Compact eight-element MIMO antenna array for sub 6 GHz Mobile applications

Abstract

Abstract A compact eight-element multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna array operating at the sub-6-GHz (LTE band 52) for the 5G handheld applications is proposed. The antenna array is realized by employing eight couple-fed slots etched on the ground plane of the MIMO antenna system. The size of the slot radiators excites the required operating bandwidth. A parametric analysis study of the effect of varying the size of the slot radiators on the ground plane is provided to give some insight into the operation of the proposed antenna system. The radiators are excited by 50-Ω strip lines. Rectangular-shaped slits are used as isolation structures to mitigate the mutual coupling effect between elements, resulting in a low Envelope Correlation Coefficient (ECC) of less than 0.1 at the operating bandwidth. The proposed MIMO antenna was fabricated and experimentally validated. The measured and simulated results are in good agreement. Other MIMO performance indicators, such as radiation patterns, Mean Effective Gain (MEG), and the proposed MIMO antenna system’s total efficiencies, are being analyzed. Measurements and simulation results are consistent, which shows that the proposed antenna is a good candidate for 5G applications in the LTE band 52.

Keywords

• MIMO antenna
• Sub 6 GHz
• LTE
• 5G
• Mobile applications