Compact and Broadband Substrate Integrated Dielectric Resonator Antenna Suitable for 5G Millimeter-Wave Communications

Abstract

To date, few broadband DRAs can cover n257, n258, n260, and n261 bands with a small physical footprint (e.g., < 0.4λ0×0.4λ0×0.15λ0, where λ0 is the free-space wavelength at 28GHz). This article proposes a compact and broadband substrate-integrated dielectric resonator antenna (SIDRA) suitable for 5G millimeterwave band applications. Four operating modes from three resonators, including TE111 and TE131 modes from the DR, slot mode from the H-shaped feeding slot, and patch mode from the inserted ring patch, are excited to achieve a bandwidth of 61.9% (24-45.5 GHz) with a compact size of 0.37λ0×0.37λ0×0.125λ0. The proposed DRA can be extended to an array with ~0.5λ0 element interval to obtain wide-angle beam scanning capability. A 1×4 SIDRA array was simulated, achieving beam-scanning area of ±45∘ and ±32∘ at the frequencies of 28 / 39 GHz. Further, the DRA array was fabricated and tested. It offers a measured 10-dB bandwidth (|S11|. -10 dB) of 60.4% (23.5-43.7 GHz), in which the gain varies between 10.1 to 12.5 dBi.