Sub-6 GHz Bands Research Articles

Textured CoZn-18H hexaferrite with enhanced Snoek’s product and suppressed magnetic loss

Modern communications have created a great demand of magneto-dielectric functional materials having low loss and high permeability properties under the sub-6 GHz band. CoZn-18H planar hexagonal ferrites with strong magnetic anisotropy are more promising in meeting these requirements than that of traditional ferrites. The textured CoZn-18H hexagonal ferrites were synthesized by the reactive templated grain growth (RTGG) method to obtain high magnetic resonance frequency without sacrificing permeability. The layered texture composed of flaky hexagonal particles with a high aspect ratio played an important role in obtaining high permeability and high magnetic resonance frequency. The permeability μ′, magnetic loss tangent tan δμ, and performance factor (PF) of the textured CoZn-18H hexagonal ferrite with the highest Snoek’s product (SP = 6.99 GHz) under 3.41 GHz were 1.66, 0.10, and 56.61 GHz, respectively. Compared with the traditional pure dielectric substrate, a planar inverted F antenna (PIFA) working at 3.0 GHz with a miniaturization rate of 18.1 % was simulated based on the textured CoZn-18H hexagonal ferrite. These results demonstrated that the method of preparing textured CoZn-18H hexagonal ferrites without the application of a magnetic field was effective and revealed the potential of textured planar hexagonal ferrites synthesized by the RTGG method of high-frequency and low-loss applications.

A frequency-agile retrodirective tag for large-scale sub-terahertz data backscattering

Backscattering is a promising power-efficient communication technique providing sustainable wireless links with a low carbon footprint. This approach is a critical enabler for dense IoT networks, which are forecast to grow to 41 billion by 2025. However, existing backscatter designs are limited to the sub-6 GHz bands or narrowband operation in the millimeter-wave regime; therefore, they fail to concurrently support many interference-free low-power users. Enabling a frequency-agile wideband backscatter design in the sub-terahertz offers a two-pronged advantage for densely deployed backscatter networks: spatial reuse enabled by directionality and frequency multiplexing enabled by the large available bandwidth. We present the first sub-THz backscatter architecture that operates above 100 GHz. Our design relies on a detailed understanding of reciprocity in leaky-wave devices and offers a realistic joint localization and communication protocol for sub-THz backscatter networks.

High-Gain Multi-Band Koch Fractal FSS Antenna for Sub-6 GHz Applications

This study introduces a novel antenna based on the binary operation of a modified circular patch in conjunction with the Koch fractal. The antenna is intended for applications in the sub-6 GHz band, partial C-band, and X-band. The low-cost antenna is fabricated on a 1.6-mm-thick FR-4 substrate. A frequency-selective surface (FSS) is used to overcome the decreased values of the gain and bandwidth due to the fractal operations. The introduced split ring resonator (SRR) and the antenna substrate dimension reduction reduce the bandwidth and antenna gain. The air gap between the FSS and the antenna not only enhances the antenna gain but also controls the frequency tuning at the design frequency. The antenna size is miniaturized to 36.67%. A monopole antenna ground loaded with an SRR results in improved closest tuning (3.44 GHz) near the design frequency. The antenna achieves a peak gain of 9.37 dBi in this band. The FSS-based antenna results in a 4.65 dBi improvement in the gain value with the FSS. The measured and simulated plots exhibit an excellent match with each other in all three frequency bands at 2.96–4.72 GHz. These bands cover Wi-MAX (3.5 GHz), sub-6 GHz n77 (3300–3800 MHz), n78 (3300–4200 MHz), and approximately n79 (4400–4990 MHz), in addition to C-band applications.

