A Dual-Polarized and Broadband Multiple-Antenna System for 5G Cellular Communications

Area of Science:

• Electrical Engineering
• Antenna Theory
• Wireless Communications

Background:

• Fifth-generation (5G) cellular technology demands advanced antenna systems for high data rates and reliable connectivity.
• Existing antenna solutions face challenges in achieving compact size, broad bandwidth, and efficient dual-polarization for mobile devices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and evaluate a new multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna array system for sub-6 GHz 5G cellular applications.
• To achieve a compact, broad-bandwidth, dual-polarized antenna solution suitable for smartphone integration.

Main Methods:

• A novel MIMO antenna array featuring eight compact trapezoid slot elements with L-shaped Coplanar Waveguide (CPW) feedlines was designed.
• The antenna elements were positioned on an FR4 substrate (75 mm × 150 mm) to optimize footprint and performance.
• Key parameters including bandwidth, isolation, radiation efficiency, Envelope Correlation Coefficient (ECC), and Total Active Reflection Coefficient (TARC) were analyzed.

Main Results:

• The proposed antenna array operates from 3.2 to 6 GHz, offering a bandwidth of 2800 MHz.
• Achieved high isolation between adjacent elements, low ECC (<0.005), and TARC (< -20 dB).
• Demonstrated dual-polarized/full-coverage radiation patterns and high radiation efficiency, alongside acceptable Specific Absorption Rate (SAR).

Conclusions:

• The compact MIMO antenna array design shows significant promise for integration into 5G hand-portable devices.
• The study also presents a proof-of-concept phased-array millimeter-wave (mmWave) antenna for future 5G and 6G applications.
• This work contributes to enabling advanced connectivity solutions in next-generation smartphones.