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Disruptive Antenna Technologies Making 5G a Reality

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A special issue of Electronics (ISSN 2079-9292). This special issue belongs to the section "Microwave and Wireless Communications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 April 2023) | Viewed by 29797

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Dr. Syed Muzahir Abbas

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Guest Editor

Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, NSW 2109, Australia
Interests: antennas; electromagnetics; carbon nanotubes; wearable; 3d printing; high-impedance surfaces; frequency-selective surfaces; 5G; mmWave; millimeter wave; PDMS; high gain; base station; UHF; VHF; beam steering
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Dr. Muhammad Ali Babar Abbasi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT9 5BN, UK
Interests: antennas; filters; lenses
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We invite successful stories around 5G enabling antenna technologies and what future prospects they carry with them. 5G antennas are known to be the new type of antennas that are highly integrated, support flexible all-band configuration, and enable scenario-specific beam management. Unlike 3G and 4G antennas that provide coverage with fixed beam patterns and directivity, 5G antennas must support on-demand beamforming according to applications scenarios and user distributions. 5G antennas must be able to support beam management to help to deliver precise coverage in target areas while significantly suppressing interference in other areas. Antennas must evolve from plug-and-play components in 3G and 4G networks to key network elements that support flexible beam configuration and management in 5G networks.

Dr. Syed Muzahir Abbas
Dr. Muhammad Ali Babar Abbasi
Guest Editors

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Keywords

Antenna design
5G Antennas
Beyond 5G
6G Antennas
3D printed technology
Additive manufacturing
Reconfigurable
Millimeter wave
Beam Steering
Beamforming
Base station antenna
MIMO
Multi-port Antennas
Flexible
Materials
RF sensors
RF front ends
Polymer based
Characterization
Antenna applications: IoT, space, wearable, sports, healthcare, vehicular, M2M, construction, etc.

Related Special Issue

Disruptive Antenna Technologies Making 5G a Reality, 2nd Edition in Electronics

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 6950 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Metamaterial-Based LTCC Compressed Luneburg Lens Antenna at 60 GHz for Wireless Communications

by Dmitry Zelenchuk, Vitalii Kirillov, Camilla Kärnfelt, Francois Gallée and Irina Munina

Electronics 2023, 12(11), 2354; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics12112354 - 23 May 2023

Viewed by 1586

Abstract

In this study, a metamaterial-based LTCC compressed Luneburg lens was designed, manufactured and measured. The lens was designed at 60 GHz to utilize the unlicensed mm-wave spectrum available for short-range high-capacity wireless communication networks. The transformation optics method was applied to ensure the compression of the Luneburg lens antenna and thus maintain a low-profile structure. The two different types of unit cells for low and high permittivity regions were considered. The parametric study of the effect of compression on lens performance was presented. The antenna is implemented with a standard high-permittivity LTCC process, and details of the manufacturing process for the metamaterial lens are discussed. The low-profile lens is thinner than 2 mm and measures 19 mm in diameter. A size reduction of 63.6% in comparison with a spherical lens was achieved. The near-field to far-field mm-wave measurement technique is presented, and the measurement results show a peak antenna gain of 16 dBi at 60 GHz and a beam-scanning capacity with 1 dB scan loss within a 50° field of view. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Disruptive Antenna Technologies Making 5G a Reality)

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11 pages, 5070 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Glueless Multiple Input Multiple Output Dielectric Resonator Antenna with Improved Isolation

by Sumer Singh Singhwal, Ladislau Matekovits and Binod Kumar Kanaujia

Electronics 2023, 12(5), 1125; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics12051125 - 25 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 971

Abstract

In this dissemination, a glueless compact dual port dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) is proposed for X-band applications. A prototype has been fabricated with RT Duroid substrate and Eccostock (

ϵ_{r}

= 10)-made DRA. The ring shaped DRA is excited by aperture coupled [...] Read more.

