5G Antennas Research Articles

Compact Metamaterial based Antenna for 5G Applications

This research paper presents the design and analysis of a compact antenna used for 5G applications using complementary split-ring resonator (CSRR) metamaterials. Here, we use FR4 epoxy substrate. Initially, a rectangular patch antenna with dimensions of 7.5 mm × 5.7 mm was designed, which exhibited resonance at 12 GHz. Subsequently, optimizations were made to the patch design, resulting in resonance at 5.88 GHz. Next, complementary split-ring resonator (CSRR) metamaterial was designed and integrated into the ground plane of the antenna. Following the introduction of the CSRR, the resonant frequency of the antenna was further reduced to 3.5GHz. The simulated results show that the antenna has a compact size of 12 × 12 × 1 mm³ and operates at a frequency of 3.5GHz with a bandwidth of 200 MHz, return loss of -20.41 dB and gain of -3.7dBi. We were able to achieve up to 92 % compactness from its usual size, after redesigning the patch and introducing the CSRR metamaterial. In conclusion, the proposed antenna design offers a compact and efficient solution for 5G communication systems using CSRR metamaterials. The results of this study can be used for the development of low-cost, compact and high-performance 5G antennas for various applications in the future.

Simulation and Design of Three 5G Antennas

In the context of 5G networks, this paper investigates microstrip array antennas and mobile terminal MIMO array antennas. It introduces two innovative designs and, based on these, develops and fabricates a mobile terminal antenna. The first of these designs, a 4 × 4 microstrip array antenna operating in the LTE band 42 (3.4–3.6 GHz), is researched and fabricated and an innovative approach, combining embedded and coaxial feeding methods, is proposed and employed. Measurement results indicate a bandwidth of 373 MHz (3.321–3.694 GHz), achieving a relative bandwidth of 10.7%. The antenna exhibits a high gain of 12.7 dBi, with an undistorted radiation pattern, demonstrating excellent directional characteristics. The second of these designs, a “loop-slot” MIMO antenna designed for 5G mobile devices with metal frames, is investigated. By opening slots in the metal frame and integrating them into the antenna’s feeding structure, the decoupling principle is analyzed from the perspective of characteristic mode theory. This design shares resonant modes between the loop and slot antennas, allowing for the overlapping placement of the two antenna units. Experimental results confirm an isolation level exceeding 21 dB, with significantly reduced dimensions. Finally, an eight-unit MIMO antenna is designed and fabricated for 5G mobile devices with metal frames. Continuous optimization of the “loop-slot” module layout and unit spacing leads to a compact and miniaturized antenna structure. Measurement results show an isolation level exceeding 17 dB, radiation efficiency ranging from 65.8% to 73.7%, and an envelope correlation coefficient (ECC) below 0.03. Finally, an analysis of specific absorption rate (SAR) demonstrates excellent MIMO performance in terms of human body radiation exposure.

High permeability and low loss easy-plane ferrites with multi-ions doped for miniaturized 5G antennas

Ferrites are the desirable candidates for antenna substrates due to their high permeability and low magnetic loss. However, such excellent magnetic properties cannot be maintained in the GHz band due to the Snoek limit. Here, we report a BaCo1.8Zn0.2Fe16O27 (CoZnW) ferrite prepared by doping multiple ions at the lattice (Zn ions) and grain boundaries (Bi/Ca/Si/V ions) of conventional BaCo2Fe16O27 (Co2W) ferrites, achieving a high permeability of 3.3, low magnetic loss tangent of 0.05, and a high figure of merit (FOM=μ′Qf = 66) at 1 GHz, which is much better compared to the previous reports. Moreover, the dimensions of the antenna deploying the multi-ions doped CoZnW are only 52 % of those deploying conventional commercial materials (Fr4) because of its high permeability and low loss. Such a high permeability is attributed to the enhanced saturation magnetization and the reduced anisotropic field achieved by Zn ions modulation. The low magnetic loss is attributed to the reduced damping of domain wall motion and the refined grain size achieved by Bi/Ca/Si/V ions modulation. Our work not only provides a promising candidate for 5G antennas but also uncovers a physical mechanism for the modulation of magnetic properties of ferrites.

