Parasitically coupled 16-port massive MIMO antenna for mmWave applications

Area of Science:

• Electrical Engineering
• Electromagnetics
• Antenna Theory

Background:

• Millimeter-wave (mmWave) frequencies are crucial for next-generation wireless communication systems, enabling higher data rates and capacity.
• Massive MIMO (Multiple-Input Multiple-Output) antenna systems are essential for improving spectral efficiency and link reliability in mmWave bands.
• Compact antenna designs are required to meet the size constraints of mobile devices and base stations operating at mmWave frequencies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and present a compact 16-port massive MIMO antenna for mmWave applications.
• To optimize a single antenna element for performance within the target mmWave spectrum.
• To evaluate the antenna's performance, including gain, return loss, and specific absorption rate (SAR) for human safety.

Main Methods:

• A systematic study was conducted to select an optimal single antenna element design from four initial designs.
• A 16-port massive MIMO antenna was fabricated using replicas of the optimized single element with a modified ground plane.
• Simulations were performed using High Frequency Structure Simulator (HFSS) and Advanced Design System (ADS) for antenna design and circuit modeling.

Main Results:

• The proposed 16-port antenna resonates at 40 GHz within the 37.5-49 GHz mmWave band, exhibiting a peak return loss of 40 dB.
• The antenna covers key 5G and beyond wireless communication bands, including 39 GHz, 41 GHz, and 47 GHz.
• High antenna gain of 17.9 dB at 39 GHz and 17.2 dB at 41 GHz was achieved, alongside a low SAR value of 0.045 W/kg at 40 GHz.

Conclusions:

• The developed compact 16-port massive MIMO antenna is suitable for mmWave applications, offering excellent performance within critical 5G bands.
• The antenna design demonstrates high gain and efficiency while maintaining a safe SAR level for human exposure.
• The proposed antenna design and its equivalent circuit model provide a valuable reference for future mmWave communication system development.