International Journal of Electrical and Electronics

Engineering Research (IJEEER)

ISSN 2250-155X
Vol. 3, Issue 3, Aug 2013, 83-92
© TJPRC Pvt. Ltd.

DESIGN OF BEAM STEERING RECTANGULAR MICROSTRIP ANTENNA ARRAY

FOR 2.45 GHZ

PATIL SARANG M & BOMBALE U. L

Department of Electronics Technology, Shivaji University, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India

ABSTRACT

This paper presents design and experimental analysis of Linear Phased Array Antenna System operating at 2.45
GHz. In this research work beam steering is achieved by adjusting the phases of antennas. Antenna element excitation
phases are adjusted at the intermediate frequency and amplitudes are kept constant. The obtained radiation patterns provide
steerable main lobes and nulls at predefined directions. Units of the system are presented in detail and their architecture is
explained. A phase calibration is used to compensate the system. Measurements of radiation patterns are presented and are
compared with calculated patterns.

KEYWORDS: Array, Beam Steering. Microstrips Patch Antennas, Phase Shifter

INTRODUCTION

Antennas play an integral part in wireless communication system at both, transmitter as well as receiver end. It
has been stated that any communication system is only as good as its antennae. Microstrip patch antennas are versatile in
terms of their geometrical shapes and implementations. Inhibiting characteristics of a single microstrip patch, like low gain
and smaller bandwidth, make it more popular for array configuration. Microstrip antenna is printed type of antenna
consisting of a dielectric substrate sandwiched in between a ground plane and a patch [1]. The Microstrip antenna is
physically very simple and flat, these are two of the reasons for the great interest in this type of antenna [2].

Microstrip antennas have several advantages compared to other bulky type of antennas. Some of the main
advantages of the microstrip antennas are that it has low fabrication cost, its lightweight, low volume, and low profile
configurations that it can be made conformal, it can be easily mounted on rockets, missiles and any conformal shaped
satellites without major Modifications and arrays of these antennas can simply be produced . Beam-steering phased
antenna arrays find many Applications in microwave radar and communication systems.

In the proposed system, for the beam steering use only single phase shifter in prévois system requière séparâtes
phase shifter for each patch, the total 1200 angle is covered with discrete beam forming in desired direction. The direction
of transmission is controlled through personal computer and controller unit. To change the direction of transmission, the
PC is interfaced to the antenna hardware circuitry, the angle in which the direction to be changed is given through the PC.

To demonstrate the implementation of the digital beam forming, phase array is to be built for 2.4 GHz [3]. In
order to allow Transmission, testing and demonstrational use of the array in the unrestricted Industrial, Scientific and
Medical (ISM) band. The demonstrated technique, however, can be implemented at any frequency and with minor changes
for a transmitting array as well.

The aim of this work is to design and implement a microstrip phased array antenna, printed on a composite ferrite-
dielectric substrate. Two rectangular radiating patches on a low dielectric constant substrate are arranged in linear
84 Patil Sarang M & Bombale U. L

configuration to achieve required radiation properties. The microstrip array feeder network, consisted of integrated power
divider and phase shifters, is realized on an externally magnetized ferrite substrate. Tunable progressive phase shift is
produced by varying the magnetic bias that changes the permeability of ferrite material, which in turn changes the phase
velocity and, hence, the insertion phase of the propagating microwave signal. The two-way power splitter is attained power
dividers, which improves the isolation and matching of the ports. The antenna array is designed using standard equations
and simulated by professional software called, High Frequency Structural Simulator (HFSS). Among many antenna
simulators, HFSS is selected as it allowed the inclusion of anisotropic ferrite material in the simulation process. The
antenna prototype is printed using the PCB plotter and manually transferred on the composite substrate, which introduced
some inaccuracy. Finally, the simulated reflection response and radiation characteristics of the designed antenna array are
corroborated using experimental results obtained from the Network Analyzer and the Antenna Transmission &
Measurement System respectively. The designed array exhibited very close radiation response to that of design objective.

SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE

Figure 1: System Block Diagram

Shown in figure 1, prototype model is designed for 2.45 GHz to steer the beam for 120o range. To steer the beam
the antenna phase excitation technique is selected. Here 1×2 patch array antennas is designed, to excide the antenna
patches different phase shift is applied. To produce the 2.45 GHz signal VCO is used ,The range of VC0 is 2100-3000
MHz, with the help of variable power supply VC0 is tuned for 2.45Ghz.To produce the exact 2.45 GHz frequency 2.7 V
bias potential is required. The output of VC0 is applied to two way power splitter. One end of power splitter is connected
to antenna first patch and another end connected to phase shifter to differentiate the phase between two patches. Phase
shifter operates on 0-15 volt to vary phase shift from 00 to 3600,to control the phase shift from computer the digital
potentiometer is interface between computer and phase shifter. The output of phase shifter is applied to second patch of the
array antenna. Control the phase shift between patch 1 and patch2 by varying the output potential of digital potentiometer
by changing the value from computer.