A High-Gain Dual-Band Slotted Microstrip Patch Antenna For 5G Cellular Mobile Phones

Microstrip patch antennas have been widely used in contemporary mobile communication technology, including 5G. Previous studies in the area have shown that such antennas can be optimized to operate in different bands of 5G. This study proposes a microstrip patch antenna designed to operate at 26 and 28 GHz and aimed at improving the gain and other radiation characteristics by adding a combination of different slot shapes to a single rectangular patch that is very common and popular in 5G antennas. The results show that the gain is noticeably increased by inserting two hammer slots and a rectangular slot in the middle between them. The dimensions of the slots are optimized using the CST Studio Suite simulator. A comparative analysis was performed to demonstrate the superiority of the proposed over previous designs in terms of gain value and other radiation parameters. The results suggest that such a very simple and low-profile antenna can be a good candidate for 5G mobile applications.

Study of the characteristics of broadband matching antennas for fifth-generation mobile communications based on new composite materials

The presented research aims to analyze in detail the characteristics of broadband matching antennas specifically designed for 5G mobile communications applications, with an emphasis on innovative composite materials. The study focuses on a compact planar loop antenna designed for use on smartphones, covering the LTE/WWAN frequency bands 824 to 960 MHz, 1,710 to 2,690 MHz, and 3,300 to 3,600 MHz for full coverage of modern 5G networks. Experimental and numerical methods are used to broadly analyze the frequency range associated with 5G networks. The features of the use of composite materials in the implementation of antenna devices in 5G technologies are noted. A broadband matching circuit (BMC) with elements with lumped parameters and a reduced sensitivity invariant has been synthesized. A 3D model of the adaptive selective surface controller (SSC) was developed using CST Studio. The study results highlight the benefits of new composite materials in improving the performance of 5G antennas. This research makes a significant contribution to the development of 5G technologies by optimizing antenna design for efficient data transmission in modern mobile networks and can be a valuable resource for engineers and designers working in this field.

A Bandwidth and Gain Enhanced Hexagonal Patch Antenna using Hexagonal Shape SRR

In the evolving digital era, the primary focus of the telecommunications industry is on the 5G network, expected to deliver high data rates, low latency, large network capacity, and improved connectivity. This article discusses efforts to adopt optimal frequencies for 5G, introducing techniques to enhance the characteristics of microstrip antennas using Double Negative (DNG) metamaterial properties. The hexagonal-shaped Split Ring Resonant (HSRR) metamaterial is considered a potential method to increase the bandwidth and gain of 5G antennas. Simulation of HSRR unit cells shows a positive impact on DNG characteristics. Meanwhile, the antenna design incorporating HSRR superstrate elements significantly increases gain to 4.47 dBi, and the implementation of HSRR structures on the groundplane results in a remarkable 368% increase in bandwidth compared to conventional antennas without metamaterial.

Cost-aware Service Placement and Scheduling in the Edge-Cloud Continuum

The edge to data center computing continuum is the aggregation of computing resources located anywhere between the network edge (e.g., close to 5G antennas), and servers in traditional data centers. Kubernetes is the de facto standard for the orchestration of services in data center environments, where it is very efficient. It, however, fails to give the same performance when including edge resources. At the edge, resources are more limited, and networking conditions are changing over time. In this article, we present a methodology that lowers the costs of running applications in the edge-to-cloud computing continuum. This methodology can adapt to changing environments, e.g., moving end-users. We are also monitoring some Key Performance Indicators of the applications to ensure that cost optimizations do not negatively impact their Quality of Service. In addition, to ensure that performances are optimal even when users are moving, we introduce a background process that periodically checks if a better location is available for the service and, if so, moves the service. To demonstrate the performance of our scheduling approach, we evaluate it using a vehicle cooperative perception use case, a representative 5G application. With this use case, we can demonstrate that our scheduling approach can robustly lower the cost in different scenarios, while other approaches that are already available fail in either being adaptive to changing environments or will have poor cost-effectiveness in some scenarios.

The effects of 5G network on people and the environment: A machine learning approach to the comprehensive analysis

The progression of telecommunications, starting from the inception of 1G networks in 1979 to the advent of 5G technology in 2019, represents a significant journey of advancement for humanity. As we approach the era of 5G, characterized by heightened machine-to-machine connectivity and transformative applications in AI, IoT, and cloud computing, it becomes imperative to acknowledge and address concerns regarding its potential impacts on health and the environment. Utilizing machine learning algorithms, particularly implemented in Python for this research, provides a potent approach to analyzing intricate datasets concerning 5G signals and their potential correlations with healthcare outcomes. After carefully cleaning and preparing the data and conducting linear regression analysis, uncovered evidence backing the notion that 5G antennas emit greater levels of radiation compared to 4G antennas emerged - a fact often concealed by corporations. Despite relying on a restricted dataset, the results emphasize the necessity for more accurate data to improve model precision. Ongoing research endeavors are vital to alleviate public anxieties regarding 5G technology, thereby fostering trust and bolstering awareness on a wider front.

