Low mutual coupling miniaturized dual-band quad-port MIMO antenna array using decoupling structure for 5G smartphones

Abstract

Maintaining the compactness of 5G smartphones while accommodating millimeter-wave (mm-wave) bands presents a significant challenge due to the substantial difference in frequency. To tackle this issue, we introduce a miniaturized quad-port dual-band multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) antenna with low mutual coupling (MC) and a considerable frequency difference. This quad-port MIMO antenna, built on a Rogers TMM4 substrate, measures 17.76 × 17.76 mm2 and boasts a dielectric constant of 4.5. It incorporates four planar patch antennas, positioned at the corners in perpendicular orientations. For dual-band operation at 28/38 GHz, each antenna element features a rectangular patch with four rectangular slots, complemented by a full ground plane. The spacing between these elements is 0.5 λo, and we've included a decoupling structure (DS) to minimize mutual coupling (MC) among the MIMO antenna elements with minimal complexity and cost. Simulation and measurement results reveal a significant reduction in mutual coupling between the array elements, ranging from − 25 to − 60 dB. As a result, we’ve developed the envelope correlation coefficient (ECC) and made advancements in the total active reflection coefficient (TARC), mean effective gain (MEG), and diversity gain (DG). The measured gains for this design are approximately 8.9 dBi at both 28 GHz and 38 GHz, with a radiation efficiency of nearly 93%. Furthermore, specific absorption rate (SAR) analysis confirms the MIMO antenna's suitability for smartphone handsets operating within the target frequency band.