SIW-Based Circularly Polarized Antenna Array for 60 GHz 5G Band: Feasibility Study

Area of Science:

• Electrical Engineering
• Telecommunications Engineering
• Antenna Design

Background:

• Current millimeter wave 5G systems utilize frequencies between 24 GHz and 39 GHz.
• Upcoming 5G standards are expanding into the 60 GHz frequency band.
• Modular antenna arrays offer scalability for advanced communication systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a methodology for adapting a modular antenna array from the 17 GHz unlicensed band to the 60 GHz 5G band.
• To investigate the impact of frequency up-conversion on manufacturing precision.
• To optimize the antenna array design for improved performance and manufacturability at higher frequencies.

Main Methods:

• Frequency conversion of a modular antenna array originally designed for 17 GHz.
• Utilization of substrate-integrated waveguides (SIW) for the feeding structure.
• Sensitivity analysis to identify critical manufacturing tolerances.
• Optimization of the antenna structure to mitigate manufacturing variations.
• Inclusion of parasitic patches to enhance axial ratio bandwidth.

Main Results:

• Successful adaptation of a modular antenna array for the 60 GHz 5G band.
• Demonstration that frequency up-conversion necessitates higher manufacturing precision.
• Optimization strategies effectively reduced the impact of manufacturing variations.
• Parasitic patches improved the axial ratio bandwidth of the converted array.

Conclusions:

• The proposed methodology enables the repurposing of existing modular antenna designs for the emerging 60 GHz 5G spectrum.
• Careful consideration of manufacturing tolerances is crucial for high-frequency applications.
• The optimized design offers a viable solution for millimeter wave 5G antenna systems.