In this dissemination, a glueless compact dual port dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) is proposed for X-band applications. A prototype has been fabricated with RT Duroid substrate and Eccostock (

ϵ_{r}

= 10)-made DRA. The ring shaped DRA is excited by aperture coupled feeds maintaining symmetry between both the ports. Four cylindrical copper rods with four strips have been used to fix the DRA on the substrate and provide additional mechanical stability. Eight copper strips are used to provide impedance matching and impedance bandwidth (IBW) widening. The measured IBW of dual port DRA is 10.5% (8.05–8.95 GHz) and maximum gain of radiator is 6.2 dBi. The proposed antenna becomes compact when the net volume of DRA is approximately 3.5 cm

^{3}

and the volume of the substrate is 2.88 cm

^{3}

, with a surface area of 36 cm

^{2}

and operating in X-band, which finds applications in satellite communication, weather radar, synthetic aperture radar, and telemetry tracking and control. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Disruptive Antenna Technologies Making 5G a Reality)

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10 pages, 2287 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multi-Layer Material Characterization at Ka-Band Using Bayesian Inversion Method

by Saleem Shahid, Gian Guido Gentili, Giancarlo Bernasconi, Hamza Nawaz and Ahsan S. Rana

Electronics 2023, 12(3), 563; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics12030563 - 21 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1058

Abstract

This paper presents the implementation of the Bayesian inversion method for the characterization and estimation of different dielectric material properties. The scattering parameters of single and multi-layer materials are measured using a free-space experimental setup using a standard gain horn antenna and a Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) at Ka-band (26–40 GHz). The relative permittivity, material thickness, and material positioning error are defined as model parameters and estimated using the observed (measured) data. The FR4 Epoxy, Rogers RT/Duriod 5880, and Rogers AD600 with different relative permittivities and thicknesses are used in the measurement setup. The results displayed good agreement between model parameters and estimated properties of the presented materials, while the corresponding eigenvectors provided a level of confidence in model parameter values. The results were compared with different reported techniques to showcase the possible use of the presented method in microwave imaging, non-destructive testing, and similar applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Disruptive Antenna Technologies Making 5G a Reality)

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25 pages, 3534 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of Challenges and Solutions of IoT in Smart Grids Using AI and Machine Learning Techniques: A Review

by Tehseen Mazhar, Hafiz Muhammad Irfan, Inayatul Haq, Inam Ullah, Madiha Ashraf, Tamara Al Shloul, Yazeed Yasin Ghadi, Imran and Dalia H. Elkamchouchi

Electronics 2023, 12(1), 242; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics12010242 - 03 Jan 2023

Cited by 37 | Viewed by 6291

Abstract

With the assistance of machine learning, difficult tasks can be completed entirely on their own. In a smart grid (SG), computers and mobile devices may make it easier to control the interior temperature, monitor security, and perform routine maintenance. The Internet of Things (IoT) is used to connect the various components of smart buildings. As the IoT concept spreads, SGs are being integrated into larger networks. The IoT is an important part of SGs because it provides services that improve everyone’s lives. It has been established that the current life support systems are safe and effective at sustaining life. The primary goal of this research is to determine the motivation for IoT device installation in smart buildings and the grid. From this vantage point, the infrastructure that supports IoT devices and the components that comprise them is critical. The remote configuration of smart grid monitoring systems can improve the security and comfort of building occupants. Sensors are required to operate and monitor everything from consumer electronics to SGs. Network-connected devices should consume less energy and be remotely monitorable. The authors’ goal is to aid in the development of solutions based on AI, IoT, and SGs. Furthermore, the authors investigate networking, machine intelligence, and SG. Finally, we examine research on SG and IoT. Several IoT platform components are subject to debate. The first section of this paper discusses the most common machine learning methods for forecasting building energy demand. The authors then discuss IoT and how it works, in addition to the SG and smart meters, which are required for receiving real-time energy data. Then, we investigate how the various SG, IoT, and ML components integrate and operate using a simple architecture with layers organized into entities that communicate with one another via connections. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Disruptive Antenna Technologies Making 5G a Reality)

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14 pages, 6023 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Substrate-Integrated Coaxial Line (SICL) Rotman Lens Beamformer for 5G/B5G Applications

by M. Saad Ali, Hamna Naveed, Muhammad Ali Babar Abbasi, Nosherwan Shoaib and Vincent F. Fusco

Electronics 2023, 12(1), 69; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics12010069 - 24 Dec 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2008

