GNSS Patch Antenna Design Parameter Optimization using FEKO, Design of Experiments & P-Transform Technique

The next generation of Automotive Radios, Navigation Systems, Connectivity, Connected Services, Positioning Services, Cloud Services, CV-X cellular network technologies, HD maps in autonomous domain needs and require an optimized and robust future GNSS (GPS and GLONASS) patch antenna solution to operate effectively and deliver services, features, functionality and that allows the V model process (Verification and Validation) of the above outlined items software stack at the engineering development component and vehicle level and as well as in the production intent vehicles out in the field.Conducted literature review and published paper studied however, observed that there is a problem related to the Center Frequency of 1.555 [GHz] GNSS antenna which has not been investigated. The proposed work involved a modeling of New GNSS (GPS and GLONASS) rectangular patch antenna. The design focus will be on the operating frequency range of 1.500 [GHz] to 1.610 [GHz] and FEKO 3D Electromagnetic simulation software package from Altair [4] will be used, Design of Experiments (DoE) [5], and as well as applying an optimization P-Transform algorithm [6] on the presented dual band GNSS (GPS and GLONASS) patch antenna passive gain. To be more direct, the GNSS microstrip patch antenna is designed to resonate and operate at 1.555 [GHz] frequency. The demonstrated GNSS patch antenna was designed to capture both the GPS and GLONASS signals and data targeting automotive and non-automotive industries as its intended application.Furthermore, the ground plane length, ground plane width and the substrate material dielectric constant design parameters were varied at each FEKO simulation run, in order to obtain the simulation of GNSS patch antenna passive gain output results for the purpose of the optimization study using P-Transform technique within the MATLAB environment. The presented GNSS patch antenna 2D far field and/or average passive gain measurement of GPS and GLONASS at carrier frequency of 1.555 [GHz] was plotted and analyzed. The computation and analysis involved taking the delta between elevation angle 30 and 90 degrees from the average passive gain graph and this step was conducted for 120 FEKO simulation iteration runs. In other words, for each FEKO simulation run the Far field (objective function) was computed separately unique for that specific design parameters and recorded in a lookup matrix. This four columns lookup matrix was called out for the purposes of the P-Transform algorithm utilization and execution within the MATLAB environment.To be more precise, the FEKO simulation studies were undertaken to determine the GNSS (GPS and GLONASS) patch antenna average passive gain, in turn we call it the Objection Function in which the P-Transform optimization process will be applied. Moreover, Design of Experiments (DoE) was applied on the presented GNSS patch antenna, in order to reduce the number of required simulation test runs and therefore improve the proposed antenna design cycle.