A Switchable 3-D-Coverage-Phased Array Antenna Package for 5G Mobile Terminals

Abstract

This letter proposes a new design of millimeter-wave (mm-Wave) array antenna package with beam steering characteristic for the fifth-generation (5G) mobile applications. In order to achieve a broad three-dimensional scanning coverage of the space with high-gain beams, three identical subarrays of patch antennas have been compactly arranged along the edge region of the mobile phone printed circuit board (PCB) to form the antenna package. By switching the feeding to one of the subarrays, the desired direction of coverage can be achieved. The proposed design has >10-dB gain in the upper spherical space, good directivity, and efficiency, which is suitable for 5G mobile communications. In addition, the impact of the user's hand on the antenna performance has been investigated.