Abstract

High-band allocations in the millimeter-wave (mm-Wave) frequency spectrum offer high-capacity wireless information transmission as required by fifth generation (5G) communication standards. Among different beamforming structures, the Rotman lens (RL) is an attractive passive-microwave-lens-based beamforming network due to its low fabrication cost, reliability, design simplicity and wide-angle scanning capabilities. Conventionally, the RL is implemented using microstrip line (MSL) technology for which there are inherent radiation losses that become severe when operating in mm-Wave 5G frequency bands. In this context, a novel substrate-integrated coaxial line (SICL)-based RL is designed, fabricated and tested, for accurate beamforming with extremely low feed line insertion loss. This article presents a complete design, development and performance analysis of an SICL-based RL beamformer. By using an SICL, isolation of up to 15 dB is achieved between the input beam ports of the RL, while the mutual coupling is kept at less than 20 dB. The SICL design shows a −10 dB insertion loss between the array and beam ports when compared to the same RL developed using MSL technology having an insertion loss of −15 dB. Due to the use of low-loss SICL technology, a realized gain of up to 14.2 dBi is achieved with an excellent scanning capability of −30 to 30 degrees, verifying for the first time the beamforming capabilities associated with SICL technology. The operational frequency band is 20–45 GHz, while the center operating frequency is 26 GHz making it appropriate for above 6-GHz 5G New Radio (NR) operating bands n257 (26.5 GHz to 29.5 GHz), n258 (24.25 GHz to 27.5 GHz), n261 (27.5 GHz to 28.35 GHz) and n260 (37 GHz to 40 GHz). Owing to the low-loss and stable beamforming performance, the SICL RL is suitable for mm-Wave 5G and is extendable to B5G applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Disruptive Antenna Technologies Making 5G a Reality)

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12 pages, 4713 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Gain Improvement of a Dual-Band CPW Monopole Antenna for Sub-6 GHz 5G Applications Using AMC Structures

by Mahmoud A. Abdelghany, Mohamed Fathy Abo Sree, Arpan Desai and Ahmed A. Ibrahim

Electronics 2022, 11(14), 2211; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics11142211 - 14 Jul 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2153

Abstract

A dual-band high gain monopole antenna interfaced with an artificial magnetic conductor (AMC) reflector is introduced in this paper. The antenna is composed of an open-loop shape radiator fed with a coplanar waveguide (CPW) to achieve the desired frequency bands with a total size of 28 mm × 36 mm × 1.6 mm (0.224λ₀ × 0.288 λ₀ × 0.012 λ₀ at 2.4 GHz). A dual-band AMC array structure is integrated on the back of the antenna to enhance the achieved gain. The total size of the integrated model is 79.9 mm × 79.9 mm × 8 mm (0.63λ₀ × 0.63 λ₀ × 0.064 λ₀ at 2.4 GHz). The suggested models are fabricated and tested in terms of the S₁₁, radiation pattern, and peak gain to validate the simulation results. The tested results of the antenna with the AMC array illustrate that the antenna operates at two bands where S₁₁ ≤ −10 dB from 2.37 GHz to 2.5 GHz and from 4.45 GHz to 4.9 GHz. Furthermore, peak gain values of 5 dBi and 7.5 dBi are achieved at both bands, respectively. The suggested model can be used in sub-6 GHz 5G indoor and outdoor applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Disruptive Antenna Technologies Making 5G a Reality)

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12 pages, 2247 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Simple Monopole Antenna with a Switchable Beam for 5G Millimeter-Wave Communication Systems

by Hijab Zahra, Musa Hussain, Syeda Iffat Naqvi, Syed Muzahir Abbas and Subhas Mukhopadhyay

Electronics 2021, 10(22), 2870; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics10222870 - 22 Nov 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2570

Abstract

A simple and compact antenna with a switchable beam for millimeter-wave communication is proposed in this paper. The antenna has a planar structure, and the design evolution is discussed. The beam switching functionality was achieved by incorporating two PIN diodes in the ground plane of the antenna. By switching ON either of the PIN diodes, the inverted L-shaped stub becomes connected to the ground plane and behaves as a cavity, which causes the dispersion of the radiation pattern. Therefore, a wide-angle (±18

^{\circ}

) beam-switching property can be achieved using a simple and low-cost technique, without the necessity to implement additional conventional circuits. The proposed antenna is characterized by a good performance in terms of return loss, bandwidth, measured gain up to 7.95 dB, and radiation efficiency up to 84%, making it a proper candidate for IoT technology and millimeter-wave 5G devices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Disruptive Antenna Technologies Making 5G a Reality)

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11 pages, 5103 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Compact and Wideband PIFA Design for Wireless Body Area Sensor Networks

by Sandra Costanzo and Adil Masoud Qureshi

Electronics 2021, 10(21), 2576; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics10212576 - 21 Oct 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1845

