Millimeter-wave grid array antenna for 5G mobile communication networks

Abstract

A single feed grid array antenna for 28 GHz for 5G Mobile Communication Networks is proposed. It is designed on 1.52 mm thick substrate made of Rogers Duroid 5880LZ ( = 1.96 and tan δ = 0.0019) with 0.035 mm copper claddings.Dimension of the antenna is 80 mm × 80 mm × 1.52 mm. The grid array antenna is fed by a SSMA coaxial probe feed connector with Teflon ( =2.1) with inner diameter p = 0.5 mm and outer diameter d = 2 mm, is drilled through the ground and the substrate to feed the radiating element and to achieve the characteristic impedance of 50 Ω. The measured antenna exhibits 2.6 % impedance bandwidth from 27.576 to 28.312 GHz at 27.944 GHz with 1.74% 3dB impedance bandwidth of27.724 to 28.212 GHz at 27.986 GHz. The simulated antenna exhibits 41 %impedance bandwidth from 22 to 33.38 GHz at 27.694 GHz, and 10.3% 3dBimpedance bandwidth from 26.58 to 29.765 GHz at 28.1 GHz, and 15.2dB gain at 28GHz, with a 3dB gain bandwidth from 25.159 to 31.192 GHz. The comparison between simulation and measurement results indicate that good agreement between measured and simulated results. The discrepancy between the measured and simulated results may be due to the effects of the RF cable, the SSMA to SMA adapter configurations and KEYSGHT N5234A PNA-L Microwave Network Analyser calibration process.