MIMO antenna system for LTE (4G)

Abstract

Multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) technology will be used by fourth generation mobile networks (also called Long Term Evolution-LTE) to achieve very high data rates in both the uplink and downlink channels. MIMO is based on the use of multiple antenna systems within the mobile terminal as well as the base station. Such antenna systems are required to fit within the hand-held (mobile) terminal which occupies a small size (typically not more than 60 100 mm <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup> ). Antenna integration and miniaturization are two major challenges. We have worked on an electrically small antenna (ESA), based on the meander antenna structure that operates in the 850 MHz band of LTE and 3G cellular standards. The antenna has a measured center frequency of 850 MHz, bandwidth of 54.6 MHz and total size of 34*22 mm <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup> . In addition, We present the design of a dual element MIMO antenna system based on the ESA antenna designed. The dual element MIMO antenna system covers the bands from 760 - 900 MHz and occupies an area of 30 30 mm <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup> . Based on simulation results, antennas are fabricated. experiment results and Simulation results are found comparable and are presented.