Artificial Neural Network application in Parameter Optimization of Rectangular Microstrip

Patch Antenna
1 2
R.Malmathanraj , S.Thamarai Selvi
1
Lecturer /ECE National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirapalli malmathan@gmail.com
2
Professor and Head /Information Technology, Madras Institute of Technology, Anna University, Chennai.
stselvi@annauniv.edu

Abstract - Printed microstrip antennas and simple rectangular patch fed at the center of
arrays are known to have limitations in terms radiating wall. A microstrip patch antenna is a
of bandwidth and efficiency, all imposed by the radiating patch on one side of a dielectric
very presence of the dielectric substrate. The substrate, which has a ground plane on the
paper deals with the design of a probe fed and underside. The EM waves fringe off the top
edge fed rectangular microstrip patch antenna patch into the substrate, reflecting off the
with the basic parameters W,h,L,ε r,fo to ground plane and radiates out into the air.
achieve better bandwidth and directivity with Radiation occurs mostly due to the fringing
efficient radiation pattern and Gain. The field between the patch and ground. The
analytical results for various possible radiation efficiency of the patch antenna
dimensions and different dielectric values were depends largely on the substrate permittivity
calculated for achieving bandwidth and (εr) of the dielectric[2]. The basic geometry of
directivity without any structural complexities the microstrip patch is shown in fig (1)
.The analytical results were tested by
simulating with basic design software
PCAAD,MSTRIP40. To obtain an optimum
value for the design parameters of the
microstrip antenna Support Vector Machines
(SVM), Generalised Regularisation Neural
Network (GRNN) and Back Propagation
Network (BPN) were implemented to train the
network to attain optimized values to yield
wide bandwidth and better directivity with
high Gain. The application of artificial neural
network ensures an optimum design
methodology for microstrip antenna design
which is revealed when comparing the results
with analytical methods and the results of the Figure 1.Microstrip Patch Antenna Geometry
simulation softwares.

1. Introduction
Microstrip patch antennas have been
attractive due to their conformal properties.
Mathematical modeling of the basic microstrip
radiator was initially carried out by the Ideally, a thick dielectric is preferred
application of transmission-line analogies to for broadband purposes. Small values of width
W of patch result in low antenna efficiencies
while large W values lead to higher order various complex structures adopted for the
modes. Substrate thickness should be chosen as enhancement of bandwidth, Directivity and
large as possible to maximize bandwidth and Gain. The size of the probe is selected as 0.2
efficiency, but not so large as to risk surface- mm and the various feeding positions were
wave excitation. The patch length is considered for the calculation[5]. The
determined by condition for resonance. This dimensions of the patch antenna along with the
occurs when the input impedance is purely substrate permittivity and the probe position is
real. The bandwidth of the patch is defined as varied for different operating frequencies and
the frequency range over which it is matched the numerical results were arrived using the
with that feed line within specified limits. In basic design formulas of the microstrip patch
other words, the frequency range over which listed below,
the antenna will perform satisfactorily. This
means the channels have larger usable The width of the Microstrip patch antenna is
frequency range and thus results in increased given by
transmission. The bandwidth of an antenna is
c
usually defined by the acceptable standing W= -(1)
wave ratio (SWR) value over the concerned 
r 1
2 f0
frequency range[3,4]. Dimensions of the top 2
patch were calculated to get the required Effective dielectric constant is given by
bandwidth and the impedance matching.
The advantages of microstrip antenna 
1
1 r 1  h 2
is that they are low-cost, conformable, reff = r  1 12  -(2)

lightweight and low profile, while both linear 2 2  W
and circular polarization easily achieved.
Disadvantages of microstrip antenna include Effective length ( Leff ) is given by
such as a narrow bandwidth, a low gain (~6
C
dB) and polarization purity is hard to achieve. Leff  -(3)
Several methods were reported in literature to 2 f 0 reff
improve impedance bandwidth including
employing wide band impedance matching, Length extension ( L ) is given by
stacked patches and utilizing thicker
substrates[9].  0.3
reff
W
 0.264

L 0.412h h  -(4)

