Gain enhancement of a compact 2.4-GHz meander antenna using inductive feed and capacitive load

摘要

In this study, a compact printed meander antenna with enhanced peak gain for 2.4-GHz applications was investigated. Inductive feed and capacitive load techniques were used in the meander antenna's design to optimize peak gain performance. A measured maximum peak gain of 4.49 dBi, input reflection coefficient of -15 dB, and fractional bandwidth of 7.23% were achieved using a 1.6-mm-thick FR4 substrate. The low-profile antenna occupied an area of 26 x 15.6 mm(2). The proposed antenna can be implemented in standard printed circuit board processes without any lumped elements or via holes, and it introduces very little fabrication complexity.