mm-Wave large-scale phased array based on randomly tiled rectangular sub-arrays for 5G communications

Abstract

In this paper, a high-gain, steerable mm-Wave large-scale phased array is designed for 5G communication. In order to reduce system/circuit complexity, 8-element sub-arrays are used. These sub-arrays are randomly tiled to disrupt the periodicity in the array in order to keep side lobe level (SLL) and grating lobe level (GLL) low. Limited field of view (LFOV) of ±15o in both Azimuth and Elevation planes is achieved with < −10dBc SLL and 60% efficiency. A boresight and a +15o θ0, φ0 beam steered 256-element Eband phased arrays were prototyped with LTCC technology to validate the concept. Measured results are presented and compared with simulations. This design is also scalable if higher antenna gain is required making this proposed phased array a good candidate for next generation high speed 5G communications.