Wideband Quasi-Spherical Lens Antenna Module With 2-D Switched Beams for 5G Millimeter-Wave IoT Applications

Millimeter-wave (mmWave) communication technologies offer abundant spectrum resources and higher data rates that present new opportunities to facilitate fifth-generation (5G) Internet of Things (IoT) systems. As IoT devices are randomly distributed in the environment, mmWave antennas with multiple switched directional beams are a better choice to reduce data collisions. In this context, a wideband multibeam antenna with a compact structure is presented for various mmWave IoT applications. First, a wideband dual-polarized magnetoelectric dipole (ME-dipole) antenna is developed as the excitation for the quasi-spherical lens. Next, by incorporating the lens with a group of the source antennas positioned at each edge of a hexagonal ground plane, six tilted beams with dual polarization are generated for pattern and polarization diversities. A prototype is constructed and measured, demonstrating a measured bandwidth from 27 to 37 GHz. Moreover, the maximum measured gain for each beam is around 18 dBi. Benefiting from the advantages of wideband operation and excellent radiation performance, the proposed mmWave-powered multibeam antenna can be mounted on the ceiling to communicate with multiple users and smart devices beneath it, offering a reliable and cost-effective solution for 5G IoT.