A High-Efficiency Millimeter-Wave Antenna Array for 6G Wireless Communication Systems

Abstract

The fast pace of wireless communication technologies is increasing the pace at which sixth-generation (6G) networks can be developed, and these networks can handle extreme-high data rates, extreme-low response times and extreme-high connectivity of devices. Communication in the wide band frequency spectral ranges spanning 2-3 GHz to 3.5 GHz has become a primary enabling technology of such networks because of the presence of wide bandwidth at high-frequency spectrum bands. MmWave communication on the other hand has high propagation losses that require high-gain and high-efficiency antenna system. In this paper, the design and performance study of a high efficiency millimetre-wave antenna array that can be used as a 6G wireless communication system are presented. The proposed antenna has been designed to work in 28 GHz, which is a close strong band in mmWave where the next-generation wireless can be used. As the basic radiating component, a microstrip patch antenna element is also used and multiple antenna elements are organised in the form of a linear array in order to enhance the gain as well as the radiation efficiency of the antenna. The performance parameters of the antenna array are simulated and measured by electromagnetic simulation tools to cheque the most important performance parameters such as: the return loss (S11), the voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR), the radiation pattern, the gain, and the radiation efficiency. The simulation findings reveal that, the proposed type of array of antennas is characterised by high level of impedance matching, broad bandwidth properties, and also high radiation efficiency with significant gain enhancement in comparison with a single element antenna. The above findings show that the proposed antenna array has the potential to become one of the possibilities to be used in high frequency 6G wireless communication system in the future.