mm-Wave Low-Cost 3D Printed MIMO Antennas With Beam Switching Capabilities for 5G Communication Systems

This paper presents designs and prototypes of low cost multiple input multiple output (MIMO) antennas for 5G and millimetre-wave (mm-wave) applications. The proposed MIMOs are fabricated using 3D printing and are able deliver beams in multiple directions that provide continuous and real time coverage in the elevation of up to inline-formula tex-math notation="LaTeX"${\mp }30<^{\circ }$ without using phase shifters. This equips the proposed MIMO with a superior advantage of being an attractive low cost technology for 5G and mm-wave applications. The proposed MIMO antennas operate at the 28 GHz 5G band, with wide bandwidth performance exceeds 4 GHz and with beam switching ability of up to tex-math notation="LaTeX"${\mp }30<^>{\circ }$ in the elevation plane. The direction of the main beam of the single element antenna in the MIMO is steered over the entire bandwidth through introducing 3D printed walls with different heights on the side of the 3D printed radiating antenna. Unlike all other available beam steering techniques; the proposed wall is not only able to change the direction of the beam of the antenna, but also it is able to increase the overall directivity and gain of the proposed antenna and MIMO at the same time over the entire bandwidth.