Parasitic array loaded with shorting vias on beam steering patch antenna for 5G applications

In this paper, a beam steering patch antenna with two parasitic array elements loaded with shorting vias for sub-6 GHz 5G applications is proposed. Two parasitic elements placed at the upper left and below right of the circular driven patch. The mutual coupling effect between both driven and parasitic has managed to steer the beam. The parasitic elements electrically shorten the ground plane through shorting vias. In simulation, shorting vias is like an artificial switch that connects parasitic element to ground plane to change its effective electrical length hence forming a reflector and director. Based on the condition of the shorting vias either ON/OFF, the proposed antenna is able to steer the main beam in three different directions to +/- 23 degrees and 0 degrees at the resonant frequency of 3.5 GHz with maximum gain of 7.54 dBi.