Wideband Reconfigurable Millimeter-Wave Linear Array Antenna Using Liquid Crystal for 5G Networks

Ali El Hajj Hassan,Elias Rachid,Mohammad Rammal,Najib Fadlallah,Georges Zakka El Nashef

doi:10.4236/wet.2021.121001

Abstract

The advanced design of a 10 × 1 linear antenna array system with the capa-bility of frequency tunability using GT3-23001 liquid crystal (LC) is pro-posed. The design for this reconfigurable wideband antenna array for 5G ap-plications at Ka-band millimeter-wave (mmw) consists of a double layer of stacked patch antenna with aperture coupled feeding. The bias voltage over LC varies from 0 V to 10.6 V to achieve a frequency tunability of 1.18 GHz. The array operates from 25.3 GHz to 33.8 GHz with a peak gain of 19.2 dB and a beamwidth of 5.2&#176 at 30 GHz. The proposed reconfigurable antenna ar-ray represents a real and efficient solution for the recent and future mmw 5G networks. The proposed antenna is suitable for 5G base stations in stadiums, malls and convention centers. It is proper for satellite communications and radars at mmw.

Highlights

Five Generation (5G) networks are expected to bring a principal resolution for the extremely aggregated demand of wide bandwidth and moderate mobile data traffic
The need for wide bandwidth and high gain for the proposed design impose these 3 technical steps which are the multilayer stacked patch assembly, the frequency reconfigurability process based on controlling the variable permittivity of GT3-23001 liquid crystal (LC) anisotropic material through a variable bias voltage, and the aperture coupled feeding
An advanced design of 10 × 1 linear 5G wideband frequency reconfigurable stacked patch antenna array for Ka-band based on GT3-23001 LC as dielectric substrate and aperture coupled feeding is presented

Summary

Introduction

Five Generation (5G) networks are expected to bring a principal resolution for the extremely aggregated demand of wide bandwidth and moderate mobile data traffic. Amongst the mmw spectra, Ka-band represents one of the effective suggested band for 5G wireless communication technologies due to its wider bandwidth, miniaturized devices, lower absorptions, less path loss and delays, suitability for multipath environments and reduced signal vanishing like weather attenuations and rain fades [3] [4]

Methods

Results

Conclusion