Rectangular Microstrip Patch Antenna Array Based Sectored Antenna for Directional Wireless Sensor Networks

Directional wireless Sensor Network (DSN) outperforms Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) over different parameters such as transmission range, interference, spatial reusability and energy efficiency. In this paper, a Rectangular Patch antenna Array (RPA) based sectored antenna is proposed for DSN. The individual sector is composed of two-element rectangular patch antenna array with a measured peak gain of 5.2 dBi and half-power beamwidth of 45°. Single Pole 8 Throw (SP8T) Radio Frequency (RF) switchboard is designed to connect the sectored antenna to MICAz WSN mote. The antenna performance analysis carried out in simulation and real-time measurement via Ansys High Frequency Structure Simulator (HFSS) and Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) exhibits higher gain, lower return loss, half-power beamwidth and Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR).