A Quad-Band Shared-Aperture Antenna Based on Dual-Mode Composite Quarter-Mode SIW Cavity for 5G and 6G with MIMO Capability

Abstract

This study introduces a new design for an ultra-compact shared-aperture antenna utilizing a quarter-mode substrate integrated waveguide (QMSIW) cavity. The proposed antenna operates as a 4 × 4 multi-input multi-output (MIMO) system in three 5G/6G millimeter-wave (MMw) bands, while functioning as a single element antenna for a 5.5 GHz wireless fidelity Microwave (Mw) band. The antenna comprises four QMSIW cavity resonators; each QMSIW is loaded with dual slots to produce tri-band MMw operation at 28 GHz, 38 GHz, and 0.13 THz. The four cavities are arranged to reuse the entire aperture by creating a conventional open-loop antenna that operates at a frequency of 5.5 GHz. Simulation, measurement, and co-simulation results show that the proposed antenna has a quad-band operation and exhibits favorable characteristics. The measured scattering parameters validate the simulated ones over the four bands under consideration. The lowest values of the measured total radiation efficiencies are 80%, 73%, 62%, and 72% (co-simulation) within the four covered bands, respectively. The antenna peak gains are 1.8 to 1.85 dBi, 4.0 to 4.5 dBi, 4.3 to 4.5 dBi, and 6.5 to 6.6 dBi within the covered bands. Furthermore, the design satisfies MIMO and diversity conditions (envelope correlation coefficient and branch power ratio) over frequency bands of operation. All excellent results are achieved from an ultra-compact size in terms of footprint area (0.018λ02), where λ0 represents the free space wavelength at 5.5 GHz. The antenna boasts an excellent reuse aperture utilization efficiency (RAU) of 92% and a large ratio frequency of 23, making it an ideal candidate for compact devices. With its superior performance, the proposed design is well-suited for a range ofs wireless communication systems, including mobile devices and the Internet of Things.