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

This article presents a sub-GHz ISM band microstrip patch antenna based on the use of multilayer 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 (0.29 lambda x 0.29 lambda x 0.02 lambda). 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.