Design of 4 × 4 Array Antenna Using Particle Swarm Optimization for High Aperture Gain for Wi-Fi Applications

An innovative microstrip H-shaped slotted patch antenna array design functions as a sub-array within a switchable outdoor antenna. The primary focus is to create an economical and compact solution for an outdoor WLAN communication system. To achieve this, an optimization study has been conducted to meet specific requirements. The two key challenges in the antenna design were related to bandwidth and space occupancy. To address these constraints, the antenna's design needed to prioritize high aperture efficiency and higher directivity, possibly even incorporating some degree of flexibility. The proposed solution involves designing the antenna as an array, allowing it to switch between several sub-arrays. The microstrip slotted patches within the arrays are tailored for operation within the frequency range around the 2.45 GHz ISM band. The primary design criterion was to strike a balance between bandwidth and aperture efficiency, with the goal of achieving maximum efficiency to minimize the overall occupied space. To accomplish this, a combination of the Method of Moments algorithm and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) was employed for the antenna design. The simulation and validation of the proposed design were carried out using CST Microwave Studio (CST MW Studio).