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High Gain Microstrip MIMO Antenna for Wireless

Applications
Tanvi Agrawal, Shweta Srivastava

Department of Electronics and Communication

Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, Sector 62, Noida, India.
E-mail: tanviagrawal88@[Link]

Abstract- A four elements multiple inputs multiple technology requires multiple antenna systems.
outputs (MIMO) antenna system based on However, it is difficult to integrate two or more
microstrip patch elements for multiple ISM band antennas in a mobile device because of limited
operation has been presented in this paper.
Multiple bands have been achieved by etching
space. So, the antenna elements must be compact
complementary split ring resonators (CSRR) in the and should be put very close to each other. But
ground plane of a conventional rectangular patch when antennas are placed very close,
antenna, achieving 56% miniaturization. The electromagnetic interactions between the
antenna is fabricated and tested. Measured results elements lead to large mutual coupling which
are in good agreement with simulations. Isolation results in impedance mismatch, reduced radiation
between different antenna elements is greater than
and increase in the antenna correlation coefficient
23 dB and maximum envelope correlation
coefficient is less than 0.03. The antenna [2]. This degrades the performance of a MIMO
performance has been compared with different system. Therefore, it is a challenging task to
MIMO systems presented in literature and gain of design a MIMO antenna with small size while
the proposed system is much higher than the gain obtaining high isolation.
of other systems for operating frequencies. The
SNR has been calculated and it has been Microstrip patch antenna has been considered for
established that the antenna can support data rate compact mobile devices due to its small size and
as high as 1.12 GBPS which makes this antenna
suitable for modern wireless applications requiring
conformity. Patch antennas have been
higher data rates. The design is very simple and extensively used due to their ease of design and
easy to fabricate. fabrication. However, they are hardly used as
elements of MIMO antenna systems due to their
huge dimensions. Several methods have been
Index Terms- MIMO antennas, CSRR, SNR, proposed to reduce the size of patch antennas.
Microstrip Antenna, Envelope Correlation Coefficient. These methods include the loading of reactive
elements [3], use of reactive impedance surfaces
[4], and use of shorting posts [5]. Recently,
I. INTRODUCTION
complementary split-ring resonators (CSRRs)
have been used with patch antennas for antenna
With the advancement in technology, future
miniaturization. A significant reduction in patch
wireless communications services demand high
antenna size was established by loading CSRR
data rates. Multiple-input multiple-output on a patch antenna [6]–[9].
(MIMO) technology is being considered as a
basic requirement for the emerging and future GSM 2.4 GHz has been widely used since many
wireless communication systems. MIMO applications operate in this band. Several four
technology significantly enhances the element antennas have been presented in
performance of wireless communication systems literatures which operate in this band [10-13]. In
such as improving the data rate, transmission [10] J.F. Li [Link]. presented a tri band four
speed and channel capacity [1]. MIMO element MIMO antenna system on a substrate of

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size 93×45×1.6 mm3. Although the isolation substrate with ground plane at the bottom of the
technique demonstrated in this paper contributed substrate. The FR4 substrate has been used to
to very good isolation but the gain of this antenna fabricate antenna which is having 1.6 mm
system is less than 2 dB. Also the design is quite thickness and relative permittivity of 4.4 with a
complicated. Muhammad U. Khan in [11] loss tangent of 0.025. When this antenna is
presented a four element patch antenna with stimulated by a microstrip feed, fringing fields is
CSRR. The size of this system is 100×50×0.8 formed around the patch slots as EM energy is
mm3. Again the problem with this antenna is its radiated in the vertical direction. To achieve
gain Maximum gain of this antenna is 0.8dBi. impedance matching, inset feeding technique is
Multiband 2×1 element MIMO system presented used. The return loss of the antenna is found to
in [12] has a size of 120×60×0.8 mm3 depicting be -28 dB at 5.8 GHz as shown in Fig.1b, and the
good miniaturization but the maximum gain corresponding gain is 7.34 dB
achieved through this antenna is only 0.44 dB.
The MIMO system provided by C. Chiu and R.
D. Murch in [13] is very compact antenna for
portable MIMO devices made by combination of
PIFA and slot elements. But this antenna operates
only on single band and again has a maximum
gain of 2.4 dB. While some of the MIMO
systems available in literature have good
miniaturization and some have good isolation
characteristics but they have a drawback in terms
of poor gain. Poor gain of this antenna system
makes them less suitable for wireless
applications.

