Enhanced performance of a microstrip patch antenna using a high impedance EBG structure

Recently, there has been extensive research on electromagnetic band gap structures (EBGs) and their applications in microstrip antennas. The structure studied in this paper consists of metallic patches with center vias connecting the patches to the ground plane. The properties of this 2D structure are studied using the Ansoft Ensemble simulator which is based on the method of moments (MOM). The effects of the EBG on the gain, radiation pattern, and resonant frequency of a patch antenna are investigated. It is shown that by placing a single layer of EBG around a patch antenna, significant improvements in the gain and radiation pattern can be achieved. Additionally, the back radiation due to the finite ground plane can be reduced significantly.