Design and Performance Analysis of a Compact Microstrip Patch Antenna for 2.4 GHz Wireless Communication

Microstrip patch antennas are extensively utilized in wireless communication systems due to their low profile, cost-effectiveness, and simple fabrication process. This study proposes a compact slot-loaded microstrip patch antenna with a partial ground plane, tailored for operation in the 2.4 GHz ISM (Industrial, Scientific and Medical) band. The antenna is designed on an FR-4 substrate with a dielectric constant of 4.3, a thickness of 1.6 mm and overall dimensions of 35.1×10×1.6 mm3. Excitation is achieved via a 50Ω microstrip feed line. To improve impedance matching and bandwidth, the antenna is designed with slot loading, an inverse U-shaped meander line configuration and a partial ground plane. The antenna's performance is evaluated through simulations in CST Microwave Studio. Results indicate that the proposed antenna exhibits a return loss of -33.27 dB, a bandwidth of 16.66 %, a gain of 1. 1 6 d B and a radiation efficiency of 7 8 % at 2. 4 G H z. Its compact footprint, enhanced bandwidth and consistent performance make it highly suitable for applications in WLAN, wireless sensor networks and IoT devices operating in the 2.4 GHz ISM band.