mmWave polarization diversity wideband multiple-input/multiple-output antenna system with symmetrical geometry for future compact devices

Abstract

The fifth generation (5G) of mobile networks is a significant technological advancement in telecommunications that provides faster data speeds, lower latency, and greater network capacity. One of the key technologies that enables 5G is multiple-input/multiple-output (MIMO) antenna systems, which allow for the transmission and reception of multiple data streams simultaneously, improving network performance and efficiency. MIMO is essential to meeting the demand for higher data rates and improved network performance in 5G networks. This work presents a four-element MIMO antenna system dedicated to the upper 5G millimeter-wave (mmWave) spectrum. The suggested antenna system is designed using an ultra-thin RO5880 substrate having total dimensions of 20 x 20 x 0.254 mm(3) with symmetrical geometry. The proposed antenna covers a fractional bandwidth of 46.875% (25-38 GHz), covering potential 5G bands of 26, 28, and 32 GHz, and offers isolation of >18 dB. The proposed MIMO system is fabricated and tested in-house. The antenna showed efficiency >88% at the potential band of interest and a peak gain of 3.5 dBi. The orthogonal arrangement of the resonating elements provides polarization diversity. Also, the MIMO parameters obtained, such as mean effective gain (MEG), envelope correlation coefficient (ECC), diversity gain (DG), channel capacity loss (CCL), and total active reflection coefficient (TARC), are found to have good performance. The measured results obtained are found to be in good agreement with simulations, hence making the proposed MIMO antenna suitable for handheld mmWave 5G devices.