A 2–36 GHz CMOS LNA with π-Network-Based wideband interstage matching technique for software-defined radio systems

With the advance in wireless communication, next-generation software-defined radio (SDR) systems require transceivers to operate in both sub-6GHz and millimeter-wave (mmWave) band and support multiple standards. However, bridging sub-6GHz frequencies with millimeter-wave bands exceeding 30 GHz remains a challenge for conventional wideband LNAs. To surmount this, a 2–36 GHz CMOS low-noise amplifier (LNA) designed for SDR systems is introduced in this paper. An innovative wideband input matching network capable of spanning both frequency domains is proposed. The methodology effectively mitigates the impact of vast parasitic capacitances, achieving wideband input matching against Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) and on-chip decoupling capacitor parasitic. In addition, a π-network-based wideband interstage matching technique is adopted to extend bandwidth of gain. A tri-stage prototype of the proposed LNA, designed using a 40-nm CMOS process, is designed to validate our design strategies. The post-simulation outcomes reveal a peak gain of 14 dB with a -3dB bandwidth ranging from 2 to 36 GHz, equating to a fractional bandwidth of 178 %. The Noise Figure (NF) is commendably uniform across the frequency spectrum, stabilizing at 5 dB. Furthermore, the third-order input intercept point (IIP3) is −4.2dBm to -3dBm across the bandwidth. The performance is achieved with a power of 19.4 mW and within a core area of 0.1 mm2.

Design of a Compact Wideband Two-Port MIMO Antenna for NR 5G Sub-6 GHz Band Wireless Applications

Design of a Compact Wideband Two-Port MIMO Antenna for NR 5G Sub-6 GHz Band Wireless Applications

Multilayer multiband hybrid fractal antenna for public safety and 5G Sub-6 GHz bands

In this work, a multiband hybrid fractal antenna is developed for public safety and 5G Sub-6 GHz bands. Proposed antenna design is designed, analyzed, and optimized using HFSS simulator. Radiating element of the proposed antenna consists of Hybrid Fractal shape which is designed using Koch and Hilbert curve fractal geometry. Hybrid Fractal Antenna (HFA) is designed on a Multilayer FR4 substrate which has an overall size of 0.22 × 0.47 × 0.044 ƛ3. Parametric analysis of the proposed design is done to get the optimum results. Proposed HFA resonates at 2.64 GHz (2.34–2.80 GHz), 3.87, 4.54, 5.02, 5.35 GHz (3.73–5.55 GHz), and 6.42 GHz (5.70–6.72 GHz) with a gain of 4.2, 0.9, 2.9, 3.3, 4.6, and 3.7 dBi respectively. The proposed HFA is useful for 5G bands such as: N7 band, N38 band, N40 band, N41 band, N47 band, N53 band, N79 band, N90 band and N93 band, and also useful for public safety band (4.9 GHz). Prototype of the proposed HFA is fabricated and tested in lab for the verification of simulated results. The results show good performance in terms of reflection coefficient, gain, and bandwidth. Measured results are in good agreement with the simulated results.

Spoof surface plasmon Polaritons dual beam scanning antenna for 5G application

Dual beam scanning (DBS) antenna exited by two different spoof surface plasmon polaritons (SSPPs) transmission lines is proposed in this paper. The antenna is constructed by placing three rows of circular patches on both sides of two different planar SSPPs waveguide. These patches convert the SSPP guided waves into radiating waves. This simple single-layer antenna is characterized by dual without need to use switches or other complex configurations. It is designed to support application of several 5G sub-6 GHz bands (3.5 (n78) GHz, 3.7 (n77) GHz, and 4.5 (n79) GHz). The proposed antenna realizes the dual beam scanning by controlling the dispersion properties and field confinement along two different SSPPs transmission lines, based on different propagation constant. Numerical simulations are carried out by CST Microwave Studio and Ansys HFSS. These numerical simulations are verified by experimental results over the operating frequency band from 1 GHz to 6 GHz.

Performance analysis of ML models on 5G sub-6 GHz bands: An experimental study

Performance analysis of ML models on 5G sub-6 GHz bands: An experimental study

Dual-Polarized Dipole Antenna with Wideband Stable Radiation Patterns Using Artificial Magnetic Conductor Reflector.

This paper presents a wideband dual-polarized dipole antenna structure operating at 1.7-3.8 GHz (76.4%). For a traditional 4G dipole antenna that covers the band 1.71-2.69 GHz, it is difficult to maintain the satisfactory impedance matching and normal stable radiation patterns within the 5G sub-6 GHz band 3.3-3.8 GHz, mainly due to the fixed antenna height no longer being a quarter-wavelength. To solve this, a connected-ring-shaped metasurface structure is proposed and deployed to operate as an artificial magnetic conductor (AMC). As a result, stable antenna radiation patterns are obtained within the whole band 1.7-3.8 GHz. For verification, this wideband dipole antenna using AMC is implemented and tested. The measured results show that the proposed antenna has an impedance bandwidth of 80.7% (1.7-4.0 GHz). It has an average measured in-band realized gain of 7.0±1.0 dBi and a stable 70±5 half power beam width (HPBW) within the 4G/5G-sub 6GHz bands 1.71-2.69 GHz and 3.3-3.8 GHz.