This paper presents a high gain four element

microstrip antenna based MIMO system to
operate at multiple ISM bands. The antenna is
fabricated on a substrate having a size of
70×80×1.6 mm3. Miniaturization of 56% has
been achieved by embedding multiple CSRRs on
the ground plane of the antenna. The antenna
presented in this paper has a minimum isolation
of 20 dB and minimum and maximum gain
achieved is 4.07 dB and 7.34 dB respectively.
These results show that the antenna presented in
this paper is quite suitable for portable system
applications and also very easy to fabricate. High
gain and moderate size of this antenna can
significantly reduce the cost of the wireless
system.

II. MICROSTRIP ANTENNA DESIGN Fig1. (a) Design of Microstrip patch antenna with
dimensions Ls=50mm, Ws=38mm, Lp=14.01mm,
Wp=20.7mm and ts=3.54mm. (b) S11 (dB) of the patch
A microstrip patch antenna is designed which is
antenna
resonating at 5.8 GHz as shown in Fig.1a. It III. CSRR DESIGN
consists of rectangular patch which is placed on a

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A complementary split ring resonator has been elements at the back side of each antenna
etched on the ground plane for achieving element. The S-parameters of the MIMO system
miniaturization. Fig.2(a) and (b) shows a have been calculated using Ansoft HFSS by
realization of CSRR with a microstrip line on the exciting one element at a time and keeping other
other side. Fig. 2 (c) shows retrieved parameters ports matched. The S-parameters shown in Fig
for this composite structure. As it clear that they 3(b) have good isolation of more than -28 dB at
exhibit negative permittivity and permeability the operating frequency of the antenna.
simultaneously for the frequency band 2.7 GHz
to 3.3 GHz. From the figure it can be realized
that simultaneous negative permittivity and
permeability results in negative value of
refractive index in the same frequency band.

Fig2. A unit cell of CSRR (a) CSRR front view with

R1=5mm, R2=3mm, s=1.5 mm (b) Microstrip line
back view with W=3.62mm, (c) Retrieved parameters
of CSRR unit cell.

IV. MICROSTRIP MIMO DESIGN LOADED

WITH CSRR Fig.3 (a). 2*2 MIMO antenna systems having a total
ground plane area of 80*90 mm2 (b) simulated S-
Fig.3 (a) shows the geometrical layout of the 2x2 parameters.
microstrip MIMO antenna system. The antenna
In order to make the antenna radiate at multiple
elements are placed such that they have a port at
bands, multiple CSRRs have been etched out on
each side of substrate and require minimum size.
the ground plane at the back side of the
The distance between elements has been
rectangular patch element. Fig. 4a shows such a
optimized to accommodate multiple CSRR
design with two CSRR elements. CSRR has the

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dimensions as discussed in section III. The The miniaturization effect is more in case of
overall resonance of the design will be three CSRR that resonates at frequencies 2.45
transformed by capacitance and inductance of the GHz, 3.15 GHz, 3.4 GHz and 3.75 GHz as shown
CSRR and hence the resonance frequency of the in fig.5(a) and 5(b). The gain at these frequencies
patch, which is inherently a parallel RLC is given in Table 1. Further, more number of
resonator [14], is shifted to lower value resulting CSRR at the ground plane gives more bands but
in antenna miniaturization. Fig. 4(b) shows the require larger size as well. Hence, in the
simulated results of microstrip antenna with two proposed design the number of CSRR’s is
CSRR on the ground plane resonating at 4 GHz restricted to three.
and 5.7 GHz with a gain of 5.65 dB and 4.07 dB
respectively.

Fig.5(a). 2*2 MIMO antenna systems loaded with

Fig.4 (a). 2*2 MIMO antenna systems loaded with three CSRR on ground plane (b) simulated S-
two CSRR on ground plane (b) simulated S- parameters.
parameters.

