Design and implementation of printed Multi-Element Antennas on wireless sensor nodes

The design and implementation of sensor nodes equipped with low-complexity multi-element antennas (MEApsilas) is considered in this work. The design restrictions imposed by the size limits of the sensors, as well as the requirements for the antenna elements employed have been investigated. In the process of implementing such a system, there are a number of critical issues, such as the geometry and arrangement of the elements on the PCB. Accurate simulation models have been built into a full-wave electromagnetic simulator. These models have provided insight into the degree of degradation when two printed radiators share the same small PCB. We have calculated quantities that serve as benchmarks of array performance under realistic operating conditions, such as mutual coupling between elements and the degradation of total radiation efficiency. The prototype MEApsilas have been fabricated, and characterized by measurement in a full anechoic chamber.