Broadband sub-6 GHz flower-shaped MIMO antenna with high isolation using theory of characteristic mode analysis (TCMA) for 5G NR bands and WLAN applications

A small size neutralization line integrated flower-shaped MIMO antenna is designed and analyzed for sub-6 GHz type 5G NR frequency bands like n79 (4400–5000 MHz), n78 (3300–3800 MHz), n77 (3300–4200 MHz), and WLAN (5150–5825 MHz) applications. The novel approach of theory of characteristic mode analysis (TCMA) is introduced to provide physical insight of the designed structure and its characteristics behavior. Due to the suggested modifications in the geometry, the isolation among the patches is greatly increased. The overall miniaturized dimension of the MIMO antenna is 25 × 40 mm². The edge-edge spacing among the elements is 0.0233λ. The prototype antenna is fabricated and measured that shows good agreement compared with simulated results. The designed MIMO antenna without the presence of decoupling structure offers an isolation of 28 dB, gain of 3.6 dBi, and radiation efficiency of 69.7% at the resonant frequency. The proposed MIMO antenna covers a broad range of frequency band from 3.296 to 5.962 GHz with −10 dB impedance bandwidth of 2666 MHz and maintains a good isolation of greater than 50 dB for the entire operating band. The tested radiation efficiency and gain are 85.3% and 6.22 dBi at 3.5 GHz. Moreover, the diversity parameters of the neutralization line integrated MIMO antenna, that is, channel capacity loss (CCL) isolation, mean effective gain (MEG), total active reflection coefficient (TARC) diversity gain (DG), and envelope correlation coefficient (ECC), are analyzed and discussed in this article.     

Compact body-worn MIMO antenna with high port isolation for UWB applications

This article investigates the mutual coupling reduction of a compact two elements wearable ultra-wideband (UWB) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna. The ground plane of the proposed wearable MIMO antenna structure consists of three connected square ring-shaped stubs and two rectangular slots of narrow height. These ground stubs and slots minimize the mutual coupling effect between antennas and provide high isolation. The suggested MIMO antenna functions from the 1.87 to 13.82 GHz frequency spectrum covering WLAN (2.4–2.484 GHz), UWB (3.1–10.6 GHz), and X band (8–12 GHz) with 152.32% fractional bandwidth. It sustains port isolation above 27 dB throughout the 2 to 13.82 GHz frequency band. Inside the whole working frequency band, the suggested antenna offers a tiny envelope correlation coefficient (ECC < 0.098), greater diversity gain (DG > 9.93 dB), minimum channel capacity loss (CCL < 0.32 bits/s/Hz), and slight magnitude variation in mean effective gain of antenna ports (< 0.1 dB). The recommended antenna yields a SAR level below the designated threshold (<1.6 W/kg), affirming its suitability for body-worn applications. The designed MIMO antenna structure has an overall volume of 32 × 48 × 1.5 mm³.     

Beam-Steerable Ultra-Wide-Band Miniaturized Elliptical Phased Array Antenna Using Inverted-L-Shaped Modified Inset Feed and Defected Ground Structure for 5G Smartphones Millimeter-Wave Applications

Multi Input Multi Output (MIMO) and phased array systems are considered a key technologies to realize the 5G communication systems. Therefore, the purpose of this research is the suggestion of a novel mm-wave Ultrawide Band (UWB) antenna design with compact and straightforward layout suitable for both MIMO and phased array systems. Hence, the designed antenna array has been studied separately as a MIMO antenna and as a phased array antenna to carefully assess the performance of each system. The single antenna design is an elliptical patch antenna where the design novelty lies in the combination of a modified inset-feed and defected ground structure to provide a large bandwidth without any compromise in the radiation performance, nor in antenna size and design simplicity. The Design process are performed using CST MWS software, where the Rogers RT/Duroid 5880 substrate is chosen to construct the antenna. A broadband characteristic of 8.7 GHz from 26 to 34.7 GHz with two resonant frequencies at 28 GHz and 33 GHz is obtained. A good radiation properties are achieved, where the gain is greater than 4.5 dB while the radiation efficiency exceeds 97% over the operating band. The MIMO and phased array antennas are made up of 12-elements of the single UWB-antenna arranged linearly along the width-edge of the smartphone mainboard. The MIMO antenna proves a high diversity performance in terms of Diversity Gain (DG), Envelope Correlation Coefficient (ECC), Total Active Reflection Coefficient (TARC), Channel Capacity Loss (CCL) and Mean Effective Gain (MEG), owing to the low mutual coupling less than ??20 dB, which is obtained using a separating slits between the elements. In addition, the suggested phased array provides a highly stable gain up to 15 dB over the entire bandwidth at broadside direction, besides the wide scanning range of?±?60° at 28 GHz and?±?40° at 33 GHz. Hence, the attained results assure that the suggested antenna could be appropriate for incorporation in 5G smartphones and other wireless devices and can be effectively used for both phased array and MIMO applications.

