matlab-design-antenna

Create a patchMicrostrip object, set its Substrate (e.g., dielectric("FR4")) before calling design(ant, freq), then mesh at lambda/8 for substrate antennas. Analyze with impedance(), sparameters(), and pattern() at the target frequency.

shape.* primitives (Rectangle, Box, Cylinder) are used with customAntenna for arbitrary 3D geometries, while antenna.* shapes are used with pcbStack for PCB metal patterns. They are not interchangeable, and mixing them is the most common source of errors.

No, design() does not work on pcbStack. Design a catalog antenna first with design(), then convert it using pcbStack(ant). Also set BoardThickness before assigning Layers, since Layers overwrites dielectric thickness.

Only 12 antenna types have pretrained AI models, including dipole, patchMicrostrip variants, pifa, dipoleHelix, waveguide, and horn. Create them via design(ant, freq, ForAI=true); the direct em.ai.AIAntenna() constructor is not supported.

The feed is likely placed in the middle of a continuous flat plate rather than at a geometric discontinuity. Use createFeed() at a gap, slot edge, or shape junction, and verify current flow with current(ant, freq, Scale="log").

Use built-in optimize() for catalog antennas with string objectives like "maximizeGain". Use OptimizerSADEA or OptimizerTRSADEA for customAntenna/pcbStack designs or custom evaluation functions, wrapping evaluations in try/catch with a 1e6 penalty for invalid geometry.