A 28 GHz 2 × 2 Antenna Array with 10 Beams Using Passive SPDT Switch Beamforming Network.

Area of Science:

• Electrical Engineering
• Electromagnetics
• Antenna Theory

Background:

• 5G technology demands advanced antenna solutions for high data rates and user mobility.
• Beam-switching antennas are crucial for efficient wireless communication, enabling dynamic signal direction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a dual-polarized, four-port, 2x2 series-fed antenna array with beam-switching capabilities.
• To design a compact, low-cost antenna suitable for 5G user equipment and high data rate applications.

Main Methods:

• A passive beamforming network with two 3 dB/90° couplers was employed for beam switching.
• A one-port feeding mechanism with SPDT switch modules and a power divider was utilized.
• The antenna was implemented on a low-loss Rogers 4003C substrate and simulated using Ansys HFSS.

Main Results:

• The antenna array achieved 10 distinct switched beams with a compact size of 37.2 × 37.2 mm².
• A measured 10 dB impedance bandwidth of 4 GHz (26-30 GHz) and peak isolation >30 dB were obtained.
• An average realized gain of 8.9 dBi, a side lobe level of ~10 dB, and a 3-dB coverage of 80°-90° were achieved.

Conclusions:

• The proposed antenna design is a viable solution for 5G user equipment, offering beam-switching functionality.
• The compact size, low cost, and efficient beamforming network make it suitable for high data rate applications.
• The antenna demonstrates excellent performance metrics, including bandwidth, isolation, gain, and beam-steering capabilities.