Conductive Ground Reflector-enabled Patch Antenna for High-gain 5G Sub-6 GHz and Multiband Systems

Abstract

This study introduces a compact multiband patch antenna structure offering improved gain performance by integrating a conductive ground (CG) reflector. The design targets 5G Sub-6 GHz and multiband wireless systems. It supports four operating bands: 1.9 GHz (Personal Communications Service, PCS), 4.6 GHz (Sub-6 GHz), and a wideband spectrum from 10.2 GHz to 13.8 GHz, spanning the upper X-band to lower Ku-band. The antenna-reflector configuration is stabilized using a dielectric spacer and plastic screws, which preserve a consistent separation between both components. Integrating the CG reflector boosts the antenna's directional characteristics and gain, achieving enhancements of up to 6.7 dBi and 5.3 dBi at their respective bands. Additionally, the antenna maintains radiation efficiency above 80% across most frequencies and exhibits improved front-to-back ratios. Measured reflection coefficients confirm good impedance matching throughout all operating bands. These results demonstrate the practicality and effectiveness of the proposed design as a low-cost, high-performance solution for future multiband wireless systems.