This document discusses the design of a microstrip antenna to allow for multi-band wireless communication capabilities including GSM, Wi-Fi, and GPS in a single portable device. The goal is to design a microstrip antenna using numerical simulations to achieve resonances in multiple frequency bands to support the different wireless applications. Different antenna geometries will be explored through simulations and the most feasible designs will be manufactured and tested to validate the simulation results and multi-band performance.

1. Abstract
The “Age of Communications” requires technology to be developed up to the extent
where mobile communication offers more than one service or capability, such as
Internet access and Global Positioning System (GPS) all integrated in a single
lightweight portable device.
To comply with the requirements of portable multiple communication protocol enabled
hand-held devices, a multiband antenna solution is highly desired.
Multiband Antennas allow manufacturers to shrink the size, reduce weight, and lower
cost of wireless devices as well as offering higher flexibility toward more aesthetic
designs. But most important, they represent one step more in the miniaturization race,
which benefits the manufacturer, services provider and finally, the most important the
consumer.
The focus of the proposed project is to investigate the possibility to integrate three
different wireless applications such as GSM, Wi-Fi, and GPS in portable devices. The
aim of the project is to design a microstrip antenna (MSA) that will allow for multi-
band operations. MSAs that operate in multiple frequency bands are required in many
wireless communication devices. In this project, we will explore the possibility of
employing different geometry solutions to achieve multiband MSAs. Several numerical
simulations using HFSS™ will be performed; if funds will be available, the ones that
are more amenable to fabrication will be manufactured and tested in the Applied
Microwave & Electromagnetic Laboratory.
Microstrip Antennas
Microstrip Antennas consist mainly in a
metallic patch which radiates and receives
the signal. This patch is etched on a side of
a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) along with an
impedance matching circuit and a port. At
the opposite side of the PCB a metallic layer
is left over as a requirement of the antenna
to have a ground plane.
1.52mm
Conclusions
A Multiband Microstrip Antenna was
designed,manufactured, and tested. The
results resembled those obtained from the
numerical simulation as far as the
resonances.
Acknowledgments
This research was made possible by:
Dr. Fabio Urbani
UTB AMEL (Applied Microwave and Electromagnetic
Laboratory)
NSF-Major Research Instrumentation (MRI)
Cesar R. Garcia
Rene Rodriguez
Future Research
The patch geometry, responsible for the
resonances of the antenna, is not limited to
the slotted square shape employed for this
project. Therefore, some other geometries
may be explored in order to achieve better
antenna gains.
Along with the patch geometry, some other
feed methods may be used in search for
gain enhancement, instead of the Microstrip
Line Network utilized in this project .
Design of Microstrip Antennas for GSM,
Wi-Fi, and GPS Integration
Eduardo Alberto Vargas Artiles, artiles89@gmail.com
Advisor: Dr. Fabio Urbani
Design and numerical simulation
Numerical Simulation Results
(Expected Resonances)
Experimental Results
(Real Resonances)
Manufactured Prototype