High-directivity microstrip antenna with Mandelbrot fractal boundary

Abstract

High-directivity is a needed feature for small base station antennas in order to provide coverage to a certaingeographic area. For wireless communications, arrays of microstrip antennas are frequently used as radiating elements due totheir thin profile. In this study, a single microstrip element is proposed to achieve the same directivity as an array with a similararea but without using the complex feeding network usually required. A microstrip antenna inspired by the Mandelbrot fractal isdesigned achieving a narrow beamwidth in the vertical plane and a wide beamwidth in the horizontal plane, which is especiallysuitable for hot-spots.