     

Multi-Element Wideband Planar Antenna for Wireless Applications

A wideband, multi-standard MIMO antenna with hexagonal geometry and slot is proposed for DCS/PCS/LTE/UMTS applications while keeping the real time application at prime to provide high data rate, low latency, high capacity, non-line-of communication, and reliability with continuity. The designed prototype covers 1.64–2.50 GHz frequency band with percentage bandwidth of 41.55% and resonates at 2.1 GHz. The isolation of more than 10 dB is achieved in the 2:1 VSWR frequency band. The total bandwidth of the MIMO antenna is 860 MHz. The designed MIMO has peak gain of 5.4 dBi, ECC?<?0.06, radiation efficiency?>?88%, and total efficiency?>?71%. The TARC active bandwidth is 600 MHz with best excitation angles of 45°, 45° at ports. The hexagonal slot is used for the control of induced current for better isolation. The proposed MIMO antenna evaluates the SAR performance at resonant frequency for listening, holding, and watching positions, and is found under the required safety norms.

     

A Compact Semi-circular Slot MIMO Antenna with Enhanced Isolation for Sub-6 GHz 5G WLAN Applications

In this paper, a novel compact semi-circular slot (SCS) 2 × 2 MIMO antenna is presented for 5G NR sub-6 GHz applications with high isolation. The proposed antenna consists of a semi-circular slot in ground plane, U-shaped stub, and 50-ohm microstrip feed line. The novelty of this paper are the Semi-Circular Slot acts a radiator, the port isolation  is enhanced using a simple conductor strip as a neutralization line, very compact in size, low ECC, and good impedance matching. The overall size of the proposed SCS MIMO antenna is 16 mm x 21 mm, and FR4 substrate is used with thickness of 1.6 mm. The two SCS antenna elements are separated by edge-to-edge distance of 1mm (\(=0.019\lambda _{0}\)). The proposed compact MIMO antenna design is simulated using Ansys HFSS. To validate SCS MIMO antenna, a prototype was fabricated and tested. The measured results are attained at 5.5 GHz with isolation greater than 25dB, impedance bandwidth (S11\(<-10\) dB) covers from 5.10 GHz to 5.80 GHz with return loss of ? 39.5 dB. The MIMO antenna parameters, ECC, CCL, TARC, and MEG are studied, and the values are obtained within acceptable limits. The measured and simulated antenna results are almost similar. This compact MIMO antenna is suitable for 5G communications in sub-6 GHz wifi-5 band applications.

     