Fabrication of Multifunctional Silylated GO/FeSiAl Epoxy Composites: A Heat Conducting Microwave Absorber for 5G Base Station Packaging.

A multifunctional microwave absorber with high thermal conductivity for 5G base station packaging comprising silylated GO/FeSiAl epoxy composites were fabricated by a simple solvent-handling method, and its microwave absorption properties and thermal conductivity were presented. It could act as an applicable microwave absorber for highly integrated 5G base station packaging with 5G antennas within a range of operating frequency of 2.575-2.645 GHz at a small thickness (2 mm), as evident from reflection loss with a maximum of -48.28 dB and an effective range of 3.6 GHz. Such a prominent microwave absorbing performance results from interfacial polarization resonance attributed to a nicely formed GO/FeSiAl interface through silylation. It also exhibits a significant enhanced thermal conductivity of 1.6 W/(mK) by constructing successive thermal channels.

Silicone rubber‐nanoceramic composites for 5G antenna substrates

AbstractHere, the eligibility of silicone rubber‐nanoceramic composites as flexible substrates for sub‐6 GHz 5G antennas is investigated. Two different composites are prepared using the solution mixing method, namely mono and hybrid composites. The reflection and transmission coefficient (S‐parameters) of composites are measured using a rectangular waveguide‐based transmission line technique in conjunction with a Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) at C‐band frequencies (4–8 GHz). The Nicolson–Ross–Weir (NRW) algorithm is adopted to extract the complex permittivity and loss tangent of the material under test. Due to the synergetic effect, the silicone rubber hybrid composite (0.12BiVO4+0.12LaNbO4) exhibits the advantage of a lowered loss tangent while retaining a good dielectric constant at 5.78 GHz. A rectangular microstrip patch antenna is designed and simulated with CST software using 0.12BVO/0.12LNO/0.76SR composite as a substrate. Moreover, based on the simulation, the antenna with the proposed substrate has acceptable performance at 5.78 GHz with the return loss, directivity, and gain of −25.05 dB, 5.46 dBi and 2.74 dBi, respectively. As a result, the composite material's ability to act as a suitable substrate for a 5 GHz Wi‐Fi antenna is confirmed.

High-frequency magnetic properties of FeB nanochains based soft magnetic composites for potential antenna applications up to GHz

Soft magnetic materials are a kind of promising materials for antenna substrates because their permeability and permittivity are both greater than unity. However, their magnetic properties would deteriorate dramatically as the frequency reaches 1 GHz owing to Snoek limit and domain wall resonance, thus limiting their application at high frequency. Here, we report a low-dimensional soft magnetic composite (SMC) prepared by FeB nanochains, achieving the optimized magnetic loss tangent (tanδμ) of 0.09 and the real part of permeability (μ′) of 3.3 at 1 GHz, which is more competitive than the conventional spherical FeB SMCs. Such an optimization is ascribed to the change in the dominant mechanism of the magnetization process from domain wall motion to magnetic moment precession, associated with the transition of the magnetic domain structure of the particles from multi- to mono-domain. The SMC proposed in this work provides a significantly potential candidate for high-frequency and miniaturized 5G antennas. Furthermore, the design concept and preparation method can be extended to other SMCs, providing a guidance for the development of high-performance antenna substrate materials.

Self-alignment of whole wafers using patterning for capillary forces

Three dimensional packaging schemes take advantage of multiple substrate materials, functionality, and reduced area constraints. Alignment of stacks of wafers becomes difficult as the number increases. We investigate full-wafer self-alignment as a means for solving this problem. To date, capillary self-alignment has only been accomplished with tiny, millimeter-sale, objects. Here, wafer-level self-alignment is demonstrated with capillary alignment forces, and we describe several needed, nontrivial advances and considerations compared to the chip alignment. The patterning scheme and the alignment force character are found to be crucial to ensure alignment at the wafer scale. Avoidance of alignment at local minima with the use of multiple length scales, prevention of upper wafer dragging by balancing the wafer and using engineered flow channels, and increased pattern features at small misalignments to combat the decreased alignment force are all discussed. A capture range of a few millimeters in position and several degrees in rotation for the self-alignment is achieved by patterning a hydrophobic self-assembled monolayer. These advances for large structure self-alignment offer a path forward for self-assembly of wafer stacks or other complex, large structures useful for mmWave, 5G antennas, for example. The scheme is compatible with a bonding scheme using the bonding precursor as the alignment fluid.

