Microstrip Array Antenna with New 2D-Electromagnetic Band Gap Structure Shapes to Reduce Harmonics and Mutual Coupling

This paper presents microstrip array antenna integrated with novel shapes of 2D-electromagnetic band-gap structure (2D-EBG). Three different shapes of 2D EBG are used for harmonic suppression, optimizing the current distribution on the patches and decreasing the mutual coupling between array elements. As a result, the performance of the antenna array is improved. The three novel shapes of 2D-EBG presented are star, H shaped and I shaped slots. Simulated and measured results verify the improved performance of the array antenna compared to the antenna without EBG as well as antenna array with conventional EBG shapes. The harmonic suppression and reflection coefficients are improved by about 18 dB. Minimum mutual coupling is less than -20 dB, and the antenna size is reduced by 15% compared to the original size.