Opportunity
The rapid advancement of wireless communication technologies has led to an exponential increase in data traffic, necessitating the development of efficient and compact antennas. Wideband complementary antennas, which combine electric dipoles and orthogonally placed shorted patch antennas, are highly valued for their stable gain, consistent radiation patterns, and wide impedance bandwidth. However, existing wideband complementary antennas suffer from a significant drawback: their large physical size. This limitation makes them unsuitable for modern wireless systems, particularly in applications requiring compact antenna arrays, such as millimeter-wave communication systems and massive multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) applications. The need for miniaturized antennas without compromising performance is the primary motivation behind this patent.
Technology
The patent introduces an innovative antenna design that addresses the size limitations of traditional wideband complementary antennas. The key innovation lies in the use of a fractal antenna structure arranged on a substrate with a ground plane. The fractal antenna comprises pairs of patch antenna sections spaced apart and connected to electrically conductive elements (e.g., pins or vias) that extend orthogonally into the substrate. These conductive elements, along with the ground plane and feeding mechanisms, form a shorted antenna that works in tandem with the fractal dipole sections to achieve wideband performance.
The fractal geometry of the patch antenna sections (e.g., Minkowski-based, Sierpinski Gasket-based, or Sierpinski Carpet-based structures) enables aperture miniaturization while maintaining desirable radiation characteristics. The antenna also features dual L-probe feeds for dual linear polarization, ensuring efficient signal transmission and reception. The substrate is typically multi-layered, with the ground plane strategically placed to optimize performance. This design significantly reduces the antenna's footprint, making it ideal for compact devices and array applications.
Advantages
- Compact Size: The fractal design minimizes the antenna's aperture size without sacrificing performance.
- Wideband Performance: Maintains a wide impedance bandwidth (e.g., 44% for x-polarization, 43% for y-polarization).
- Stable Gain: Delivers an average gain of 7.35 dBi across the operational frequency range.
- Dual Polarization: Supports dual linear polarization through orthogonal L-probe feeds.
- Low Cross-Polarization: Exhibits minimal cross-polarization and back radiation.
- Scalability: Suitable for millimeter-wave and microwave applications.
Applications
- Millimeter-Wave Communication Systems: Ideal for 5G and beyond, including 28 GHz, 38 GHz, and 60 GHz bands.
- Massive MIMO Systems: Enables high-density antenna arrays for improved data throughput.
- Compact Wireless Devices: Suitable for smartphones, smartwatches, and wearable technology.
- Planar Antenna Arrays: Integrates seamlessly with chip-based feeding networks.
- Broadband Applications: Supports wideband operations in radar and satellite communications.
