Beam-Switching Antennas for 5G Millimeter-Wave Wireless Terminals

Abstract

Beam-switching is one of the paramount focuses of 28 GHz millimeter-wave 5G devices. In this paper, a one-dimensional (1D) pattern reconfigurable leaky-wave antenna (LWA) was investigated and developed for wireless terminals. In order to provide a cost-effective solution, a uniform half-width LWA was used. The 1D beam-switching LWA was designed using three feed points at three different positions; by selecting the feeds, the direction of the beam can be switched. The antenna can switch the beam in three different directions along the antenna axis, such as backward, broadside, and forward. The 1D beam-switching antenna was fabricated, and because of the wide beamwidth, the measured radiation patterns can fill 128∘ of space (3 dB coverage), from θ = −64∘ to +64∘ at ϕ = 0∘. Following this, two of these antennas were placed at right angles to each other to achieve two-directional (2D) beam switching. The 2D beam-switching antenna pair was also prototyped and tested after integrating them into the ground plane of a wireless device. The antenna is able to point the beam in five different directions; moreover, its beam covers 167∘ (θ = −89∘ to +78∘) at ϕ = 0∘, and 154∘ (θ = −72∘ to +82∘) at ϕ = 90∘.

MCML-BF: A Metal-Column Embedded Microstrip Line Transmission Structure with Bias Feeders for Beam-Scanning Leakage Antenna Design

“…Antennas are vital in wireless communication, transmitting and receiving electromagnetic waves [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]. Different applications require various antenna functionalities, among which beam scanning performance is crucial to the system function [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ]. Since the 1940s, the leaky-wave antenna has garnered significant attention due to its exceptional radiation characteristics and impressive beam scanning capability [ 11 , 12 , 13 ].…”

A Pattern Reconfigurable Antenna Using Eight-Dipole Configuration for Energy Harvesting Applications

“…Pattern reconfigurable antennas are capable of dynamically changing their radiation patterns to accommodate varying operational requirements [9][10][11][12]. This type of antenna holds the advantage of electronically adjusting its radiation beams in different directions, eliminating the need for physical movement.…”