2.Design Methodology reff 0.258W 

 0.8 
h 
2.1 Basic Rectangular Microstrip
The major design task of this paper is
optimization of the dimensions of the probe
fed rectangular microstrip patch antenna. The Actual length of patch ( L ) is given by
simplest approach is adopted to demonstrate
how effectively the Artificial neural network L= Leff 2L -(5)
can be used to train and optimize the various
parameters involved in the design of microstrip Ground plane dimensions ( Lg and W g) is given
patch antenna. This work concentrates only on by
the basic geometry of the microstrip ignoring Lg = 6h +L -(6)
 Wg = 6h + W -(7)
Height of the substrate is given by
0.3C
h
2fo r
-(8)
The bandwidth of a rectangular patch is given
by
BW 3.77  
r 1
/ 2r  
W / L
h / 0  --(9)
Where f 0 is the resonant frequency,  r is the
relative substrate permittivity, C is the speed of
light 3 108 m/s.
[A][ L1 , L2 , r, H1 , X,Y, Xf Yf]T=[G,BW,S 11,PL]T
G=f(L1 , L2 , r, H1 , X,Y, Xf , Yf);
BW=f(L1 , L2 , r, H1 , X,Y, Xf , Yf);
S11=f(L1 , L2 , r, H1 , X,Y, Xf , Yf);
PL=f(L1 , L2 , 
r, H 1 , X,Y, Xf , Y f );
In the neural network design the inputs are L1 ,
L2 , r, H1 , X,Y, Xf , Yf and the output is
G,BW,S 11,PL.
An artificial neural network is an
information processing paradigm. That is
inspired by the way biological nervous
systems, such as the brain, process
information. The key element of this paradigm
is the novel structure of the information
processing system .It is composed of a large
number of highly interconnected processing
elements (neurons), working in union to solve
specific problems. Artificial neural network is
like a normal human, it learns by
examples.[2,6]
A neural network with feedback is an
adequate representation of the information
2.2 Artificial Neural Network Design
for Rectangular Microstrip Patch Antenna
.
A microstrip rectangular patch
antenna (Fig. 1) can be viewed as a matrix
with X variables and four unknown the bs,
such that
AX=b
The unknown are the resonant frequency (RF),
bandwidth (BW), gain(G), and polarization
(PL). The variables X, are the patch length
(L1), patch width(L2), substrate height (H 1) ,
substrate relative permittivity (r) and the
feeding positions(Xf) and (Yf)
processing structure of rectangular microstrip
antennas, where the input neuron units are (L
,W, εr ,h ,P ,fo )and the output units are (BW ,D
,G ,RP ). The learning paradigm on the
microstrip is supervised learning, where the
mapping function between the inputs and
outputs is the matrix A. The inputs are
weighted and the effect that each input has at
decision making is dependent on the weight of
the particular input. The weight of an input is a
number that when multiplied with the input
gives the weighted input. Their calculation is
based on the method of moments. These
weighted inputs then generate the unknowns.
Those unknowns are then compared to stored
information that gives the desired bandwidth, -
directivity along with radiation pattern and
gain. The gain is expected to be greater than
3 db and polarization should be linear or
circular [1,2].
A good paradigm of supervised
learning that is of interest to microstrip
antenna designer is error correcting learning
that is minimization of error between the
desired and computed values. In this learning
paradigm, the set of weights that minimizes the
error between the teaching input and the
weighted inputs is obtained. Neural networks
are general function approximators. One
important characteristic is that they can learn
any Input-Output (IO) mapping by using the
information contained in a given input-output
data set without needing a structure definition
of the IO-mapping. The type of network,
parameter settings, number of hidden neurons,
and the connectivity of the neural network
define the structure of the approximated IO-
mapping. The only additional information a
neural network needs, besides the input-output
data, is the definition of the input and output
parameters, the relevant parameters which
span the IO-mapping. The ideal use of neural
networks is antenna model parameters
optimization. Without knowing the IO-
mapping structure of the model, the neural
network can learn to mimic the IO-mapping
[7,8].
In the IO-mapping problem a feed-
forward neural network is used because the
antenna model is a static mapping (except at
the very moment the design failure occurs).
Also the ’tangent sigmoidal’, e.g. ’tansig’,
activation function will be used in the hidden
layer of the network because of two reasons.
One, in the antenna design, IO-mapping is a
smooth mapping with little to none
discontinuities. The ’tansig’ is also a smooth
function with the capability of approximating a
discontinuity (by squashing the shape with
respect to the input axis). The second reason
for choosing the ’tansig’ function is that this
function is a very ’general’ function. After a
failure, the antenna design IO-mapping has
changed into an unknown form. Therefore an
activation function, which can be used to
mimic almost all shapes, is more preferable
since in that case all (unknown) IO-mapping
can be approximated by the neural network.
Neural networks are based on the
human brain and its enormous capability of
learning and adapting. Over decades, people
have been trying to model the human brain
mathematically. The structure of the human
brain and the learning process is known, but
the main difference between both networks is
the effciency. The human brain is capable of
recognizing a familiar face in approximately
100-200 ms, where conventional computers
can take hours or days to fulfill less complex
tasks. The biological neural network is still
much faster then the artificial neural network
(ANN or NN), but the capabilities of the
neural networks are promising. In this section,
the general structure of a neural network will
be explained. First the concept of neurons is
treated with a special attention to the several
activation functions. The possible
combinations of several neurons in layers is
handled in the discussion about the
architecture of networks. Some example
networks are used to illustrate the effect of the
parameters of the networks. The primary
element in a neural network is the neuron, an
information-processing unit. A mathematical
model of an artificial neuron in given in Fig.
(2). The structure is similar to the human
neuron; more information about the
functioning of the human neural network. The
elements xi on the left side are the input signals
to the neuron k. These inputs are multiplied by
the corresponding weights wki and summed
together with the bias bk. The results of the
summation vk is passed through an activation
function (vk) producing the output yk.
The mathematics of the neuron given in
Fig. (2) can start with the weighted inputs
p
v k   wki x i -(10)
i 1
The output can be written as
yk k (vk bk ) -(11)
A weighted bias can be included by adding an
extra term in the first equation.
p
v   w xi -(12)
k ki
i 0
Where the bias is changed to a fixed input of 1
and with a weight of wk0 . The shape of the
output is then only depending on the activation
function of vk.
y k k (v k ) -(13)

