EBG antenna is designed, simulated, and tested. The antenna return loss at 5.2GHz is –48 dB The proposed antenna achieved a peak gain of 7.3 dB at 5.2GHz. The proposed antenna exhibits omnidirectional properties. The antenna shows an efficiency of 90% at the resonant frequency. The experimentally measured results of the designed diagonal EBG antenna have shown satisfactory agreement and are consistent with the simulated results. The findings of this research contribute to a better understanding of EBG antennas potential for Wi-Fi applications in the 5 GHz frequency band.