Vehicle Spoiler Integrated and Hidden 5G Antenna

This letter presents a low-profile design and integration method of sub-6 GHz telecommunication 5G antennas that are hidden into a vehicle fascia/spoiler. Such antennas for a vehicle are traditionally packaged together in an antenna shark fin and installed on a metal roof. However, the size of the antenna farm has been consistently growing as the number of antennas in support of telematics and infotainment services increases and the operating frequencies of the new sub-6 GHz 5G antennas expand to even lower frequency band such as 617 MHz. The necessary increase in the antenna farm real estate often presents challenges to meet the goals of vehicle aesthetics and aerodynamics performance in addition to the antenna performance. This letter shall provide a solution to the challenge by designing low-profile antennas to integrate them hidden in the rear fascia structure of a vehicle.

A Review of Design Consideration, Challenges and Technologies Used in 5G Antennas

A Review of Design Consideration, Challenges and Technologies Used in 5G Antennas

Extremely Low-Profile Dual-Band Microstrip Patch Antenna Using Electric Coupling for 5G Mobile Terminal Applications

For modern mobile terminals, the shrinking antenna space on terminal frames and the increasing number of 5G antennas motivate engineers to seek new space for antennas. The terminal back cover can provide a large area to accommodate planar antennas; thus, mobile planar antennas are becoming a hotspot recently. This communication proposes a novel approach to develop a dual-band planar antenna with an extremely low profile, which is an urgent need for modern ultra-thin terminals. The first two modes (TM0.5, 0 and TM0.5, 1) of the half-mode patch are adopted to cover the two target bands and a parasitic half-mode patch excited through electric coupling is added to expand the impedance and efficiency bandwidths. The realized dual-band patch antenna operating at partial 5G band N78 (3.40–3.60 GHz) and N79 (4.80–4.97 GHz) is with a profile of only 0.5 mm, about <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$0.006~\lambda _{{\text {L}}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> ( <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\lambda _{\text {L}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> refers to the lowest frequencies of the operation band). Measured results show that the −6 dB impedance bandwidths are 3.19–3.42 GHz (230 MHz, 6.9%) and 4.77–5.03 GHz (260 MHz, 5.3%) with average efficiencies of −4.2 dB (39.0%) and −3.7 dB (42.6%) at the lower and higher bands, respectively. As far as the authors know, the proposed antenna is with the lowest profile and highest bandwidth-to-volume ratio (BVR) compared to other reported planar dual-band antennas.

Electrical Reconfigurability in Modern 4G, 4G/5G and 5G Antennas: A Critical Review of Polarization and Frequency Reconfigurable Designs

This paper presents a critical review of modern 4G, 4G/5G, and 5G antennas, which employ PIN diodes and Varactors for polarization or frequency reconfiguration. For the reviewed 4G and 5G polarization reconfigurable antennas, a new parameter named spectrum utilization "AR/ <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">S</i> <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">11</sub> B.W." is defined for the first time to predict the shared spectrum between the impedance bandwidth and the axial ratio bandwidth for circularly polarized antennas. The calculated spectrum utilization for many designs revealed that the majority of implementations failed to achieve full utilization of the available bandwidth. Besides, employing multiple PIN diodes is shown useful in improving the spectrum utilization and in supporting multiple polarization states. For the reviewed 4G, 4G/5G and 5G frequency reconfigurable antennas, the focus is mainly on comparing the available tuning range, fractional bandwidth and the Fractional Bandwidth Change (FBWC) upon tuning. The latter parameter, is defined and calculated in this work to measure the change in the FBW upon tuning. Utilizing multiple Varactors is shown promising in improving a 4G antenna’s fractional bandwidth, while combining Multiple PINs and Varactors in one design is found efficient in improving the FBWC and the tuning range in the 5G spectrum.

