Development of a microstrip rectangular patch phased array antenna for 6 GHz Wi-Fi applications

This paper presents the design and implementation of a Rectangular Patch Phased Array (RPPA) antenna for 6 GHz Wi-Fi applications. Phased array antennas are widely utilized due to their high gain, reliability, and directivity. The rectangular patch is chosen for its unique characteristics, including low power consumption, high-quality factor, and efficiency in narrow bandwidth applications. A 4x4 rectangular patch phased array configuration is proposed to achieve high directivity, with 16 patch elements connected via conducting strips and fed by a corporate feeding network with 50-ohm impedance matching. The antenna uses FR4 substrate (1.6 mm thickness, permittivity value included) and is designed and simulated in CST Microwave Studio. Results demonstrate a gain of 17.98 dB and a highly directional radiation pattern, making the antenna suitable for 6 GHz Wi-Fi applications. The proposed design is compact, lightweight, and cost-effective, positioning it as a viable solution for 6 GHz Wi-Fi routers.