The effect of an electromagnetic band-gap structure on a PIFA antenna array

This paper presents the effect of an EBG, electromagnetic band-gap structure under a PIFA, planar inverted-F antenna, and its antenna array. The EBG structures have special electromagnetic properties such as high surface impedance and suppression of propagating surface currents within a frequency band, which are very useful for wireless applications. The EBG presented is the AMC, artificial magnetic conductor, also called mushroom-like EBG structure. The AMC is used as the antenna array ground plane to observe the improvement on characteristics as bandwidth, gain and directivity. The PIFA is a type of antenna which has been used in many communication applications. It is a medium bandwidth radiator with reduced dimensions. A typical PIFA antenna is designed and it is used as element for the antenna array. The antenna array presented achieved a wide bandwidth and has a steerable radiation pattern.