Design of a dual-band antenna for energy harvesting application

Bulletin of Electrical Engineering and Informatics
Vol. 10, No. 6, December 2021, pp. 3265~3273
ISSN: 2302-9285, DOI: 10.11591/eei.v10i6.3203 3265
Journal homepage: http://beei.org
Design of a dual-band antenna for energy harvesting
application
Maizatul Alice Meor Said1
, Syed Mohd Iqwan Naqiuddin Syed Jaya2
, Zahriladha Zakaria3
, Mohamad
Harris Misran4
, Mohd Muzafar Ismail5
1,2,3,4
Centre for Telecommunication Research & Innovation (CeTRI), Faculty of Electronics and Computer Engineering,
Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Hang Tuah Jaya, Melaka, Malaysia
5
Fakulti Teknologi Kejuruteraan Elektrikal dan Elektronik (FTKEE), UTeM, Malaysia
Article Info ABSTRACT
Article history:
Received Dec 8, 2020
Revised Jan 3, 2021
Accepted Oct 15, 2021
This report presents an investigation on how to improve the current dual-band
antenna to enhance the better result of the antenna parameters for energy
harvesting application. Besides that, to develop a new design and validate the
antenna frequencies that will operate at 2.4 GHz and 5.4 GHz. At 5.4 GHz,
more data can be transmitted compare to 2.4 GHz. However, 2.4 GHz has
long distance of radiation, so it can be used when far away from the antenna
module compare to 5 GHz that has short distance in radiation. The
development of this project includes the scope of designing and testing of
antenna using computer simulation technology (CST) 2018 software and
vector network analyzer (VNA) equipment. In the process of designing,
fundamental parameters of antenna are being measured and validated, in
purpose to identify the better antenna performance.
Keywords:
Dual-band antenna
Energy harvesting
FR4
This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA license.
Corresponding Author:
Maizatul Alice Meor Said
Centre for Telecommunication Research & Innovation (CeTRI)
Faculty of Electronics and Computer Engineering, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka
Hang Tuah Jaya, 76100 Durian Tunggal, Melaka, Malaysia
Email: maizatul@utem.edu.my
1. INTRODUCTION
There are variety of antenna currently existing that can be classified into deferent type of parameters
and different applications [1]. Unlike some of antenna such as dipole and monopole antenna which possess
narrow bandwidth characteristics, it radiates only into the space above the ground plane, or half the space of a
dipole antenna, a monopole antenna will have a gain of twice (3 dB greater than) the gain of a similar dipole
antenna, and a radiation resistance half that of a dipole. This project is using microstrip patch antenna (MPA)
technique that implies the features of low profile, low cost, lightweight, compactness, and compatibility makes
it a better option in designing a better antenna for energy harvesting compare to another substrate [2]. Besides
that, the physical configurations of the antenna and the material properties of elements also contribute to the
performance of the antenna. This project is divided into two main parts, software, and hardware. For the
software part, the antenna is developing using computer simulation technology (CST) 2016. Then for hardware
part, vector network analyzer (VNA) is used with the microstrip patch antenna [3]-[11].
Energy scavenging or power harvesting is the changes of surrounding energy sources from the human
activity environment to electric power, purposely to power compact autonomous devices of electronic wirelessly.
Harvesting of power energy wirelessly context is defined. Two main subsystems involved in energy harvesting
system. The receiving antenna is the first component in the energy harvesting system. All the ambient energy can
be from magnetic fileds or stray electric or radio waves from nearby electrical equipment will be captured by the