V. MEASURED RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

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Table 1: Gain and Resonant frequency of proposed

antenna
Patch Patch antenna MIMO system with three
S. Microstrip Resonant Gain
CSRR discussed in last section has been No Antenna Frequency (dBi)
fabricated by using PCB prototyping machine (GHz)
and the fabricated structure is shown in Fig.6(a). 1 Without
CSRR 5.8 GHz 7.34
The S-parameters of this fabricated antenna has
been measured by using the network analyzer, 2 With 2 4 GHz 5.65
Keysight ENA E5071C. The measurement setup CSRR
5.7 GHz 4.07
is shown in Fig 6(b). The measured S-parameters
of the antenna given in Fig.6(c) are in good 3 With 3 2.45 GHz 6.9
agreement with the simulated results (Fig. 5b). CSRR
3.15 GHz 6.1
Resonance frequency of the antenna is shifted as
CSRR etched out under a patch antenna actually 3.4 GHz 6.4
transforms the overall characteristics of antenna
3.75 GHz 5.8
cavity. As a CSRR is an anisotropic element, it
has a subtle effect on the resonant frequency of Fig. 7 shows the measured radiation pattern of
the antenna due to its orientation apart from its antenna at different resonating frequencies for E
dimensions. In this design, the CSRRs were and H-plane. Radiation pattern of antenna at
directed in such a way that the slits in the rings these frequencies has wide beamwidth which
were oriented towards the radiating edges of the suits the primary requirement of mobile antenna
patch antenna. applications. Also, the gain at these frequencies
as given in Table 1 is quite good and higher than
the gain of other MIMO systems reported in
literature [10-13]. Higher gain of the antenna can
be attributed to the fact that the effective
dielectric constant of the substrate reduces due to
negative permeability offered by the CSRR and it
also reduces the dielectric losses in the substrate.
In addition to this, the conductor loss in the
antenna is also reduced because the overall
dimension of the patch is relatively smaller than
other antennas mentioned in literature operating
at these frequencies. Hence, high gain and good
isolation characteristics of this antenna make it
suitable for wireless communication applications.

Fig.6 (a). 2*2 MIMO antenna systems loaded with

three CSRR on ground plane, (b) Measurement of the
antenna using keysight ENA E5071C (c) Measured
simulated S-parameters of three CSRR

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Fig.8. Simulated and Measured Envelope Correlation

Fig.7. Measured radiation pattern of 2*2 MIMO Coefficient of 2*2 MIMO antenna systems loaded
antenna systems loaded with three CSRR (a) Phi=0 with three CSRR.
(b) Phi=90
B. Signal to Noise ratio (SNR)
A. Envelope Correlation Coefficient
Modern wireless communication applications
In order to obtain adequate diversity performance require higher data rate which depends upon
of the proposed antenna for MIMO applications, maximum capacity of wireless communication
it is mandatory to achieve a low envelope links. This channel capacity is directly
correlation coefficient (ECC). The envelope proportional to the signal to noise ratio (SNR) at
correlation coefficient is a measure of the the receiver. SNR is defined as the ratio of signal
correlation and isolation between the radiation power to the noise power at the receiving antenna
patterns of MIMO receiving antenna pairs. It can given as [17].
𝑃
be calculated using the following relation [15]. 𝑆𝑁𝑅 = 𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛𝑎𝑙 (1)
𝑃𝑁𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑒
Maximum acceptable value of Envelope
correlation coefficient is 0.5 for good diversity There are various types of noise present in the
performance [16]. Fig.8 (a) and (b) show the system such as shot noise, thermal noise, flicker
simulated and measured results of the MIMO noise etc. Here thermal noise is introduced as the
antenna with three CSRR. The proposed MIMO noise will be due to the antenna structure. The
configuration gives the envelope correlation noise power in the antenna due to thermal noise
coefficient below 0.03 over the entire frequency is given as:
range 𝑃𝑛𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑒 = 𝐾𝑇𝐵 (2)

here, 𝐾 = 1.36 𝑥 10−23 𝐽𝐾 −1 (Boltzmann

Constant), T= Absolute temperature in Kelvin,
B= bandwidth in Hertz. Thermal noise of antenna
depends upon its bandwidth and is independent
of operating frequency. By considering -10 dB
bandwidth of 300 MHz and room temperature
(T=290 0 K) for calculation, the noise power
comes out to be 5 dB.

The signal power or electric field strength of the

antenna is defined as the power output from
received from the transmitting antenna. The

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electric field strength 𝐸𝜃 and 𝐸∅ of the microstrip

antenna can be determined from the radiation Once 𝐸𝜃 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐸𝜑 are known, the signal power
pattern based on the electric surface current is calculated in the far field by using relation
model given in [18] given in equation 3 and 4 given in [18] given in equation 5 below.
below.