The type of activation function has a large

influence on the output of the neuron as can be
seen from the equation (12). In a signal flow
diagram, a neuron can be represented as shown
in Fig. (3).

x0=1

x1 wk,0

wk,1

x2 wk,2 vk (k) yk

.
.
.
xn wk,n

Figure 2. Mathematical
definition of a neural network

X1
wk, bk
1

wk,
X2 2 Σ
.
.
.
 Fig 3. Signal flow diagram
neuron
A neural network is a directed graph
consisting of nodes with interconnecting
synaptic and activation links, and is
characterized by four properties:
1. Each neuron is represented by a set of linear
synaptic links, an externally applied bias, and a
possibly nonlinear activation link. The bias is
represented by a synaptic link connected to an
input fixed at +1.
2. The synaptic links of a neuron weight their
respective input signals.
3. The weighted sum of the input signals
defines the induced local field of the neuron in
question.
4. The activation link squashes the induced
local field of the neuron to produce an output.
3. Architecture Selection
A variety of Neural network
architectures are available to process the data
from the input data set files. A multi layer
Backpropagation Network architecture,
Generalized Regularization neural network
(GRNN) and Support vector machines (SVM)
were used for training because of its ability to
generalize well when applied to a wide variety
of applications and also for the ability to have
better regression.
of a
3.1 Learning
As the neural network software read
the training set, the network learns the data
patterns in the training set. Learning
subprograms differ depending on the
architecture selected. As training progressed,
statistical graphs furnished by the neural net
software, provided a means to monitor training
progress.
Numerical historical data and repetitive
examples in which the solution is already
known are required to train a neural network.
While the relationship between variables may
not be known, network results can be
improved by the addition of more variables.
Data may need different representation, for
example if data has a very large value range,
logarithms or other data transformations or
conversions may be necessary.
3.2 Generalised Regularisation
Neural Network (GRNN)
The GRNN is based on the Nadaraya –
Watson Kernel regression. GRNN’s feature
fast training times can model non linear
functions and have been shown to perform
well in noisy environments given enough data.
The primary advantage of the GRNN is the
speed at which the network can be trained.
Training a GRNN is performed in one pass of
the training data through the network, the
 training data values are copied to become the
weight vectors between layers. The
architecture of the GRNN is shown in the
figure 4, it has four layers input pattern,
summation and output, with weighted
connections Wij between the input and pattern
layer and

