A wideband linear U-slot microstrip patch antenna array for wireless application

Microstrip antennas suffer an inherent disadvantage of narrow impedance bandwidth, normally within 5%. In this article, a single layer linear U-slot microstrip patch antenna array is designed, fabricated and characterised. The measured results agree well with the simulated, showing an enhanced impedance bandwidth (voltage standing wave ratio < 2) of 10.6%, ranging from 5.35 to 5.95 GHz, on an FR4 substrate. The antenna array has high efficiency and gain. Only a pair of sidelobes appear in the E plane radiation pattern. The reported linear array design can provide a method of expanding to 4 × N antenna array for satellite to ground communication operating at C band.