Broadband Multiple Input Multiple Output antenna for sub-6-GHz 5G communications

This paper presents the design of a miniaturized broadband monopole antenna for 5G and Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) applications in mobile handsets. The proposed monopole evolved from a rectangular geometry of size 12 × 5 mm. The slot and stub loading techniques are used to improve the impedance matching offered by the antenna. Furthermore, bandwidth broadening is achieved using lumped elements loaded onto the aperture of the antenna. The proposed miniaturized antenna exhibits a measured impedance bandwidth of 63.6% (3.0–5.8 GHz) covering the 5G spectrum allocations under sub-6 GHz and the WLAN services. The antenna elements are replicated along the sides of the mock mobile handset PCB to study the functionality of the eight-element MIMO antenna. The prototype MIMO antenna fabricated and tested in the laboratory offers a peak gain of 3 dBi and total efficiency greater than 72%. Owing to miniaturization, the spatial distribution of the antenna element provides a low envelope correlation (ECC) of less than 0.2 and good diversity gain (DG) greater than 7.8 dB. In addition, the mean effective gain (MEG), channel capacity loss (CCL), multiplexing efficiency (ME), and total active reflection coefficient (TARC) are evaluated and presented. The estimated MIMO metrics are within the desired range of operation and hence make the antenna suitable for a complex propagation environment. The prototype antenna is developed on a thin microwave laminate with low-loss characteristics and tested under laboratory conditions. The outcomes indicate that the proposed eight-element antenna can be applied to 5G MIMO communications.     

Design of novel compact eight-element lotus shaped UWB-MIMO antenna with triple-notch characteristics on hollow substrate

The design of novel compact two-element and eight-element lotus shaped multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) antenna system employing pattern diversity with enhanced isolation characteristics is presented. The proposed two-element antenna system is arranged rotationally on a square-hollow substrate resulting in an eight-element MIMO antenna system employing pattern diversity. The developed eight-element MIMO antenna system resonates in the frequency range 3.1 to 14.6 GHz housing the complete UWB band with triple band-notch characteristics at 3.7–4.5 GHz (C-band satellite down link [3.7–4.2 GHz]), 5.1–5.9 GHz (WLAN) and 6.8–8.25 GHz (X-band satellite down link (7.25–7.75 GHz) and up link (7.9–8.4 GHz)) bands. The antenna system gives element-to-element isolation of more than 25 dB in the majority of the operating band with a peak gain of 6.8 dBi and a maximum 90% efficiency. The important MIMO metrics like ECC (envelope correlation coefficient), DG (diversity gain), total active reflection coefficient (TARC), channel capacity losses (CCL) and MEG (mean effective gain) are presented for both two-element and eight-element to estimate the performance the proposed antennas in multi-antenna environments. The both two- and eight-element designs are fabricated and the measured results of those are well agreed with simulation results.     

Four‐port shared rectangular radiator with defected ground for wireless application

In this research work, a modified shared rectangular radiator is proposed for 5.7‐GHz wireless application using multiple cuts and partially stepped ground. The shared design requires no isolating structure to decouple the ports. The proposed shared geometry produces >13 dB isolation in the 4.4‐ to 6.4‐GHz operating band. The gain varies from 3.0 to 6.2 dBi, and radiation efficiency is >70 % in the band. The mutual coupling among the port is reduced by orthogonal arrangement of ports, and envelope correlation coefficient (ECC) is <0.04 in the presented band. Apart from this, isolation in the proposed shared radiator is enhanced by additional multiple cuts with stepped ground. The indoor‐outdoor suitability of multiple input multiple output (MIMO) antenna for isotropic and Gaussian medium is checked by mean effective gain (MEG) and specific absorption rate (SAR). The presented results of MEG and SAR fulfill the required safety norms as per the ITU for different environments.     

Dual‐polarized MIMO antenna system for WiFi and LTE wireless access point applications

In this paper, a dual‐polarized multiple‐input multiple‐output (MIMO) antenna system suitable for indoor wireless access point is proposed. The presented MIMO antenna system consists of two coplanar‐waveguide‐fed monopole antennas with orthogonally polarized modes. According to the closely spaced structure of the MIMO antenna system, the mutual coupling between the ports is a big challenge. Therefore, a new structure of parasitic element is introduced in order to improve the mutual coupling between the ports. For the purpose of validating the simulated results, the antenna prototype has been fabricated and measured; the comparison of the results shows that there is an acceptable agreement between the measurement and simulation results. The proposed design covers the frequency bands of WiFi (2.4 GHz), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (2.3 and 2.5 GHz), and Long‐Term Evolution (LTE; 1.5 and 2.6 GHz) applications with a reflection coefficient less than −10 dB and a mutual coupling coefficient better than −15 dB. The MIMO antenna system provides an envelope correlation coefficient less than 0.15, polarization diversity gain more than 9.985 dB, and quasi‐omnidirectional pattern within the expected frequency band. In addition, LTE downlink throughput measurements show that the proposed antenna system delivers data rates close to the theoretical maximum for quadrature phase shift keying, 16 quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), and 64‐QAM modulations. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Bandwidth and frequency agile MIMO antenna for cognitive vehicular communications