 ISSN: 2302-9285
Bulletin of Electr Eng & Inf, Vol. 10, No. 6, December 2021 : 3265 – 3273
3266
receiving antenna and the integrated embedded system will be power up by this energy. This concept and
technology also provide improved reliability and also creates significant cost savings for a long period of time
monitoring applications. This type class of antenna design would be useful in any transmission systems whenever
the increase of ambient RF energy sources can be tolerated, and also when the RF-DC power conversion efficiency
are primary concerns, such as in the case of emergency relief, agricultural sensors, structural health monitoring,
and battery charging. For example, the prototype antenna design in this study together with rectifying circuit is
best implemented in healthcare wireless sensor such as body temperature sensor, pulse and oxygen in blood
sensor, patient position sensor, air flow sensor and electrocardiogram sensor in line with energy harvesting
application [12]-[25].
2. RESEARCH METHOD
The process of the design in this work starting with research and literature review of some previous
authors as stated in Table 1 as shown in. The antenna is required to be functioning a frequency 2.4 GHz and
5.4 GHz. As for the board of antenna, FR4 substrate is chosen to fabricate the antenna due to the availability
product in UTeM’s lab. The dielectric constant of this substrate is, 𝜀r of 4.4, dielectric height, h of 1.6 mm
and the copper conductor with height, t of 0.035 mm. The design specifications of the dual-band antenna is
shown in Table 2.
Table 1. Several researchers involved in dual-band antenna designs
(Author (s),
Year)
Research’s Title
Summary of Finding
Application
Purpose Method and result
Yuan Zhu, Min
Quan Li, Hong
Qing He. 2016
[2]
A Compact Dual-
band Monopole
Antenna for 4G LTE
and Wifi Utilizations
The proposed antenna contains a
U- slot in the circular patch with
gradually varied ground.
To improve the impedance match,
and it occupies a compact size
42*28.38*1.5mm3
however, still lack of gain.
2.28GHz -
2.82 GHz
3.87 GHz -
6.00 GHz
See Yan, Ping
Jack Soh, Guy
A. E.
Vandenbosch.
2015 [10]
Wearable dual-band
magneto-electric
dipole antenna for
WBAN/WLAN
applications
A wearable dual-band magneto-
electric dipole antenna is
proposed. Two U-shaped slots are
introduced on a dipole and the
resulting electric and magnetic
resonances are combined with the
aim to produce a dual band with
wideband characteristics
The higher cross polarization in the
upper band is caused mainly by the
feeding pin, which has a
considerable length compared to
the wavelength. The measured
forward realized gain is at least 4.7
dB and 3 dB in the lower and upper
frequency band. The radiation
efficiency: 50 % and 60 %
2.4 GHz
and 5 GHz
Jhe-Sheng
Yang, Jeen-
Shee Row,
2017 [11]
Dual-band circularly
polarized Microstrip
antenna
A design for dual-band circularly
polarized microstrip antennas with
different radiation patterns is
described. The proposed single-
feed dual-band CP designs are
achieved by inserting four T-
shaped slits at the patch edges or
four Y-shaped slits at the patch
corners of a square microstrip
A patch size until 36% for the
proposed design but still lack of
gain.
1.57 GHz
and 2.44
GHz
Table 2. Design specifications
Parameter Value
Resonant Frequency, 𝑓𝑟 (GHz) 2.4 GHz and 5.4 GHz
Height of Copper Conductor (mm) 0.035 mm
Height of Substrate (mm) 1.6 mm
Substrate Material FR4 with 𝜀𝑟 of 4.4
2.1. Design calculation
The calculation for width rectangular patch antenna: [1]
𝑊 =
𝐶
2𝑓𝑟√
𝜀𝑟+1
2
(1)
Where the speed of light 𝐶 = 3 × 108
𝑚𝑠−1
, 𝑓𝑟 = 2 ⋅ 4 𝐺𝐻𝑧 and 𝜀𝑟 = 4.4
𝑊 = 38.04 mm
The effective dielectric constant, 𝜀𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑓 are to be determine using this [1]