DESIGN PROCEDURE

The designed antenna is a 2×1 linear array. The first step in the design is to specify the dimensions of a single
microstrip patch antenna. The patch conductor can be assumed at any shape, but generally simple geometries are used, and
Design of Beam Steering Rectangular Microstrip Antenna Array for 2.45 GHz 85

this simplifies the analysis and performance prediction. Here, the half-wavelength rectangular patch element is chosen as
the array element (as commonly used in microstrip antennas) [4]. Its characteristic parameters are the length L, the width
w, and the thickness h, as shown in below Figure

Figure 2
To meet the initial design requirements (operating frequency = 2.4 GHz, various analytical approximate
approaches may be used. Here, the calculations are based on the transmission line model [5]. Although not critical, the
width w of the radiating edge is specified first. In practice, the length L is slightly less than a half wavelength (in the
dielectric). The length may also be specified by calculating the half wavelength value and then subtracting a small length to
take into account the fringing fields [2-4]

Therefore many kinds of miniaturization techniques, such as using of high dielectric substrates, resistive or
reactive load and increasing the electrical length of the antenna, Also it gives a good directivity and high gain with good
performance characteristics [6] .The proposed array Antenna will be working on 2.45Ghz frequency range. i.e.(ISM-band)
The patch resonate to produce a broadband response. Representative results for the VSWR response, S- parameter and
radiation patterns are shown in Figures 8, 9, 10 and 11 respectively. The gain of the antenna is higher than the traditional
Microstrip antenna.The dimensions of the antennas array are listed in Table 1.

Table 1: Dimensions of the Antenna

Antenna Εr W(mm) L(mm) H S D(mm)
1 4.4 38.89 102 1.588 9 36.51

An inset feed microstrip antennas is designed to resonate at 2.45 GHz frequency with dielectric constant (εr) =
4.4, substrate thickness h=1.588 mm, L=28.49 mm, W=28.49 mm on a ground plane. All dimensions of the antenna are in
mm.

The length and the width of the patch are calculated initially by the relationships (1)-(6) given in

W
 r 1
vo 2
2 Fr
(1)

Where V0 is the free space velocity of the light.

L -2 l
C
2  Fr   reff
(2)
86 Patil Sarang M & Bombale U. L

  reff  0.03 W  0.26h 

  reff  0.258 W  0.8h  
L  0.412  h    (3)

Where ¢ L is extension in length due to fringing effects.

The effective dielectric constant is given by,

1
 r 1  r 1   12  h  2
 reff    1   
  W 
(4)
2 2

The ground plane dimensions would be given as,

Lg=6(h) +L= 6(1.588) +28.49= 38.018 mm (5)

Wg=6(h) +W= 6(1.588)+28.49=38.018 mm (6)

Figure 3 show the geometry of inset feed microstrip array antenna with two patches in the array. The patch is
energized electromagnetically using 50 ohm SMA connector.

Hence wide bandwidth is generated as the resonant circuits become coupled. The slots aggregate the currents,
which give additional inductance controlled by the patch width [8]. HFSS software has been used to calculate the

Return loss (S 11 )

Directivity vs. frequency,

3D radiation pattern

Field gain Vs frequency.

The present work signifies that by introduction of two Patch in the same size, the Directivity gets enhanced to
about 9 dB i.e., Figure 8 and Figure 9 show the return loss (S11) vs. Frequency curve for the proposed coaxial feed.[7].

It is observed that as the distance between two patches is changed, the gain and side lobe level is changing. The
distance between two patches is kept to optimize the gain and minimize side lobe levels [9].