A reconfigurable MIMO antenna for heterogeneous vehicular networks is reported in this paper. The frequency and bandwidth characteristics of the MIMO antenna can be reconfigured to meet multi-standard and multi-frequency requirements in automobiles. The antenna element evolved from an edge-chamfered ultra-wideband (UWB) antenna operating from 2.1 to >15 GHz. The bandwidth reconfiguration is achieved through the selection of excitation paths connecting the feed and radiator. The feedline selection is performed using PIN diodes, making the antenna operate in three distinct modes, namely, UWB mode (Mode 1: 2.1–>15 GHz), industrial, scientific and medical/Internet of Things (ISM/IoT) mode (Mode 2: 2.45 GHz), and wireless local area network (WLAN) mode (Mode 3: 5–6 GHz). The feed path corresponding to Mode 2 and Mode 3 is incorporated with a suitable filtering network to shape the frequency response of the antenna based on the user's requirements. Owing to the requirement of cognitive selection of frequency bands, the frequency tunability in Mode 2 is realized using varactor diodes. The varactor-incorporated feed path reconfigures the center frequency between 2.45 and 3.5 GHz. The proposed MIMO antenna offers gain and total efficiency greater than 2.94 dBi and 76%, respectively. The prototype of the 4-port MIMO antenna is being fabricated to test its functionality in real time.     

A reconfigurable wideband MIMO antenna combines RF energy harvesting

This article introduces a novel and groundbreaking approach combining multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) technology with radio frequency (RF) energy harvesting. The proposed antenna consists of two semi-circular monopole antenna components, optimized with dimensions of 89 × 51.02 × 1.6 mm³, that share a common ground plane to achieve MIMO characteristics. A series of split-ring resonators on the ground plane significantly enhances the isolation between the two radiating components. Band-notched features are performed in the 3.5 GHz WiMAX and 5.5 GHz WLAN bands through modified C-shaped slots in the radiating patch and two rectangular split-ring resonators serving as parasitic devices near the feed line. The reconfiguration of band-notching is made possible by controlling the modes of the embedded PIN diodes. The two antenna elements maintain mutual coupling below −18 dB from 1.5–13 GHz, achieving an impressive 158.62% impedance bandwidth. The antenna's efficiency and gain experience significant drop, indicating effective interference suppression at the center frequencies of the notch bands, and its performance in MIMO systems is assessed through parameters including envelope correlation coefficient, port isolation, radiation patterns, efficiency, gain, and diversity gain. The simulated properties of the designed antenna closely align with the measured outcomes, demonstrating its reliability and consistency. Moreover, the article evaluates the antenna's potential for RF energy harvesting, achieving a maximum harvested energy of 4.88 V. This proposed antenna can be used in multiple applications, like wideband, band-notching MIMO, and RF energy harvesting. This proposed antenna is an efficient, reconfigurable wideband MIMO antenna with novel RF energy harvesting capability.     

Miniaturized six-ring elliptical monopole-based MIMO antenna for ultrawideband applications

This paper proposes a miniature two-element Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) antenna dedicated to UWB applications. The proposed MIMO design has a very low profile of 30 × 20 × 1.6 mm³. The proposed antenna is carefully designed and optimized using HFSS simulation software. As a proof of concept, the proposed design is realized and experimentally tested for MIMO applications. The proposed structure, printed on an FR4 substrate, comprises two symmetrical elliptical conductive patches on the upper side and a modified ground plane on the lower one. Each radiating element includes six elliptical rings. The modified ground plane consists of a T-shaped strip and two semielliptical slots etched opposite the feed line. All the parameters of the design are carefully optimized to achieve an ultrawide bandwidth antenna spanning from (136.08%) 3.1 to 16.3 GHz. The results are discussed and analyzed in terms of bandwidth, gain, efficiency, radiation pattern, diversity gain, envelope correlation coefficient (ECC), total active reflection coefficient (TARC), and mean effective gain (MEG). All simulated results are found to be in good accordance with experiments. The design reveals attractive features for UWB applications. A good isolation (17 dB) between the two radiators is achieved despite the close proximity using the suggested ground plane geometry.     