Pattern Units Summation Layer Output Units

Input
S
S
fo D

S
L

W S
BW

ε
r
D

P S- Summation Unit
D- Division Unit

fo

Figure 4.Architecture of GRNN Network

Input

3.3 Support Vector Machines
Traditionally neural networks have
been used for classification, which is based on
Empirical Risk Minimization (ERM). SVM
was developed by Vapnik and had become
popular tools for data mining. The formulation
embodies the Structural Risk Minimization
(SRM), which is superior to empirical risk
minimization. SRM minimizes the upper
bound on expected risk as supposed to ERM
that minimizes the error on training data. So,
SVM generalizes much better. There are many
linear classifiers that can separate data, but
SVM only maximizes the margin i.e. the
distance between it and the nearest data point
in each class.
We have N training data {(x 1,y1),
(x2,y2),….. (xN,yN)} Where xi Є Rd and yi Є
{+1,-1}. It needs to be classified using a linear
hyper plane classifier
f(x) =sgn (w.x - b) -(14)
This hyper plane will have maximum distance
between each class. This hyper plane
H : y =w . x – b = 0 and two hyper planes
parallel to it
H1 : y =w . x – b= +1 -(15)
H2 : y =w . x – b = -1 -(16)
With no data points between H1 and H2, and
distance between H1 and H2 maximized.
Some training point will lie on the hyper plane
H1 and H2, they are called support vector
machines because they define the separating
plane and the other training points can be
removed or moved provided they don’t cross
the planes H1 and H2. The distance between
hyper plane H1 and H2 is 2/ || w||. To
maximize the distance between the two data
sets or between H1 and H2 we need to
minimize ||w|| with the condition that there are
no data points between H1 and H2
w . x –b ≥+1 for yi = +1 -(17)
w . x –b ≤-1 for yi = -1 -(18)
Combining the above two equations,
yi ( w . x – b ) >= 1 -(19)
So the problem of maximizing the
distance between hyper plane H1 and H2 is
formulated as min ½ wT w subject to
yi ( w . x – b ) ≥1 -(20)
This is a convex quadratic problem in w, b in a
convex set. The solution is found by solving
using lagrangian method by introducing
lagrangian multipliers. It is easier to solve
using lagrangian dual equation given by
LD = Σi αi - Σi Σj αi αj yi yj xi · xj -(21)
The significance of the above equation is that
the training input vectors appear only as dot
product. So when the data is not linearly
separable it is required to transform the data
into a higher dimensional. This causes
complex calculations in neural networks but in
SVM as data appear only as a dot product all
calculation can be carried explicitly in low
dimension if a kernel function exists for
LD = Σi αi - Σi Σj αi αj yi yj Φ(xi) · Φ(xj) -(22)
as Φ(xi ) · Φ(xj ) = K(xi , xj )
Where K is the kernel function. This is
equivalent as the dot product in high
dimension is equal to kernel function in input
space. The common kernel function used is
Gaussian kernel,
K (xi , xj) = e - || xi – xj || 2 / σ2 -(23)