Bulletin of Electr Eng & Inf ISSN: 2302-9285 
Design of a dual-band antenna for energy harvesting application (Maizatul Alice Meor Said)
3267
𝜀𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑓 =
𝜀𝑟+1
2
+
𝜀𝑟−1
2
[1 + 12 (
ℎ
𝑤
)]
−0.5
(2)
By substituting W= 38.04 mm, and ℎ = 1.6𝑚𝑚 and 𝜀𝑟 = 4.4
𝜀𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑓 = 4.0858
The calculation of the effective length, 𝐿𝑒𝑓𝑓 using this [1]
𝐿𝑒𝑓𝑓 =
𝑐
2𝑓𝑟√𝜀𝑒𝑓𝑓
(3)
Where speed of light = 3 × 108
𝑚𝑠−1
, 𝑓𝑟 = 2 ⋅ 4 𝐺𝐻𝑧 and 𝜀𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑓 = 4.0858
𝐿𝑒𝑓𝑓 = 30.92 mm
Proceeding to the fringing length, 𝛥𝐿is calculate using the formula;
𝛥𝐿 = 0.412ℎ
(𝜀𝑒𝑓𝑓+0.3)((
𝑤
ℎ
)+0.246)
(𝜀𝑒𝑓𝑓−0.258)((
𝑤
ℎ
)+0.8)
(4)
By substituting 𝑀 = 38.0363 𝑚𝑚, ℎ = 1.6 𝑚𝑚 and 𝜀𝑟 = 4.4
Lastly the actual length of the patch, L can be determined by using;
𝐿 = 𝐿𝑒𝑓𝑓 − 2𝛥𝐿
𝐿 = 29.44 𝑚𝑚
The width of the feedline is;
𝐵 =
377𝜋
2𝑍0√𝜀𝑟
(5)
𝑤𝑓 =
2ℎ
𝜋
[𝐵 − 1 − ln(2𝐵 − 1) + (
𝜀𝑟−1
2𝜀𝑟
(ln(𝐵 − 1) + 0.39 − 0.61𝜀𝑟)] (6)
The antenna width and length of antenna is determined by the;
𝑤𝑔 = 𝑤 + 6ℎ (7)
𝐿𝑔 = 𝐿 + 6ℎ (8)
2.2. Antenna structure
Figure 1 and Figure 2 show the front and back view of the simulated antenna. Figure 3 and Figure 4
show the front and back view of the fabricated antenna. The front view and back view parameters of the
simulated antenna are listed in Table 3 and Table 4.
Figure 1. Front view of antenna Figure 2. Back view of antenna

 ISSN: 2302-9285
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Table 3. Front view parameters
Parameter Value (mm)
Ws 44.00
Ls 41.00
h 24.00
Lt 21.00
Wf 2.96
S1 4.50
S2 20.00
a 10.00
b 10.00
c 15.20
d 2.00
e 5.20
Table 4. Back view parameters
Parameter Value (mm)
Ws 44.00
Ls 41.00
F1 10.00
F2 22.00
x 11.00
y 16.00
Figure 3. Front view Figure 4. Back view
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
3.1. Farfield results
Based on Figure 5, the simulation of the radiation pattern of the antenna at frequency 2.4 GHz
shows that the directivity is 4.623 dBi with the efficiency of -2.576 dB. Based on Figure 6, the simulation of
radiation pattern of the antenna at frequency 5.4 GHz shows that the directivity is 6.345 dBi with the
efficiency of -3.194 dB.
Figure 5. Farfield result at 2.4 GHz

3269
Figure 6. Farfield result at 5.4 GHz
3.2. Gain results
Based on Figure 7 and Figure 8, the gain for frequency 2.4 GHz is 2.03 dB and for frequency 5.4
GHz is 3.236 dB.
Figure 7. Gain Result for frequency 2.4 GHz
Figure 8. Gain result for frequency 5.4 GHz

 ISSN: 2302-9285
3270
3.3. Result for voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR)
Figure 9 shows the results of VSWR plot. The results show that the antenna resonated within 1.091
VSWR for 2.4 GHz and 1.3163 VSWR for 5.4 GHz.
Figure 9. Result for voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR)
4. COMPARISON BETWEEN SIMULATION AND MEASUREMENT RESULTS
Figure 10 displays the comparison of simulated dual-band antenna at 2.4 GHz and 5.4 GHz
designated frequencies. The simulation bandwidths for both frequencies were measured by:
Bandwidth for 2.4 GHz is
2⋅4506−2.3556
2.4
𝑥100% = 3.96% (9)
5.5528−5.3407
5.4
𝑥100% = 3.93% (10)
The measured bandwidths for both frequencies were calculated by:
2.4582−2.3983
2.4
𝑥100% = 2.50% (11)
5.5536−5.351
5.4
𝑥100% = 3.75% (12)
Figure 10. Comparison S-parameters results