A novel wideband fractal-shaped MIMO antenna for brain and skin implantable biomedical applications

A novel fractal-shaped wideband multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna is proposed for brain and skin implantable applications. This antenna works in the 2.4–2.48 GHz band of industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) standards. The fractal-shaped wideband MIMO antenna is miniature in size with a footprint of $0.13\mathrm{\lambda }\times 0.06\mathrm{\lambda }\times 0.01\mathrm{\lambda }$. Rogers RT/Duroid 6010 high-dielectric substrate material is used to fabricate the optimized design in order to validate the implantable MIMO antenna structure. The same high-permittivity substrate material has been used as a superstrate. Experiments were carried out in brain and skin-mimicking gel at 2.45 GHz in the ISM band. The proposed antenna has a peak gain of −21.3 dBi at 2.45 GHz. High isolation (>20 dB) between two MIMO ports is attained. The proposed antenna achieves a fractional bandwidth of 36.76% and an impedance bandwidth of 1.02 GHz. According to IEEE safety regulations for 1- and 10-g tissues, the computed maximum specific absorption rate (SAR) is safe bound.     

Diversity characteristics of four-element ring slot-based MIMO antenna for sub-6-GHz applications

This paper proposes four-ring slot resonator-based MIMO antennas of 75 × 150 mm² without and with CSRR structures in the sub-6-GHz range. These orthogonal-fed antennas have shown diverse characteristics with dual polarization. L-shaped parasitic structures have increased the isolation (i.e., >40 dB) in the single-element antenna over the band of 3.4 GHz–3.8 GHz. A set of three CSRR structures in the MIMO antenna reduced the coupling between antenna ports placed in an inline arrangement and enhanced the isolation from 12 dB to 20 dB and the diversity characteristics. The S-parameters of both MIMO antennas are measured and used to evaluate MIMO parameters like ECC, TARC, MEG, and channel capacity loss. The simulation results show the variations in the gain and directivity on exciting linear and dual polarizations. The diversity performance of the reported MIMO antennas is suitable for 5G applications.     

A compact quasi-self-complementary dual band notched UWB MIMO antenna with enhanced isolation using Hilbert fractal slot

A compact ultrawideband multiple input multiple output antenna with dual band notch characteristics is proposed. The design utilizes the property of quasi-self-complementary monopoles to achieve a bandwidth that ranges from 2.2 GHz to 11 GHz. The design has a compact size of 30 mm × 41 mm × 1.59 mm. Two quasi-self complementary half circular monopoles are symmetrically arranged to obtain MIMO antenna. Bandnotch characteristics are obtained by adding parasitic strips of Levy's Fractal shape near the feed line. A Hilbert Fractal shaped slot is etched in the ground plane to enhance the isolation (|S₂₁| < −20 dB) throughout the operational bandwidth. The measured and simulated radiation patterns are in good agreement and is found to be stable throughout the ultrawideband. Moreover, the measured peak gain is found to be 4 dBi.     

λ/64‐spaced compact ESPAR antenna via analog RF switches for a single RF chain MIMO system

In this study, an electronically steerable parasitic array radiator (ESPAR) antenna via analog radio frequency (RF) switches for a single RF chain MIMO system is presented. The proposed antenna elements are spaced at λ/64, and the antenna size is miniaturized via a dielectric radome. The optimum reactance load value is calculated via the beamforming load search algorithm. A switch simplifies the design and implementation of the reactance loads and does not require additional complex antenna matching circuits. The measured impedance bandwidth of the proposed ESPAR antenna is 1,500 MHz (1.75 GHz–3.25 GHz). The proposed antenna exhibits a beam pattern that is reconfigurable at 2.48 GHz due to changes in the reactance value, and the measured peak antenna gain is 4.8 dBi. The reception performance is measured by using a 4  4 BPSK signal. The measured average SNR is 17 dB when using the proposed ESPAR antenna as a transmitter, and the average SNR is 16.7 dB when using a four‐conventional monopole antenna.     

