MM-Wave Phased Array Quasi-Yagi Antenna for the Upcoming 5G Cellular Communications
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applied sciences Article MM-Wave Phased Array Quasi-Yagi Antenna for the Upcoming 5G Cellular Communications Naser Ojaroudi Parchin 1,* , Mohammad Alibakhshikenari 2 , Haleh Jahanbakhsh Basherlou 3 , Raed A. Abd-Alhameed 1 , Jonathan Rodriguez 4,5 and Ernesto Limiti 2 1 Faculty of Engineering and Informatics, School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Bradford, Bradford BD7 1DP, UK; [email protected] 2 Electronic Engineering Department, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via del Politecnico 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; [email protected] (M.A.); [email protected] (E.L.) 3 Bradford College, West Yorkshire, Bradford BD7 1AY, UK; [email protected] 4 Instituto de Telecomunicações-Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; [email protected] 5 Mobile and Satellite Communications Research Group, University of South Wales, Treforest CF37 1DL, UK * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +44-734-143-6156 Received: 21 January 2019; Accepted: 5 March 2019; Published: 8 March 2019 Abstract: The focus of this manuscript was to propose a new phased array antenna design for the fifth generation (5G) mobile platforms. Eight elements of compact Quasi-Yagi antennas were placed on the top portion of smartphone printed circuits board (PCB) to form a beam-steerable phased array design. The −10 dB impedance-bandwidth of proposed 5G smartphone antenna spans from 25 GHz to 27 GHz providing 2 GHz bandwidth with less than −16 dB mutual coupling function. A coax-to-microstripline with a truncated crown of vias around the coaxial cable was used as a feeding mechanism for each radiation element. An Arlon Ad 350 substance with properties of " = 3.5, δ = 0.003, and h = 0.8 mm was chosen as the antenna substrate. The proposed phased array antenna provides wide-angle scanning of 0◦~75◦ with more than 10 dB realized gain levels. For the scanning angle of 0◦~60◦, the antenna array provides more than 90% (−0.5 dB) radiation and total efficiencies. In addition, the specific absorption rate (SAR) function and radiation performance of the design in the presence of the user-hand/user-hand have been studied. The results validate the feasibility of the proposed design for use in the 5G handheld devices. Furthermore, using the presented Quasi-Yagi elements, the radiation properties of 2 × 2, 4 × 4, and 8 × 8 planar arrays were studied and more than 8.3, 13.5, and 19.3 dBi directivities have been achieved for the designed planar arrays. The results show that the designed arrays (linear & planar) satisfy the general requirements for use in 5G platforms. Keywords: 5G systems; end-fire radiation beam; cellular communications; phased array; mm-Wave applications; Quasi-Yagi antenna 1. Introduction One of the issues expected for the fifth generation (5G) cellular communications is the move to the millimeter-Wave (mm-Wave) bands [1], which has received great attention from many researchers and industry. There has been a lot of reported research efforts on mm-Wave-based 5G communication systems [2]. The 5G mm-Wave communication technology can handle over a thousand times more mobile traffic than previous mobile communication networks such as 4G LTE [3]. Moving to mm-Wave bands would bring new challenges and certainly will require careful consideration on the antenna design for the 5G handheld devices. The 26 GHz is one of the promising frequency bands for mm-Wave 5G communications, which has been proposed by Ofcom, UK [4]. Compact antennas arranged as Appl. Sci. 2019, 9, 978; doi:10.3390/app9050978 www.mdpi.com/journal/applsci Appl. Sci. 2019, 9, x 2 of 14 consideration on the antenna design for the 5G handheld devices. The 26 GHz is one of the promising frequency bands for mm-Wave 5G communications, which has been proposed by Ofcom, UK [4]. Appl. Sci. 2019, 9, 978 2 of 14 Compact antennas arranged as an array can be employed at different portions of a smartphone PCB to form linear phased arrays with high gain and directional radiation beams. Different from conventionalan array can antennas, be employed such at as different patch, slot, portions or monopole of a smartphone antennas, PCB to cover to form the linear required phased coverage- arrays spacewith highof 5G gain cellular and directional communications, radiation the beams. end-fire Different antennas, from such conventional as horn, antennas,Yagi-Uda, such Quasi-Yagi, as patch, LTSA,slot, or Dipole, monopole and antennas,Vivaldi, are to covermore thesuitable required [5–11]. coverage-space Among them, of the 5G cellularQuasi-Yagi communications, antenna is a promisingthe end-fire candidate antennas, due such to asits horn, attractive Yagi-Uda, features, Quasi-Yagi, such as LTSA,compact Dipole, size, andhigh Vivaldi, gain, and are moreeasy integration.suitable [5– 11 ]. Among them, the Quasi-Yagi antenna is a