Exploring the Impact of Split Ring Resonator Metamaterial Structure Integration on 4X4 MIMO Antenna Performance in Sub-6GHz Bands for 5G Applications

This research delves into the realm of antenna engineering, with a specific focus on examining the performance of 4x4 MIMO antennas with and without integration of split ring resonator metamaterial structure. The objective is to comprehend the influence of split ring resonator metamaterials on antenna characteristics within the 6 GHz frequency range. Employing CST Studio Suite software, comprehensive simulations are conducted to evaluate various parameters including gain, directivity, radiation efficiency, S-parameters, power distribution, VSWR, and total efficiency. In the frequency band up to 6GHz, observed gain values were 24.62dB without split ring resonator metamaterial integration and ranging from 6dB to 27dB with integration. Through a systematic comparison, the study aims to delineate the precise effects of split ring resonator metamaterials on antenna performance, thereby offering valuable insights into their potential for enhancing MIMO antenna systems.

Self-Tuning of Signal Detection Level for Energy Detection-Based Carrier Sense in Low-Power Wide-Area Networks.

Carrier sense allows end devices to improve the communication quality through autonomous decentralization by consuming power. In particular, energy detection-based carrier sense can improve communication quality compared with peak detection-based carrier sense. To improve the trade-off between communication quality and energy consumption in low-power wide-area networks (LPWANs), this study proposes a self-tuning method for the signal detection level of an energy detection-based carrier sense, that is, the carrier sense level in sub-GHz band LPWANs. In the proposed method, the carrier sense level of each end device is determined based on the reception success probability of the acknowledgment packet, such that they become low carrier sense levels for an end device with low probability and high carrier sense levels for an end device with high probability. The proposed method enables autonomous decentralized derivation of the carrier sense level using only existing protocols. Numerical examples show that the proposed method can improve the performance of end devices with a high path loss to a gateway.

Circularly polarized dielectric resonator based MIMO antenna for sub-6 GHz 5G cognitive radio applications

A 2-port wideband circular polarized (CP) multiple input multiple output (MIMO) dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) integrated with cognitive radio (CR) application is designed and investigated. This is a novel concept of integrating wideband CP-MIMO antenna based on dielectric resonator (DR), with CR concept. The multi-functional reconfigurable filter is designed within the feedline of the antenna making it applicable for both the operations of CR, namely, underlay and interweave. Rogers RT Duroid 5880 is used as the substrate for the designed CP-MIMO antenna. The antenna shows wide Axial Ratio (AR) bandwidth of 48.14% (2.2–3.50 GHz) and an overlapping bandwidth of 41.85% (2.37–3.50 GHz). The DR based MIMO antenna shows sensing range of 2.37–3.66 GHz. For the interweave operation, the designed CP-MIMO antenna shows narrowband frequency reconfigurability from 2.45–2.83 GHz. For the underlay case, the designed antenna shows band notch tunability between 3.23–3.62 GHz. The proposed antenna can be used effectively in sub-6 GHz band of the 5G communication systems.

Development of Wearable Textile MIMO Antenna for Sub-6 GHz Band New Radio 5G Applications.

In this paper, an irregular octagonal two-port MIMO patch antenna is designed specifically for New Radio (NR) 5G applications in the mid-band sub-6 GHz. The proposed antenna comprises an irregularly shaped patch antenna equipped with a regular 50-ohm feed line and a parasitic strip line antenna, and is partially grounded. Jeans material serves as a substrate with an effective dielectric constant of 1.6 and a thickness of 1 mm. This material is studied experimentally. The proposed antenna design undergoes analysis and optimization using the ANSYS HFSS tool. Furthermore, the design incorporates the influence of the slot on both the ground plane and the parasitic strip line to optimize performance, enhance isolation, and improve impedance matching among antenna elements. The dimensions of the jeans substrate are 40 mm × 50 mm. The simulated impedance bandwidth ranged from 3.6 GHz to 7 GHz and the measured bandwidth was slightly narrower, from 4.35 GHz to 7 GHz. The simulation results demonstrated an isolation level greater than 12 dB between antenna elements, while the measured results reached 28.5 dB, and the peak gain for this proposed antenna stood at 6.74 dB. These qualities made this proposed antenna suitable for various New Radio mid-band 5G wireless applications within the sub-6 GHz band, such as N79, Wi-Fi-5/6, V2X, and DSRC applications.