Epoxy-Nanoceramic Composites for 5G Antennas

Epoxy–nanoceramic composites of BiVO4 (BVO), LaNbO4 (LNO), and Li6Mg7Ti3O16 (LMT) were prepared using the solvent mixing method. The ceramic nano-fillers volume fractions were (5, 8, 10, and 12%). X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) were used to investigate the crystal structure and size distribution of nanoceramics, respectively. The dielectric constant and loss tangent were measured in the frequency range of (4-8) GHz. The measurement technique was the waveguide approach via a Vector Network analyzer (VNA). The effect of the volume fraction of ceramic fillers on the dielectric constant and loss tangent of the composites at 5.28 GHz (5G) was investigated. This work aims to design composite materials for 5G antennas of lower cost while maintaining the properties of 5G antennas. The results show that an optimum volume fraction of the ceramic filler brings the dielectric properties to their best value. However, epoxy composite with a 5% volume fraction of LMT shows good microwave dielectric properties (dielectric constant = 2.17 and loss tangent = 0.011) at 5.28 GHz. In addition, epoxy- LMT composite with an exceptionally low volume fraction of 5% provides a low-cost material for a 5G antenna. Another aspect of the cost reduction is the elimination of the costly and troublesome compaction and high-temperature sintering process. Furthermore, the epoxy composite overcomes the disadvantages of the high brittleness of the sintered all-ceramic products. As a result, epoxy composite with the 5% volume fraction of LMT is a potential candidate for 5G antenna materials.

Technologies Used In 5G Antennas (Comprehensive Review)

In this review, we will shed light on the technology of antennas used in communication within the fifth generation, and we will elaborate on two types of this most advanced technology. The first is Compact Wide-Band Microstrip Patch Antenna; the second type is Four Elements MIMO Antenna. The world has become a network of interconnected networks, and this communication has resulted in huge and enormous data, and the world of communications has become crowded with transmitted and received data, and this development requires revolutions. In the world of wireless communications until we have now reached the world of the fifth generation and the world of augmented virtual reality, and what it requires to connect what affects human life from the home to the car to the workplace, and in parallel with the revolutions in the world of applications, a revolution occurred in the world of antennas, which is the means through which data is transmitted. While doing a review of 5G antennas, The MIMO antennas are the best candidate for smartphones while the massive MIMO antennas can be used at base stations. In MIMO metal rim antenna design the use of carrier aggregation reinforces transmission rate. Also, design features like orthogonal polarization boost isolation thereby enhancing the overall efficiency.

Probe-AUT Multiple Reflection Suppression in the Over the Air Measurement of 5G Antennas Using Matrix Pencil Method

The effect of probe proximity to the antenna under test (AUT) in the fixed-probe spherical near field (SNF) measurement system is investigated. The matrix pencil method (MPM) is utilized to suppress the undesired multiple reflections between AUT and probe, and the optimal angular region for correction is determined in this scenario. The simulation results are compared with a reference set of data in terms of transmission coefficients and radiation patterns to evaluate the performance of the MPM in the probe-generated echo filtering procedure. To verify the functionality of the MPM in practice, two antennas are exploited as different probes to implement a spherical measurement system in a mini-anechoic chamber, which is developed for conducting the over the air (OTA) measurements of the fifth-generation (5G) antennas. By comparing the radiation pattern results, it is observed that applying the MPM to the sampled data leads to more accurate results in a compact near field (NF) measurement setup.

Design of a high-gain dual-band LI-slotted microstrip patch antenna for 5G mobile communication systems

The microstrip patch antenna has been successfully used in modern wireless communication systems including the fifth generation (5G) applications. The focus of this paper is on the high-band millimeter waves of the 5G, particularly the 26 and 28 GHz as widely used frequency bands. The main goal of this study is to provide a significant improvement in the microstrip patch antenna gain by adding slots with L and I shapes to a single rectangular patch, being very common structure used in 5G antennas. It is worth noting that this is an empirical study carried out using the CST Studio Suite simulator for simulating and optimizing the slot dimensions. The results presented in the paper show that a very high gain could be achieved by inserting a couple of symmetric LI slots and a rectangular slot located in the middle. To validate our results, the paper presents a detailed comparison between the proposed and previously developed microstrip patch antennas, and demonstrates that the proposed ones outperform the others in achieving high gain and directivity while providing great Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR) and efficiency measures, and wide enough bandwidth at the two frequency bands selected.