Design of compact UWB antenna using characteristic mode analysis and its quad-port MIMO realization with novel isolation technique

Abstract

This paper presents a miniaturized Quad-Port MIMO antenna for UWB application. Employing Characteristic Mode Analysis, the single element UWB antenna is analysed to achieve a compact design. Using the Theory of Characteristic Mode, the significant modes and their current distribution are analysed, which helps to modify the radiator and ground plane to generate more significant modes to yield a wider frequency band. Four circular-shaped radiators with tapered feeds are placed orthogonally on the FR4 substrate to improve isolation, and partial ground planes are located on the opposite surface. Furthermore, a modified Pattee-cross-shaped parasitic element is introduced between the antenna elements and shorted with the ground planes via metallic shorting pins. This novel technique improves isolation compared to the conventional integration method of the partial ground planes through strip lines. The proposed antenna achieves less than −20 dB mutual coupling over most of the frequency band ranging from 2.51–18 GHz.