volume | PIER Journals

Abstract

The rapid advancement of wireless communication technologies and the Internet of Things (IoT) has led to a substantial demand for energy-efficient and miniature antennas for short-range wireless data communication This paper presents the design, fabrication, and experimental authentication of a small, ultra-thin, microstrip patch antenna operating at 2.4 GHz for ZigBee-based IoT applications. The antenna was designed on a cost effective FR4 epoxy substrate with dimensions of 20 × 40 × 0.8 mm³, facilitating easy integration into compact sensors and embedded devices. A step-by-step parametric optimization methodology was employed to analyze the impact of various evolution phases, ground plane length and slot width of the proposed antenna on S₁₁, peak gain, and radiation efficiency. These parameters were evaluated via simulation and authenticated by laboratory measurements. The results exhibit good impedance matching with a measured S₁₁ of -41 dB and a bandwidth of 150 MHz for the ZigBee network. The antenna achieves a measured peak gain of 2.46 dBi, as well as 79% of radiation efficiency. To substantiate practical implementation, the antenna was integrated with a ZigBee-enabled network, and over-the-air (OTA) experiments are demonstrated using Received Signal Strength Index (RSSI) measurements. The results verify the short-range communication suitable for IoT-based network systems. The proposed design offers a miniature, low-profile, and cost-effective antenna solution for modern ZigBee-enabled IoT architectures.

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Mr. Kumar Vaibhav Srivastava

Dr. Rajan Mishra

Dr. Rajeev Kumar Chauhan

Mr. Praveen Kumar Rao