COMPREHENSIVE MICROWAVE AND mm-WAVE MIMO ANTENNA SYSTEM

5G Antennas

The complete coverage of the operating frequency bands from microwave bands to millimeter (mm-wave) is required for the realization of the fifth-generation (5G) Internet of Thing (IoT) systems. Here, we present a multiband antenna operating at the microwave (2.5/3.5/5.5/7.5 GHz) and mm-wave bands (23–31 GHz), and its 12-port MIMO configuration with pattern diversity affording 360◦ coverage for 5G IoT applications. The multiband characteristics are obtained by adding well-designed quarter-wavelength stubs. The antenna operates at the important frequency bands from 2.37–2.65, 3.25–3.85, 5.0–6.1, and 7.15– 8.5 GHz (|S11| < –10 dB), while it resonates from 23–31 GHz at the mm-wave band with the desired radiation characteristics. Moreover, the antenna has more than 95% radiation efficiency and a stable gain (> 2.5 dBi at microwave band and 6.5dBi at mm-wave bands) characteristics. In addition, the single-element antenna is translated to design a 2 × 2 MIMO antenna. This MIMO unit is further utilized in the formation of 2 × 4 and the proposed 3 × 4 (12-port) MIMO configurations to achieve spectral and pattern diversity. Considering the unique three dimensional arrangement of the antenna elements, the 12-port MIMO system is the only one of its kind that offers the codesign of microwave and mm-wave antenna, good isolation, and pattern diversity, providing complete 360◦ space coverage in elevation and azimuth planes. The proposed antenna module is suitable for 5G IoT, especially in an indoor scenario for smart houses, offices, and vehicle-to-everything communications..

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