Millimeter-Wave Antenna With Gain Improvement Utilizing Reflection FSS for 5G Networks

Abstract

A millimeter-wave (mm-wave) antenna with enhanced gain for new 5G networks is introduced in this work. A rectangular slot antenna operating at the fundamental mode of the desired frequency band is utilized in this study. The antenna gain is improved by employing a Frequency Selective Surface (FSS). The FSS-based reflectors are designed at the same fundamental mode of the antenna and added under the antenna at a specific distance to achieve the required gain enhancement with a suitable dimension of 25 × 25 × 5 mm³. The antenna gain is increased by around 5.3 dBi when the FSS-based reflectors are added under the antenna. The antenna and the FSS are fabricated and tested. The antenna has tested outcomes without FSS with S₁₁ ≤ -10 dB from 26 GHz up to 29.8 GHz and realized gain of around 4.5 dBi within the entire frequency band and radiation efficiency of around 93 %. While the antenna with FSS has achieved bandwidth with S₁₁ ≤ -10 dB from 25.5 GHz up to 30.8 GHz and realized gain around 10.3 dBi at 28 GHz and radiation efficiency around 90 %. The simulated and tested outcomes have the same trend which validates the suggested antenna to be operated in the new 5G applications. All simulation results are completed using the CST Microwave Studio.