Wide-Angle Scanning Flat Panel Array Antenna for mmWave Industrial-IoT Coverage Extension

In the context of automation, managing large volumes of data with ultralow latency is crucial. Maintaining continuous connectivity with mobile robots, which are equipped with multiple sensors and connectivity options, presents a particular challenge. This necessitates broad coverage for sensors and communication networks. To address this challenge, a novel antenna design is introduced that promises comprehensive mmWave connectivity, integrating Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) with mobile robotics applications. The solution requires the use of planar antenna arrays due to the necessity for the fabrication of integrated chips and antennas within a single mmWave communication module. Traditional patch-array antennas have a limited beamforming range of 120(degrees), constrained by their +/- 60(degrees) radiation pattern. However, the newly proposed flat-panel array antenna (FPAA) extends this range to approximately 160(degrees), significantly minimizing blind spots. The proposed FPAA utilizes a simple planar structure with a dielectric grid layer. It achieves scan angles of 162(degrees) and 168(degrees) in the E- and H-planes, respectively, at 28 GHz, offering more than 42% improved coverage compared to traditional patch-array antennas.