Mercers condition determines whether
a function g(x) can be used as a kernel or not,
∫g(x)2 dx should be finite.
4.Design Implementation and Result.
The dimensions of the rectangular
patch were selected in a trial and error basis
considering the constraints of the design in
selecting the values. The different geometrical
parameters were designed analytically and the
bandwidth given in equation (9) was used to
calculate the value for the selected dimensions.
The parameters were used to construct the
structure using the simulation software. The
bandwidth and directivity along with the gain
and radiation pattern of the design were
obtained. The parameters of the patch
equations (1-9) with the feed position for a
resonant frequency are fed as input to the
networks. The impedance bandwidth and
directivity was taken as the output of the
network. The analytical data values are given
as input to train the network to obtain an
optimized geometry for the probe fed
microstrip antenna .The wide range of
parameters was used to provide the optimum
result and the training steps were increased to
obtain the accuracy.
The validity of the network was tested
by comparing the analytical results obtained
from the basic formulas for a given set of input
values. The same parameters were used to
construct a probe fed rectangular patch using
simulation software shown in figure (7) and
the output radiation pattern was obtained as
shown in figure (8). The current pattern of the
designed antenna is also plotted which shows
the even distribution due to proper impedance
matching of the probe feed. The same values
were trained using the three networks
Backpropagation Network architecture (BPN),
Generalized Regularization neural network
(GRNN) and Support vector machines (SVM)
whose results were in good agreement with the
analytical as well as the designed structure
output shown in Table (1). The input output
relations were also checked for the
experimental results. The Backpropagation
Network architecture achieves the antenna
parameter optimization with maximum time
for convergence. The GRNN and the SVM
neural network achieves optimization with
quicker learning time as shown in Fig 11 and
12. In this research analysis for antenna
parameter optimization the GRNN neural
network produced the accurate result with
comparatively minimum time for convergence.
The computational time was very less in terms
of seconds with high accuracy as shown in Fig
13. The optimized parameters obtained using
the training neural networks achieved high
impedance bandwidth of 7.8%, directivity
7.73db without side lobes and offered high
gain 8.67 dbi and radiation efficiency 100%
was attained. The results were comparatively
better when compared with the results from
analytical analysis and simulation analysis for
Microstrip patch antenna using PCAAD and
MSTRIP40.
To train the SVM parameters
[alpha,b] = trainlssvm ({X, Y, type, gam, sig2,
kernel, preprocess})
Outputs
alpha matrix with support values of SVM
b vector with bias term(s) of SVM
Inputs
Fig 5. Antenna output model using MATLAB
Software .

Fig 6 Antenna output model using MATLAB

Software .
Model Trained object oriented representation Gam Regularization parameter
of the SVM model sig2 Kernel parameter (bandwidth in the
Model Object oriented representation of the case of the 'RBF_kernel')
SVM model kernel Kernel type default 'RBF_kernel'
X matrix with the inputs of the Xt inputs of the test data
training data preprocess preprocess
Y vector with the outputs of the
training data Plotting the graph in SVM
Type function estimation plotlssvm({X,Y,type,gam,sig2,'RBF_kernel','p
Gam Regularization parameter reprocess'},{alpha,b});
sig2 Kernel parameter (bandwidth in the
case of the 'RBF_kernel') Inputs
X matrix with the inputs of the training
kernel Kernel type (by default 'RBF_kernel') data
preprocess preprocess'(*) or 'original' Y vector with the outputs of the training
data
Simulating the SVM Type function estimation
Yt=simlssvm({X,Y,type,gam,sig2,'RBF_kerne Gam Regularization parameter
l','preprocess'},Xt); sig2 Kernel parameter (bandwidth in
the case of the 'RBF_kernel')
Outputs kernel Kernel type (by default
Yt matrix with predicted output of test 'RBF_kernel')
data preprocess preprocess
alpha support values obtained from
Inputs training
X matrix with the inputs of the training b Bias term obtained from
data training
Y vector with the outputs of the training 5.Conclusion
The radiation pattern of the designed
data
antenna presented in this paper figure (7)
Type function estimation clearly depicted that it is a wideband antenna
with high directivity, gain with radiation
 efficiency. The major attraction of this antenna
is size reduction along with bandwidth and
directivity made it most suitable for satellite
communication, commercial applications. The
size reduction and operating frequency make it
suitable
for mobile communication. The parameter
optimization using the networks is the major
attraction of this paper, which highlights the
simplicity, accuracy and reduction in
computational time for the designers of
interest.

