Design of wideband patch antenna array optimized by Tabu algorithm and performance analysis

Modern satellite communication systems demand wideband operation and adaptable beam coverage, particularly in the Ku-band.

This study aims to design a dual-band patch antenna covering 11.45–11.7 GHz and 12.25–12.75 GHz and to enhance its system-level performance through array analysis and beamwidth optimization.

A dual-layer patch structure and feeding network are optimized to achieve impedance matching. A 10×10 array is constructed, and its equivalent isotropic radiated power (EIRP) and G/T are evaluated. A phase weighting method based on the Tabu algorithm is applied to broaden the beamwidth.

The antenna achieves S₁₁≤–20 dB in the target bands and S₁₁≤–15 dB across 11–13 GHz. The array exhibits satisfactory EIRP and G/T values. The beamwidth is expanded to 1.8 times that of a conventional uniform array.

The proposed design meets the requirements of Ku-band satellite communications in terms of bandwidth and beam adjustability, offering an effective solution for optimising antenna performance in complex electromagnetic environments.