Switched parasitic patch antenna array using thirteen hexagonal shaped elements

A novel circularly polarized smart patch antenna array with hexagonal elements was designed as a hub for indoor/outdoor mobile wireless computing networks. A frequency domain finite element method (FEM) was employed to design the patch antenna array using an optimization technique based on the gradient algorithm to optimize the physical structure on a finite ground plane for optimal directivity in elevation plane and antenna gain at 2.4 GHz. The switched parasitic element technique was used to enable steering through six locations in azimuth with an elevation angle of between 60deg and 70deg. The single-feed circularly polarized patch antenna array with thirteen-element configuration achieved the highest frequency bandwidth. A comparison between simulated and measured reflection coefficients and radiation patterns was made with consistent results.