一种面向5G通信的宽带8单元MIMO天线设计

提出了一种面向5G的宽带8端口多输入多输出（multiple-input multiple-output,MIMO）天线.天线单元采用多枝节单极子结构,能够激发多模态,且能覆盖多频段.同时,采用弯折结构来实现小型化,且在相邻单元之间设计T形突出地结构来提高隔离度.仿真和实测结果显示,该天线在3~7.1 GHz内回波损耗大于10 dB,在3.3~7.1 GHz内隔离度高于15 dB.因为进行了有效的去耦,天线体现出明显的辐射分集特性,天线在目标sub-6 GHz频段内的包络相关系数（envelope correlation coefficient,ECC）接近0.在一8×8 MIMO系统中,计算得到的峰值遍历信道容量为43 bps/Hz,达到传统2×2 MIMO上限值的3.74倍.该8单元MIMO天线具有良好的分集和复用能力,能满足5G通信在sub-6 GHz的高速数据传输需要.     

(3.1–20) GHz MIMO antennas

In this paper, a super-wideband (SWB) printed monopole antenna has been designed and manufactured. The measured frequency band in terms of reflection coefficient is from 3.1 to 20 GHz under a −10 dB criteria, thanks to the inclusion of a taper impedance adapter. This single antenna has been used to implement and analyze several MIMO antenna configurations, where the isolation between the compounding elements has been checked and optimized to improve the Envelope Correlation Coefficient. Two elements MIMO configurations (parallel ports or orthogonal diversity), as well as four element MIMO antennas with parallel ports are presented. Non continuous ground planes of the MIMO antenna elements with the inclusion of L shaped thin strips are proposed as valid structures to significantly improve the side by side mutual coupling from an initial peak value of 15 dB to better than 24 dB within the entire frequency band. In all the presented MIMO antenna structures, the measured values demonstrate good performance up to 20 GHz, both in reflection and isolation. Nevertheless, the influence of the mutual coupling effects has been checked as more significant in the lower part of the frequency band, especially in the 4 element MIMO configuration. The inclusion of the L shaped strips in the ground plane significantly mitigates this effect. Although the antennas have only been measured up to 20 GHz (upper frequency limit of the laboratory Vector Network Analyzer), simulations show satisfactory antennas’ performance up to 50 GHz.     

一种基于人工电磁超材料的宽带MIMO天线去耦方法

本文提出了一种新的基于人工电磁超材料的宽带MIMO(Multiple-Input Multiple-Output)天线的去耦方法,通过在两个天线单元之间周期性放置开口三角环形谐振器（open triangular ring resonators,OTRRs）来降低耦合度。多个不同谐振频率的OTRRs有效地增强了去耦带宽,与未加载去耦结构的MIMO天线相比,在5.2GHz频段,百分比带宽为5.74%,隔离度提高了9dB以上。     

基于介质片加载实现MIMO介质谐振器天线解耦

提出了一种通过在介质谐振器(DR)上表面侧边加载介质片(DS)来实现1×2 MIMO介质谐振器天线(DRA)解耦的新方法。1×2 MIMO DRA采用双层介质基板结构以优化阻抗匹配特性和辐射特性,两DR的边到边间距为0,天线工作在毫米波频段。所加载的DS使得DR内的场重新分布并向DS加载区域以及DS内集中,从而减弱耦合到另一DR单元的场强以实现解耦效果。基于ANSYS HFSS的仿真结果表明天线的-10 dB阻抗匹配带宽为25.6%(22.75～29.43 GHz),带内最大实现了30 dB的隔离度的增强。