Design of an Inset Feed Rectangular Microstrip Patch Antenna

Many types of conventional antennas exist for RF energy harvesting purposes. This energy can be used for sensor applications. The microstrip patch antenna is a more efficient and better radiation antenna that can be chosen out of all antennas since it is smaller in size and operates at microwave frequencies. This work presents the parameter design, simulation, and output testing of a microstrip patch antenna that can harvest energy from the Wi-Fi with the resonance frequency of 2.4 GHz. This antenna is a good radio frequency harvester that can absorb the energy spectrum in the band of interest for Wi-Fi and Wi-Max. The simulation of the microstrip patch antenna was performed using Computer Simulation Technology (CST) and the results obtained are discussed. The return loss of the antenna will also be discussed using the simulation result. In the fabrication of the antenna, the patch shape of the antenna was laser printed first using a photo sheet and then was printed on the copper board. Finally, by using thinner, the shape of the patch was obtained. The specialty of the microstrip patch antenna is the antenna design itself has the impedance matching feature where we make the 1 mm gap between the inset feed and the patch. Further, an SMA connector was used at the feeding point of the antenna since it can feed 50 Ω characteristic impedance. The minimum voltage expected from the antenna is 0.3 V ac. Finally, the antenna output voltage was tested at various places. The voltage differs according to the Wi-Fi strength of the place. The output voltage increases when the Wi-Fi strength is relatively higher.