Optimization approach for designing compact rectangular microwave patch antennas

A theory for determining the linear dimensions of compact rectangular microwave patch antennas on metamaterial substrates with a high real part of the effective relative permittivity is presented. This theory demonstrates that significant miniaturization of the volume profile of such antennas is achievable with enhanced performance. The proposed theory is based on a simple analytical algorithm design to minimize the volume profile of the antenna patch. It establishes a relationship between the effective relative permittivity of the substrate, the resonant frequency, and the substrate thickness. Notably, the proposed optimization approach, does not impose any restrictions on the geometry of the metamaterial unit cell used to create the antenna substrate. Furthermore, it does not require substantial computational resources for designing the linear dimensions of patch antennas. The derived relations are intended to be used along with modern electromagnetic simulators for the CAD design of compact microwave metamaterial patch antennas with a rectangular patch. The proposed optimization theory is validated through an electromagnetic simulator based on the finite difference time-domain method.