A 2-6 GHz Ultra-Wideband Shared-Aperture Antenna Array for 5G Multi-Band Base Station.

Area of Science:

• Electrical Engineering
• Electromagnetics
• Antenna Theory

Background:

• Ultra-wideband (UWB) antennas are crucial for high-capacity wireless communication systems.
• Shared-aperture antenna arrays offer advantages in size and complexity for base stations.
• Meeting the bandwidth and performance requirements for 5G offshore applications presents unique challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and validate a non-overlapping planar cross-arranged UWB shared-aperture base station antenna array.
• To achieve continuous operational bandwidth from 2 to 6 GHz, suitable for 5G applications.
• To enhance antenna performance, including gain, VSWR, and radiation pattern stability.

Main Methods:

• Independent design of low-frequency (double-layer parasitic coupling) and high-frequency (chamfered slotted patch) modules.
• Introduction of metal baffles to mitigate electromagnetic coupling and reshape boundary conditions.
• Simulation and experimental validation of the fabricated antenna prototype.

Main Results:

• Achieved continuous operational coverage from 1.84 to 6.3 GHz, exceeding the 2-6 GHz target.
• Measured gain exceeded 5.9 dBi in the low-frequency band and 6.1 dBi in the high-frequency band.
• Maintained a voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) below 2 across the entire operating spectrum.
• Metal baffles effectively corrected radiation pattern distortion, ensuring stable directional radiation.

Conclusions:

• The proposed UWB shared-aperture antenna array is an efficient, robust, and manufacturable solution.
• This design is well-suited for 5G multi-band base station antennas, particularly in offshore wind power scenarios.
• The integration of metal baffles is critical for achieving stable performance over the full bandwidth.