2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 (𝑘 0 𝐿 sin 𝜃 /2)) (∈𝑟 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2 𝜃 𝑐𝑜𝑡 2 𝑘 0 ℎ ∈𝑟 )𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 (𝜃)

𝐸𝜃 = ∈𝑟𝑒 [1 + ∈ 𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑡 2 𝑘0 ℎ ∈𝑟 𝜖 𝑟𝑒 −𝑠𝑖𝑛 (𝜃2 2 𝜖 𝑟𝑒 −𝑠𝑖𝑛 2 (𝜃 +𝜖 𝑟2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 (𝜃)𝑐𝑜𝑡 2 𝑘 0 ℎ ∈𝑟 −𝑠𝑖𝑛 2 (𝜃)
(3)

2 [1+ ∈ 𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑡 2 𝑘 0 ℎ ∈𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 (𝜃)

𝐸𝜃 = 𝑆𝑖𝑛𝑐 2 ( 𝑘0 𝑊 sin 𝜃/2)
𝜖 𝑟𝑒 −sin 𝜃 2 𝑐𝑜𝑡 2 𝑘 0 ℎ ∈𝑟 −𝑠𝑖𝑛 2 (𝜃)+ 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 (𝜃)
(4)
𝜋
1 2𝜋 2 2
𝑃𝑟 = 2𝜂 2 𝐸𝜃 + 𝐸𝜑 𝑟 2 sin θ 𝑑𝜃 𝑑𝜙 (5)
𝑜 0 0
∗ 𝑆 +𝑆 ∗ 𝑆 +𝑆 ∗ 𝑆 +𝑆 ∗ 𝑆 2
𝑆11 12 12 22 13 32 14 42
𝜌𝑒,12 = 1− 𝑆11 2 − 𝑆21 2 − 𝑆31 2 − 𝑆41 2 (1− 𝑆12 2 − 𝑆22 2 − 𝑆32 2 − 𝑆42 2
(6)

∗ 𝑆 +𝑆 ∗ 𝑆 +𝑆 ∗ 𝑆 +𝑆 ∗ 𝑆 2
𝑆11 13 12 23 13 33 14 43
𝜌𝑒,12 = 1− 𝑆11 2− 𝑆21 − 𝑆31 − 𝑆41 (1− 𝑆12 − 𝑆23 2 − 𝑆33 2 − 𝑆43 2
2 2 2 2 (7)

∗ 𝑆 +𝑆 ∗ 𝑆 +𝑆 ∗ 𝑆 +𝑆 ∗ 𝑆 2
𝑆11 14 12 24 13 34 14 44
𝜌𝑒,12 = 1− 𝑆11 2− 𝑆21 − 𝑆31 − 𝑆41 (1− 𝑆12 − 𝑆24 2 − 𝑆34 2 − 𝑆44 2
2 2 2 2 (8)

frequencies and given in Fig. 9. It is clear that the

14 SNR is around 10 dB at the operating frequencies
13 of antenna and with this SNR value the antenna
12
can support data rate as approximately high as
1.12 Gbps, which makes this antenna quite
11
Signal to Noise ratio (dB)

suitable for modern wireless communication

10
applications.
9

8
VI. CONCLUSION
7

6 A multiple input multiple output antenna system

5 loaded with CSRR on the ground plane,
4
2.2 2.4 2.6 2.8 3 3.2 3.4 3.6 3.8
operating at different ISM bands has been
Frequency (GHz) presented in this paper. High degree of
Fig.9. Signal to Noise ratio in dB for 2*2 MIMO miniaturization has been achieved with the
antenna systems loaded with three CSRR increase in number of CSRR on the ground
plane. The gain of the antenna is higher than
The values of 𝐸𝜃 , 𝐸𝜑 have been calculated by 5.83dB at its operating frequencies. Maximum
using above formula in the farfield for theta and envelope correlation coefficient between the
phi direction and then signal power can be antenna elements is less than 0.03 over the
calculated using above relation. The ratio of frequency bands. Signal to noise ratio of the
signal power to noise power calculated using antenna is calculated for three CSRR and it is
above values has been plotted at different around 10 dB at the operating frequencies of
antenna and hence with this SNR value the

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antenna can support data rate up to 1.12 Gbps, [12] M. U. Khan, M. S. Sharawi, and D. N. Aloi, “A
which makes this antenna quite suitable for multi-band 2×1 MIMO antenna system consisting
of CSRR loaded patch elements”, IEEE Antennas
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