Hybrid Antenna Module Concept for 28 GHz 5G Beamsteering Cellular Devices

Abstract

This paper presents a novel hybrid antenna module concept at millimeter-waves to realize spherical beamsteering coverage that is structurally and systematically compatible with present day cellular devices. The hybrid antenna module concept coherently combines two existing concepts - the AiP (Antenna-in-Package) and AoD (Antenna-on-Display) to steer the antenna main lobe in the end-fire and broadside direction. A compact end-fire antenna array (AiP) and a fully optically transparent antenna array (AoD) achieve impedance bandwidth (2:1 VSWR) of 1.67 GHz and 0.85 GHz respectively at 28 GHz. Investigation in the far-field ascertains hat the 4-element end-fire AiP and the 16-element broadside AoD exhibit a realized gain of 9.2 dBi and 12.8 dBi in the θ = 90° and θ = 0° respectively.