3271
Table 5 shows simulation result versus measurement result for the dual-band antenna. This return
loss results are acceptable for the antenna to operate. There is slight difference between the simulated antenna
when compared to the measured value. This is happened maybe because in the simulation, the antenna is
excited using a waveguide port, but practically the antenna is excited using the SMA connector. The
connector loss has an effect on the response of the antenna, material loss, the near field scattering objects, the
losses due to the feed connector and the coaxial cable also affect the response on the antenna performance
and fabrication tolerance. Figures 11 and 12 show the E-plane and H-plane co-polarization at 2.4 and 5.4
GHz of the antenna during measurement. Both radiation patterns are observed to have monopole-like pattern.
Table 5. Simulation result versus measurement result
Parameter Simulation Measurement
First First Frequency, (f) 2.4 GHz 2.4 GHz
Second Frequency, (f) 5.4 GHz 5.4 GHz
First Return Loss (dB) -27.23 -15.056
Second Return Loss (dB) -30.477 -22.967
(a) (b)
Figure 11. These figures are, (a) E-plane, (b) H-plane Co-polarization at 2.4 GHz
(a) (b)
Figure 12. These figures are, (a) E-plane, (b) H-plane Co-polarization at 5.4 GHz
5. CONCLUSION
The purpose of this project is to investigate and develop a new dual-band antenna for energy
harvesting application. Besides that, to validate the antenna frequency for dual-band antenna. The results that
have obtained will indicate the performances of antenna thus the improvement of the antenna by changing the
structure of the patch antenna is done. The parameters are analysed includes the return loss, the bandwidth,

 ISSN: 2302-9285
3272
the directivity, polar gain, and VSWR of the antenna. At 5.4 GHz, more data can be transmitted compare to
2.4 GHz. However, 2.4 GHz has long distance of radiation, so it can be use when far away from the antenna
module compare to 5.4 GHz that has short distance in radiation. The proposed design has been validated
through an experiment work. The obtained results show good agreement between simulated dan measured
results. Further research on this design can be carried out for triple-passband and introduce a new
metamaterial antenna.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors gratefully appreciate the great help and useful comments of Editors and reviewers. They
would also like to acknowledge the financial support by the Ministry of Education Malaysia and Universiti
Teknikal Malaysia Melaka. The work was supported by UTeM under research grants RACER/2019/FKEKK-
CETRI/F00406.
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BIOGRAPHIES OF AUTHORS
Maizatul Alice Meor Said received the BEng in Electronics Engineering (Telecommunication)
from University of Surrey, UK in 2006. She obtained MEng in Master of Engineering
(Telecommunication) in 2009 from University of Wollongong, Ausralia. Currently, she is a
Ph.D. holder at the Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM), Melaka, Malaysia.
Syed Mohd Iqwan Naqiuddin bin Syed Jaya got his bachelor in Universiti Teknikal Malaysia
Melaka. He lives in Kelantan. His area of research is antennas.
Zahriladha Zakaria is currently a Professor at Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka. His
research areas include microwave filters, resonators, amplifiers and antennas, data
Communication and radiowave propagation in wireless communication systems.
Mohamad Harris Misran was born in Johor, Malaysia He obtained his degree in BEng in
Electronics Engineering (Telecommunication) from University of Surrey, UK in 2006 and MEng
in Master of Engineering (Telecommunication) in 208 from University of Wollongong, Ausralia.
He is currently a full-time Ph.D. research student at the Wireless Communication Centre (WCC),
Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Johor, Malaysia.
Mohd Muzafar Ismail obtain his PhD in engineering sciences specialization atmospheric
discharges. His senior lecturer at Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka and research interest in
electromagnetic modeling and design.

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