E.Suneel,B.Prabhakararao,B.T.P.Madhav,S.A.R.Teja,V.V.

Vamsi Krishna, Shankar Acharya / International

Journal of Engineering Research and Applications (IJERA) ISSN: 2248-9622
www.ijera.com
Vol. 1, Issue 4, pp.2091-2095

Comparison of Performance Characterization in 2X2, 3X3 and

4X4 Array Antennas
1
E.Suneel, 2B.Prabhakararao, 3*B.T.P.Madhav,
4
S.A.R.Teja, 4V.V.Vamsi Krishna, 4Shankar Acharya
1
Associate professor, Dept.of ECE, DVR&Dr.HS MIC College of Technology, AP, India
2
Director of Evaluation, JNTU College of Engineering, Kakinada, AP, India
3
Assistant professor, Department of ECE, K L University, Guntur DT, AP, India
4
Project Students, Department of ECE, K L University, AP, India

Abstract:
The best way of gain enhancement can be characterization of these antennas with respect to
obtained is from the array models, but there are antenna output parameters [5-8].
some problems associated with array antennas.
The electromagnetic band gap materials are using
Mutual coupling losses, element spacing and
by different people in their work for designing the
design complexity are major concerns in the
antennas to enhance the gain band with product.
array antennas. The present paper deals with
EBG structures are generally known as photonic
the performance characterization among the
band gap structures which associated with the area
2X2, 3X3, 4X4 array antennas. Rectangular
of optics. Generally EBG is a periodic structure
patch array models are constructed and
that forbids the propagation of electromagnetic
simulated using Ansoft HFSS. Antenna output
surface waves with in a particular frequency band
parameters and antenna performance
called band gap. EBG also permits additional
characteristics are presented in this current
control of the behavior of electromagnetic waves in
work.
a different way from conventional guiding or
filtering structures. EBG having a capability to
Keywords: Performance Characterization,
provide a simple and efficient solution for
Array Antenna, Gain Enhancement.
problems of surface and leaky waves. The
performance of antennas and input impedance
I. Introduction: matching characteristics can be improved by EBG
The microstrip patch antennas are using in number structures [9-10].
of applications like in mobile communications,
A comparative study is done on different types of
satellite communication, GPS applications,
arrays like 2*2, 3*3, 4*4 antenna arrays and their
wireless communication etc. The main problem
performance characteristics presented and an
associated with the micro strip patch antenna
analytical study is done by considering
includes Low efficiency, High quality factor, Low
performance of all the structures. Figure (1) shows
power handling capacity, Poor polarization purity.
the different antenna array models designed and
But advantages include Low profile, Compact size,
generated by Ansoft HFSS. The systematic
Planer configuration, Low weight, Easy to fabricate
evaluation is done by considering the planar array
[1-4]. models and all the output characteristics are
The performance of micro strip antenna mainly presented based on the simulation results.
depends on the substrate material, dimension of
A typical 2X2, 3X3 and 4X4 patch antenna arrays
antenna, feeding technique. The array of patch
with finite ground planes are shown in figure (1),
elements is used instead of single patch to enhance
(2) and (3). The antenna dimension of 70X70mm is
the gain and the band width. By controlling the
used for all the models except the patch dimension
dimension of the antenna by using slot models and
and spacing between them.
by choosing proper dielectric constant with suitable
substrate will provide some improvement in band
width. This paper mainly focuses on different types
of array antennas and the performance

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E.Suneel,B.Prabhakararao,B.T.P.Madhav,S.A.R.Teja,V.V.Vamsi Krishna, Shankar Acharya / International
Journal of Engineering Research and Applications (IJERA) ISSN: 2248-9622
www.ijera.com
Vol. 1, Issue 4, pp.2091-2095

S.No Array Return Bandwidth Gain

Type Loss

1 2X2 -30.11 0.88% 11.54

2 3X3 -30.11 0.89% 15.22

3 4X4 -30.11 0.90% 17.92

Table (1) Antenna Parameters

The return loss is same for 2x2, 3x3 and 4x4 array
patch antennas working at 2.6 GHz. The bandwidth
and gain are showing some incremented values
when array size is increasing. The bandwidth
Fig (1) 2X2 Rectangular Array Patch enhancement of 0.01% is observed when we go
from 2x2 to 4x4. The main theme of going for
array models is for getting better gain. The
simulation results showing the gain is increasing if
array elements are increasing.

Table (2) shows the Antenna parameters and

maximum field data for 2x2, 3x3 and 4x4 patch
array models.

Fig (2) 3X3 Rectangular Array Patch

Fig (3) 4X4 Rectangular Array Patch

II. Results and Discussion:

The performance characteristics of all the three
models are presented here and the analysis is done
depending on the comparative study. Table (1)
shows all the three types of antennas output
parameters. Table (1) shows the parameters return
loss, bandwidth and gain of the three antennas.
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E.Suneel,B.Prabhakararao,B.T.P.Madhav,S.A.R.Teja,V.V.Vamsi Krishna, Shankar Acharya / International
Journal of Engineering Research and Applications (IJERA) ISSN: 2248-9622
www.ijera.com
Vol. 1, Issue 4, pp.2091-2095

Table (2a), (2b), (2c) Antenna additional parameters and field data for three models