Enhancing gain and isolation of a quad-element MIMO antenna array design for 5G sub-6 GHz applications assisted with characteristic mode analysis

This paper presents a novel quad-element array with multiple inputs and multiple outputs (MIMO) designed for 5th generation sub-6 GHz applications. The MIMO system achieves a wide impedance bandwidth, high gain, and high isolation among its components, representing significant advancements in sub-6 GHz antenna applications. The single element, an elliptical resonator with a circular slot, is fed by a 50 Ω microstrip feedline, achieves a broad characteristic bandwidth from 3.7 to 5.7 GHz with a resonant frequency of 4.33 GHz and a gain of 1.81 dBi. Characteristic Mode Analysis (CMA) was employed to elucidate the evolution phases of this design. The quad-element MIMO antenna array maintains a compact size and broadband characteristics by arranging mirrored elements on the same ground plane. Implemented on a cost-effective FR-4 substrate measuring 44 × 44 × 1.6 mm3, the recommended MIMO antenna array, enhanced with a partial ground plane and due to the introduction of a vertical strip, a high isolation of − 38.53 dB is achieved between MIMO components along with a realized gain of 3.01 dBi and a radiation efficiency of 71% in the 5G sub-6 GHz band. Noteworthy properties include high isolation, diversity gain (DG), and envelope correlation coefficient (ECC), verifying the appropriateness of the suggested MIMO scheme for 5G transmission and reception in sub-6 GHz applications.

The preparation and performances of Co-Zn 18H hexagonal ferrite with an ultra-high magnetic resonance frequency and low-loss characteristics

Modern 5G communication technologies require evolution of antennas towards high frequency and miniaturization. The search for magneto-dielectric materials with simultaneous high permeability, matched dielectric constant, and low loss properties for sub-6 GHz band applications has received considerable attention from both academic and industrial circles. Due to the low magnetic resonance frequency and high magnetic loss, traditional spinel and hexagonal ferrites hardly meet these requirements. In this study, polycrystalline Co-Zn 18H ferrites (Ba5Co2-xZnxTi3Fe12O31) were synthesized by co-precipitation method with only one-step sintering process. The polycrystalline Co-Zn 18H hexagonal ferrite possesses an ultra-high natural resonance frequency (14.5 GHz) and low magnetic loss (tanδμ≤0⊡10), which provides a better performance factor (PF= 68.6 GHz) at a higher operating frequency (4.97 GHz) compared to traditional microwave ferrites. The miniaturization rate of the planar inverted F antenna (PIFA) with Co-Zn 18H ferrite working at 4.0 GHz reaches 13.3 %. These results demonstrate the high potential of Co-Zn 18H ferrites for high frequency and low loss applications.

Absorption of 5G sub-6 GHz electromagnetic radiation from base station to male reproduction system

Background The impact of electromagnetic radiation from communication on the male reproductive system has emerged as a significant concern in public health. A notable distinction of the 5G sub-6 GHz band, compared to traditional 2G, 3G, and 4G frequency bands, is the inclusion of higher frequency bands. This has raised public concerns regarding the potential effects of these higher frequencies on organisms, particularly their reproductive systems. While it is imperative to investigate the biological effects and potential risks associated with these new frequency bands in laboratory settings, comparing and evaluating differences between various frequency bands remain challenging due to the absence of standardized parameters such as exposure conditions and duration. In contrast, dose assessment offers a simpler and more reliable approach. Materials and methods The dose assessment method was employed in this study to investigate the risks associated with sub-6 GHz electromagnetic radiation from 5G base stations on the male reproductive system. A classical human body model (Duke) was utilized, and an electromagnetic simulation environment was established based on the actual polarization direction of the exposed base stations and various body postures. This research explored the effects of field direction, posture, public population, and frequency on the specific absorption rate of the reproductive system. Results and conclusions While maintaining the same level of exposure, a higher frequency results in a reduced dosage on reproductive system. Further analysis reveals that, considering the public exposure threshold, the employment of higher frequency bands in 5G sub-6 GHz does not present a greater dosage on reproductive system compared to lower frequency bands. Consequently, with regard to dosage, there is no need for excessive concern among the general public regarding the impact of electromagnetic radiation emitted by 5G base stations operating below 6 GHz on male reproductive health.

