Reduction of Mutual Coupling between Radiating Elements of an Array Antenna Using EBG Electromagnetic Band Structures

Abstract

In this paper, a new array antenna configuration based on Electromagnetic Band Gap (EBG) structures has been proposed for 3.5GHz wireless communication systems. The proposed slotted EBG structure, high impedance surface (SHI), consists of three squares and a square ring deposited on a substrate (Rogers RO4350) which has a relative permittivity of 10.2 and a thickness of 1.27mm. Initially a matrix of 3×7 unit cells of EBG structures is introduced between two patches of an array and then a matrix of 3×14 unit cell of EBG structures is integrated between eight patches, which resonate around 3.5GHz (Wi MAX). The insertion of these structures between the radiating elements of an array antenna reduces the mutual coupling and antenna dimensions by approximately (8dB, 11%) and (12 dB, 5%) respectively for two, eight elements array antenna. In addition, the directivity has been slightly improved in the presence of EBG structures, from 4.52dB to 6.09dB for a two-element array antenna, and from 8.18dB to 8.4dB for an eight-element antenna.