High performance planar antenna array for broadband WLAN applications

Theoretical and experimental results of a new wide-band planar antenna are presented for wireless local access networks (WLAN) including bluetooth. This antenna can achieve a wide bandwidth, high gain, low sidelobe radiation levels, low cross polarization levels, and low backward radiation levels. To demonstrate the design procedure, a novel type of microstrip printed dipole antenna prototype is designed and implemented. To analyze its performance, theorical analysis and measurements are carried out and good performances are achieved. Experimental results indicate that the proposed antenna achieves a bandwidth of 13.3% with VSWR less than 1.5, a gain of 23.5 dB, a maximum sidelobe radiation level of -20 dB, and a front-to-back ratio of -25 dB, which are very sufficient for broadband wireless applications.