Figure 3: 2×1 Array Antenna

The actual prototype model is shown in figure 4, Figure 5 is full model
Design of Beam Steering Rectangular Microstrip Antenna Array for 2.45 GHz 87

ACTUAL EXPERIMENTAL SET-UP OF PATCH ANTEENA ARRAY SYSTEM

Figure 4: Transmitting Antenna with Beam Figure 5: Experimental Testing Setup

Control Mechanism(VCO, Splitter,
Phase Shifter etc)

Figure 6: Transmitter and Receiver Antenna on Figure 7: Receiver is Line of Sight (Poor
Reference Line (Front to Front on 0 Axes) Strength on Spectrum Analyzer)

SIMULATED RESULTS FOR 1X2 PATCH ANTEENA ARRAY

Return Loss Measurement
From figure 8 The Return loss obtained at 2.45 GHz is -30 dB and band width obtained at -10 dB is about
40MHZ.

Figure 8
Directivity vs. Frequency

Shown in figure 9 directivity of array is 9 dBi at exact 2.5 GHz. single patch provide directivity up to 6 dBi here
directivity is increased by 3 dBi.
88 Patil Sarang M & Bombale U. L

Figure 9
From the figure 9, directivity obtained at 2.4 GHz is 9 dBi

Dimensional Radiation Pattern

Figure 10
Radiation Pattern (3-D) for 1x2 Arrays: E –Theta Pattern
Shows the figure 11 is 3-D radiation pattern:

Figure 11: Radiation Pattern

Design of Beam Steering Rectangular Microstrip Antenna Array for 2.45 GHz 89

PRACTICAL RESULT FOR 1X2 PATCH ANTEENA ARRAY

Figure 12 :Output of VCO Measured Diect on Spectrum Analyzer to Set at 2.45ghz

Figure 13: Received Signal by Single Patch from 2×1 Array

The system is tested and taken live results on spectrum analyzer, figure12 indicate the output of vco .the Vco is
tuned for 2.45 GHz by adjusting the control voltage applied to vco. Figure.13 represent the signal strength received by
receiver end.

POLAR PLOTS

Figure 14: Polar Plot for Voltage = 0V Figure 15: Polar Plot for Voltage = 7V
90 Patil Sarang M & Bombale U. L

In this above figure 14, the beam direction for theta = 1100 when 00 phase shift applied to both the patchs.This is
initial radiation direction

Figure 16: Polar Plot for Voltage = 0V

Shows the figures 15 and 16 for theta is 1600 and 300 respectively when applied potential is 7V and 15 volt
respectively. When analog phase shifter bias potential is increase the beam is also increase from 1100 to 300.

CONTROL WINDOW FOR BEAM STEERING

Figure 17: Initial Window Figure 18: Example for Intermediate Direction
In this system beam steering is done by using computer, to change the direction of radiation in specific angle is
achieved with minimum time using digital potentiometer. Digital potentiometer is interface to PC and Analog phase
shifter. To change the output potential GUI is make to inter the bits into control window phase shift is occurring
respectively.

Shows the below figure to introduce the operation of Beam steering. Figure 17 is Initial look of GUI before
entering any parameters, In this control window total output voltage is divided into 128 points SDI write button varies from
1 to 128 times and output is change respectively.Shown in figure 18 is the value is entered in the GUI then the position of
SDI is shown 33 and data write is also 33 ,after click on RUN buttons the data is transmitter to digital potentiometer.

CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE OUTLOOK

An experimental phased array antenna system is developed in this project. The use of digital potentiometer and
phase shifter to control the radiation pattern characteristics proved to be an efficient approach providing stability and easy
control of the radiation patterns as verified by the measurements and comparison with theoretical results, which shows
Design of Beam Steering Rectangular Microstrip Antenna Array for 2.45 GHz 91

good agreement. System provides radiation patterns with steerable main lobes and nulls at prespecified positions within the
azimuth region 0◦ ↔ 120◦ . Here array of only 2 rectangular patches is considered for experimental purpose.

It is possible to obtain more directive, confined and precise beam steering using more than 2 elements (typically
2N) in array for relatively low increase in cost. In this system linear array are use because of that beam steering is done for
1200 ,but this is possible to steer the beam by 00 to 1200 using dipole antenna. The possibility of using the developed
conformal array as focal plane radiator in a large reflector antenna is an interesting application being considered.

REFERENCES

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1981.

2. M. Amman, Design of Microstrip Patch Antenna for the 2.4 Ghz Band, Applied Microwave and Wireless, pp. 24-
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Ltd., London, UK, 1989.

3. POZAR D.M., and SCHAUBERT D.H., “Microstrip Antennas, the Analysis and Design of Microstrip Antennas
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8. Antenna Theory - Analysis and Design - by Balanis - [2006]

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000-999, 2009.

10. Aliakbarian* , V. Volski * , E. van der Westhuizen+ , R. Wolhuter+, and G. A. E.Vandenbosch“Analogue versus
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