Figure 7.Structure of Probe Fed Microstrip Rectangular

Patch Antenna
Figure 8.Current Distribution
Pattern

Figure 9. Radiation Pattern of the

Optimized Patch Antenna
Figure
10. Plot Showing the Learning Trial of
Back Propagation Network

Fig 1 1. Plot to show the time for convergence

for SVM neural network.
 Fig 13. Plot to show the weight surface of SVM

Fig 12. Plot to show the time for convergence for

GRNN neural network.

Figure 15. Output of the Optimized output of the Fig 14. Plot to show the radiation pattern
rectangular patch antenna using MSTRIP using PCAAD
References

1.Dipak K.Neog, Shyam S.Pattnaik, C.Panda, Swapna Devi, Bonomali Khuntia, and Malaya Dutta, “Design of a Wideband Microstrip
Antenna and the use of Artificial Neural Networks in Parameter Calculation”, IEEE Antennas and Propagation Magazine, Vol.47,
No.3, June 2005,pp.60-65.

2. Inder J.Bahl, Prakash Bhartla and Stanislaw S. Stuchly, “ Design of Microstrip Antennas Covered with a Dielectric Layer”, IEEE
Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. AP-30, No. 2, MARCH 1982, pp. 314-318.

3. Kin-Lu Wong and Yi-Fang Lin, “Small broadband rectangular microstrip antenna with chip-resistor loading”, ELECTRONICS
LETTERS, 1 l September 1997,Vol. 33 No. 79,pp.1593, 1594.

4. S.Lebbar, Z.Guennoun, M.Drissi, and F.Riouch, “A Compact and Broadband Antenna Design Using a Geometrical- Methodology-
Based Artificial Neural Network”, IEEE Antennas and Propagation Magazine, Vol.48, No.2, April 2006,pp.146-154.

5. C. L. Mak, K. M. Luk, Senior Member, IEEE, K. F. Lee, Fellow, IEEE, and Y. L. Chow, “Experimental Study of a Microstrip Patch
Antenna with an L-Shaped Probe,” IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, VOL. 48, NO. 5, MAY 2000,pp.777-783.

6. R.K.Mishra and Patnaik, “Designing Rectangular Patch Antenna Using the Neurospectral Method”, IEEE Transactions on Antennas
and Propagation,AP-51,8 August 2003,pp.1914-1921.

7. S.S.Pattnaik, D.C.Panda and S.Devi, “Input Impedance of Rectangular Microstrip Patch Antenna Using Artificial Neural Networks”,
Microwave and Optical Technology Letters,32,5,5 March 2002,pp.381-383.

8. S.S.Pattnaik, D.C.Panda and S.Devi, “Radiation Resistance of Coax-Fed Rectangular Microstrip Patch Antenna Using Artificial
Neural Networks”, Microwave and Optical Technology Letters, 34,1,5 July 2002,pp.51-53.

9. D.M.Pozar, “Microstrip Patch Antennas,” in L.C.Godara (ed), Handbook of Antennas in Wireless Communications, New York, CRC
Press, 2001,Chapter 6.

10.Ye Bin Hu Gu Yu , “The analyze and improve TCP performance using a DSR route protocol based on signal strength”, IEEE
Wireless Communications, Networking and Mobile Computing, pp. 846 – 849, 2005.

11. Dongkyun Kim , Hanseok Bae, Jeomki Song, “Analysis of the interaction between TCP variants and routing protocols in
MANETs”, IEEE Parallel Processing, ICPP 2005 Workshops, pp 380-386, 2005.

12. Prabakaran, M. Mahasenan, A. , “Analysis and enhancement of TCP performance over an IEEE 802.11 multi-hop wireless network:
single session case”, IEEE International Conference on Personal Wireless Communications, pp-29- 33, 2005

13. Caihong Kai Yuzhong Chen Nenghai Yu, “An Improvement Scheme Applied to TCP Protocol in Mobile Ad Hoc Networks”, IEEE
International Conference on Mobile Technology, Applications and Systems, pp.1-6, 2005