promising candidate due to its attractive features,The Quasi-Yagi such as compact antenna size, is higha widely gain, used and easyantenna integration. with high gain end-fire radiation patterns. Its configurationThe Quasi-Yagi consists antenna of a reflector is a widelyand a driven used antennaelement withalong highwith gainone or end-fire multiple radiation directors. patterns. It can provideIts configuration excellent consists directional of a reflectorpropagation and a at driven the hi elementgher frequencies along with oneand orcould multiple be used directors. for radar, It can detecting,provide excellent and phased directional array propagation applications at the [12]. higher This frequencies study investigates and could be the used configuration for radar, detecting, and characteristicsand phased array of the applications mm-Wave [12 phased]. This array study antenna investigates with the Quasi-Yagi configuration radiation and characteristicselements for use of the in 5Gmm-Wave cellular phased platforms. array Eight antenna Quasi-Yagi with Quasi-Yagi antenna radiation elements elements are placed for use on in 5Gthe cellulartop side platforms. of the smartphoneEight Quasi-Yagi PCB antenna and fed elements by 50-Ohm are placed coax-to-micros on the top sidetriplines of the [13]. smartphone Each element PCB and is fedcomposed by 50-Ohm of drivingcoax-to-microstriplines dipole arms with [13 a pair]. Each of director element elements is composed on the of top driving layer dipole of the substrate. arms with For a pair the ofhandheld director devices,elements the on measurement the top layer of of end-fire the substrate. microstrip-fe For thed antennas handheld (such devices, as Bow-tie, the measurement Dipole, Yagi, of Vivaldi, end-fire etc.)microstrip-fed can only be antennas performed (such using as Bow-tie, cable due Dipole, to th Yagi,e ground Vivaldi, plane etc.) of can smartphone only be performed PCBs [14–17]. using cable We proposedue to the here ground a new plane coax-to-microstripline of smartphone PCBs feedin [14–17g]. technique We propose to hereachieve a new a better coax-to-microstripline transition. The designedfeeding technique 5G smartphone to achieve antenna a better has transition. 2 GHz (below The designed −10 dB Snn 5G) in smartphone the frequency antenna range has of 25 2 GHz to 27 (below GHz. Good−10 dB radiation Snn) in theproperties frequency in terms range of of the 25 toantenna’s 27 GHz. fundamental Good radiation properties properties have in termsbeen obtained of the antenna’s for the antenna.fundamental In addition, properties the designed have been 5G obtained antenna forprovides the antenna. sufficient In SAR addition, levels with the designed good behavior 5G antenna in the vicinityprovides of sufficient the user’s SAR hand. levels The with planar good phased behavior array in configurations the vicinity of theof the user’s Quasi-Yagi hand. The antenna planar with phased 2 × 2,array 4 × 4, configurations and 8 × 8 radiation of the elements Quasi-Yagi were antenna also desi withgned 2 × and2, 4 high× 4, anddirectivity 8 × 8 radiation radiation elements beams have were been also obtained.designed Simulations and high directivity were carried radiation out using beams comp haveuter been simulation obtained. technology Simulations (CST) were software carried out [18]. using computer simulation technology (CST) software [18]. 2. Quasi-Yagi Antenna 2. Quasi-Yagi Antenna In recent years, printed Quasi-Yagi antennas have been exhaustively analyzed and experimentallyIn recent years, researched. printed According Quasi-Yagi to antennas the driven have element been exhaustively form, the existing analyzed Quasi-Yagi and experimentally antenna canresearched. be divided According into a tomicrostrip the driven patch, element double-sided form, the existing dipole, Quasi-Yagi or single-sided antenna dipole can be form divided [19]. into A schematica microstrip of patch,the designed double-sided Quasi-Ya dipole,gi antenna or single-sided is displayed dipole in Figure form [1.19 The]. A antenna schematic was of thedesigned designed on aQuasi-Yagi 0.8 mm Arlon antenna Ad 350 is displayed(ε = 3.5 and in δ Figure = 0.003)1. Thedielectric antenna to operate was designed at 26 GHz. on a 0.8 mm Arlon Ad 350 (" = 3.5 and δ = 0.003) dielectric to operate at 26 GHz. (a) (b) (c) FigureFigure 1. Quasi-Yagi 1. Quasi-Yagi antenna antenna schematic; schematic; (a (a)) transparent transparent view, view, (b ()b top,) top, and and (c) ( bottomc) bottom layers. layers. AsAs shown shown in in Figure Figure 11,, thethe antennaantenna isis fedfed byby aa coax-to-microstripline.coax-to-microstripline. TheThe feedingfeeding pointpoint ofof thethe coaxialcoaxial cable cable has has been been surrounded surrounded by a cylindrical metal vias. It It is is seen seen that that the the inner inner connector connector of of the probe is connected to the feed line of the Yagi’s arm while the outer connector has been connected to the ground plane.