2093 | P a g e
E.Suneel,B.Prabhakararao,B.T.P.Madhav,S.A.R.Teja,V.V.Vamsi Krishna, Shankar Acharya / International
Journal of Engineering Research and Applications (IJERA) ISSN: 2248-9622
www.ijera.com
Vol. 1, Issue 4, pp.2091-2095

Figure (4) shows the gain curve for all the three [2] Balh IJ and Bhartia P (1980) Microstrip
models. From the simulation results it is clear that antennas. Artech house, Norwood, MA.
the gain enhancement can be done by increasing
number of patch elements. The peak directivity and [3]. Balanis CA (1997) Antenna theory, John Wiley
peak gain is almost doubled when patch elements & Sons, Inc.
increases from 4 to 16 with 2x2, 3x3 and 4x4 array.
The radiation efficiency is showing the same value [4] K.F.Lee and W.Chen, ―Advances in
for all three cases but the incident and accepted microstrip and Printed antennas, Wiley,
powers are different for each case. Left hand Newyork,1997, pp.144-147.
circular polarization and right hand circular [5] Arun K Bhattacharayya, ―Phased Array
polarization values can be collected from the Antennas‖, Wiley series in Microwave and Optical
maximum field data results. Engineering, Chapter 5.

As per the power consumption is concerned the [6]. K.L.Wong, ―Compact and Broadband
2x2 array model consumes less power compared to Microstrip Antennas, John Wiley & sons, Text
other models and 4x4 consumes more power. The Book
element spacing is very nearer in the case of 4x4
array patch which leads to mutual coupling losses [7].R.B.Waterhouse, et.al, Broadband printed
and in the case of 2x2 array the mutual coupling is millimeterwave Antenna, IEEE Trans. AP –
less. 51, No.9, Sep 2003,pp 2492- 2495.

III. Conclusion: [8] R. Gonzalo Garcia, P. de Maagt, and M.

Sorolla, “Enhanced patchantenna performance by
2x2, 3x3 and 4x4 array patch antennas are designed suppressing surface waves using photonicband- gap
and simulated using Ansoft HFSS and their substrate,” IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory Tech.,
performance characteristics are presented in this vol. 47, no. 11, pp. 213 1–2138, Nov. 1999.
work. As we observed that the gain and bandwidth
are enhanced by increasing the number of patch [9] B.T.P.Madhav, Prof. VGKM Pisipati, Prof.
elements in the models from 2x2 to 4x4. The Habibulla Khan, VGNS Prasad, Prof. P.V.Datta
radiation efficiency, return loss remain same even Prasad, P.Sreekanth, “Microstrip Circular Patch
with change in the patch elements but Radiated Array Antenna For Wlan Applications On Liquid
power also increased accordingly. All these models Crystal Polymer Substrate”, Journal of Emerging
are used line feeding instead of coaxial feeding and Trends in Computing and Information Sciences. ,
the performance characteristics of these antennas Vol. 2, No. 1, February 2011.
should be studied using coaxial feeding and edge
feeding also in the future. The surface and leaky [10] B.T.P.Madhav, Dr. K. Sarat Kumar, Pranob K
waves can be reduced by using EBG structures Charless, P.Sreyash, V.Satyasainadh, P.L.Madhuri,
may improve the efficiency of the array patch A.Snehitha, Saroj Gautam,” Rectangular Microstrip
antennas in our future work. 6X6 Patch Array Antenna Performance Evaluation
based on Permittivity of the Substrate Materials”,
Acknowledgments: GJCAT, Vol 1 (1), 2011, 83-91, ISSN: 2249-1945.
The authors like to express their thanks to the
Authors Biography:
management of MIC Engineering College and K L
University for their support and encouragement
during this work. Further Madhav like to express
his gratitude towards department of ECE, K L
University.

References: E.Suneel, received B.Tech in

Electronics and Communication engineering,
[1] Yong Huang, Ke-Li Wu, Da-Gang Fang and M.Tech in Instrumentation and Control Systems,
Ehlert, M., "An integrated LTCC millimeter-wave from JNTU College of Engineering Kakinada in
planar array antenna with lowloss feeding 1997 and 2002, From 2002-2003 he worked as
network," IEEE Trans. Antennas and Propagation Asst.Professor in VPSIT,Kanuru, Vijayawada,
vol. 53, issue 3, pp. 1232 – 1234, March 2005. From 2006 to till date he is working in DVR &Dr
HS MIC College of Technology, Kanchikacherla.

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E.Suneel,B.Prabhakararao,B.T.P.Madhav,S.A.R.Teja,V.V.Vamsi Krishna, Shankar Acharya / International
Journal of Engineering Research and Applications (IJERA) ISSN: 2248-9622
www.ijera.com
Vol. 1, Issue 4, pp.2091-2095

His areas of interests are Antennas and microwave

engineering and Radio science technology.

B.T.P.Madhav was born in India,

A.P, in 1981. He received the B.Sc, M.Sc, MBA,
M.Tech degrees from Nagarjuna University, A.P,
India in 2001, 2003, 2007, and 2009 respectively.
From 2003-2007 he worked as lecturer and from
2007 to till date he is working as Assistant
professor in Electronics Engineering. Presently he
pursuing P.hD from K L University. He has
published more than 65 papers in International and
National journals. His research interests include
antennas, liquid crystals applications and wireless
communications.

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