Sub-6 GHz beamforming with low-cost software-defined radio: Design, testing, and performance evaluation

The rapid evolution of mobile communication systems has led to the introduction of novel technologies and techniques that address existing challenges, such as interference caused by multiple users and transmission through the millimetre-wave band. In this paper, we present a novel approach that utilises a low-cost software defined radio (SDR) unit to enable transmitting and receiving beamforming in the sub-6 GHz band. We provide a detailed account of the underlying concepts and background of beamforming and SDR, outline the design of multiple components, and report on the comprehensive testing and verification of a real-life prototype using over-the-air (OTA) methods. Our results demonstrate that the proposed approach achieves outstanding performance, with measurements of bit error rate (BER) that outperform existing solutions. In summary, this work contributes to the ongoing efforts to enhance mobile communication systems by providing an innovative, high-performance solution that is cost-effective and reliable using SDR technology in the sub-6 GHz band.

Microstructural and dielectric properties of civil construction ceramic waste sintered at various temperatures

This study investigates the dielectric properties of ceramic waste derived from roof tiles and bricks commonly used in civil construction. The materials were analyzed by grinding them into a fine powder, followed by producing of cylindrical samples through uniaxial pressing on a steel matrix. The samples were sintered at temperatures of 1000 °C, 1050 °C, and 1100 °C to analyze the effect of temperature on the electrical characteristics of the ceramics. XRD and SEM analyses were performed to evaluate microstructural parameters and coalescence behavior. The dielectric characterization aimed to obtain the real relative electrical permittivity with average values of 2.85, 3.56, and 3.65, correlated with apparent porosity levels of 30.74 %, 20.54 %, and 9.11 %, and the loss tangent of 7.5 × 10−5, 3.9 × 10−5, and 12 × 10−5, respectively. The loss tangent values are lower than those obtained in commercial dielectrics from 1 to 6 GHz frequency range. The dielectric characteristics of samples manufactured from ceramic waste from bricks and tiles can serve as sustainable alternatives to produce dielectric resonator antennas (DRA), applicable to fifth-generation wireless communication devices in the sub-6GHz band.

Multibeam Wideband Transmit Beamforming Using 2D Sparse FIR Trapezoidal Filters

A low-complexity multibeam wideband transmit beamformer using a 2D sparse FIR filter design capable of multiple beams is proposed as a digital building block for fully digital beamformers. The 2D sparse FIR filter has multiple trapezoid-shaped passbands pertaining to wideband beams aimed at particular directions. The proposed multibeam digital beamformer drives a uniform linear array of wideband antenna elements to achieve the wideband multibeam transmit-mode signals desired by the communication system. The 2D sparse FIR filter is designed to be optimal in the minimax sense using convex optimization techniques. Full-wave electromagnetic simulations using real antenna models confirm that the proposed wideband transmit beamformer can achieve multibeam transmission in the 1.3–2.8 GHz frequency range, with more than 70% fractional bandwidth. Furthermore, the adoption of the wideband transmit multibeam beamformer leads to a significant reduction in digital arithmetic (computational) complexity compared with previously reported wideband transmit beamformers of similar transfer function type, without deteriorating beam directionality and causing increases in the side-lobe level. The proposed sparse 2D FIR multibeam beamformer architecture is well-suited for both sub-6 GHz (legacy) band transmit beamforming, frequency range three (FR3) beamforming up to 28 GHz, and mmWave operation for emerging 5G/6G applications.

Design, Implementation and Performance Analysis of RF Power Amplifier for 5G Mobile Communication in the Sub-6 GHz Band Using Advanced Node 18nm FinFET Technology

Design, Implementation and Performance Analysis of RF Power Amplifier for 5G Mobile Communication in the Sub-6 GHz Band Using Advanced Node 18nm FinFET Technology