Abstract

The specific advantage of fractal geometry to realize compact antenna features is exploited in this work for the design of a miniaturized Planar Inverted-F Antenna configuration with a large bandwidth. The conventional quadrilateral radiating element of a Planar Inverted-F Antenna is replaced by a Minkowski pre-fractal-based shape, thus increasing the resonant wavelength without affecting the overall antenna dimensions. Consequently, with the new design, a physically smaller antenna can achieve the same resonant frequency of a larger conventional configuration. Measured as well as simulated reflection coefficient and radiation patterns are presented to validate the assumptions. The impedance bandwidth of the antenna (2.19 to 2.52 GHz) covers the ISM band with a boresight gain of 1.5–2 dB over the entire band. Furthermore, to demonstrate the miniaturization effect, a successful comparison is provided with an identically sized, conventional square Planar Inverted-F Antenna design. The proposed antenna design can be usefully adopted for power-efficient communications in the framework of Wireless Body Area Sensor Networks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Disruptive Antenna Technologies Making 5G a Reality)

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10 pages, 2257 KiB

Open AccessArticle

E-Shaped H-Slotted Dual Band mmWave Antenna for 5G Technology

by Kiran Raheel, Ahsan Altaf, Arbab Waheed, Saad Hassan Kiani, Daniyal Ali Sehrai, Faisel Tubbal and Raad Raad

Electronics 2021, 10(9), 1019; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics10091019 - 25 Apr 2021

Cited by 50 | Viewed by 3195

Abstract

The aim of this work is to propose a dual band millimeter wave (mmwave) MIMO antenna system for 5G technology. In addition, the arrangement of the antenna elements in an array should be in such a manner that without using the traditional decoupling structures and/or techniques, a reasonable isolation level must be achieved. To demonstrate this, a system consists of four radiating elements that are etched on a 0.508 mm-thick Rogers-5880 substrate. The dielectric constant of the substrate is 2.2 and the loss tangent is 0.0009. Each radiating element consists of three parts; an E-shaped patch, an H-shaped slot within a patch, and a transmission line. The system is resonating at two different mmwave frequencies, i.e., 28 GHz and 38 GHz with a minimum port isolation of 28 dB. The mean measured gain is found to be at 7.1 dBi at 28 GHz and 7.9 dBi at 38 GHz with average efficiency, and envelope correlation coefficient (ECC) of the system at 70%, and 0.0005 respectively. The proposed system is designed and simulated in a full-wave electromagnetic wave software Computer Simulation Technology (CST), fabricated using LPKF D104 milling machine, and measured using R&SZNA67 vector network analyzer. An excellent agreement is observed between the simulated and the measured results and a detailed comparison with the previous works is also presented. Due to attributes such as low-cost, easy to fabricate, and dual-band, it is believed that this system will find its application for future 5G systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Disruptive Antenna Technologies Making 5G a Reality)

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24 pages, 4743 KiB

Open AccessReview

Recent Developments and Challenges on Beam Steering Characteristics of Reconfigurable Transmitarray Antennas

by Qasim Ali, Waseem Shahzad, Iftikhar Ahmad, Shozab Safiq, Xi Bin, Syed Muzahir Abbas and Houjun Sun

Electronics 2022, 11(4), 587; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics11040587 - 15 Feb 2022

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 5905

Abstract

This paper highlights recent developments and challenges on beam steering characteristics of reconfigurable transmitarray antennas. It introduces the operating principle of beam forming/beam steering high gain transmitarray antennas to enable the user to opt for economical and high performance solutions. A transmitarray antenna typically consists of a source antenna and a phase transformation structure. The incident waves generated from the source antenna is tilted using the phase transformation structure in a desired direction to steer the beam. Moreover, the phase transformation structure alters the incident wavefront to a plane wavefront using phase change characteristics. In order to steer a beam to a specific desired angle, it can be divided into two methods. There is a method of applying a transmitarray with a variable transmission phase change or a method of changing the shape of the wavefront of the source antenna. This type of beam forming/beam steering high gain antenna has been mainly studied from the point of view of high efficiency, low profile, and low cost. Several solutions of transmitarray unit cells have been presented in the literature, using PIN diodes, varactors, MEMS switches, and microfluids enable electronics to realize reconfigurable characteristics of transmitarray antennas. This paper analyzes the characteristics of various beam steering high gain reconfigurable transmitarrays (RTA) and highlights the future opportunities and challenges of the structure design for transmitarray antennas. This paper also highlights the challenges and gaps in terahertz and optical frequencies related to future work due to the structure complexity and lack of components’ availability. Moreover, the challenges and limitations related to multi-bit structures and dual-band requirements are presented. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Disruptive Antenna Technologies Making 5G a Reality)

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