Low profile patch antenna on cement substrate for indoor applications

A novel microstrip antenna on cement substrate is presented. Cement as substrate provides scope for low profile, low cost antenna deployment for indoor communications including WLAN, Fibre to the Home (FTTH) and Wireless sensors for IoT applications. A rectangular patch resonating at 1 GHz is simulated employing Ansoft HFSS. An omni directional pattern with an appreciable return loss of -30 dB is observed. The reduced gain of -3 dB can be attributed to substrate conductivity. The antenna dimensions are scaled geometrically to obtain gain enhancement without return loss deterioration. Ageing alters the dielectric properties of cement significantly. The impact on antenna performance is analysed by simulating antenna parameters for aged substrate. The relative permittivity and conductivity are altered, maintaining the designed patch dimensions. There is a tolerable increase in return loss to around -10 dB that warrants attention. Further research includes optimizing return loss to appreciable levels and experimental verification of the simulated results. Exploring materials as filler in cement mortar to reduce conductivity promises attractive scope for material research.