Automatic search for efficient broadband microstrip patch antennas

Numerical optimisation is used in the search for optimal circular probe-fed stacked patch antenna configurations. New trends are sought to aid understanding, provoke new thinking, and suggest novel solutions. We describe the optimisation technique used, present a new design trend, and propose and demonstrate a novel, optimized antenna achieving 34% bandwidth at 1.4 GHz whilst maintaining >80% efficiency. The value of this automated optimisation approach is thus confirmed.