A Sub-6GHz Two-Port Crescent MIMO Array Antenna for 5G Applications

The fifth generation of wireless communication (5G) technology is becoming more innovative with the increasing need for high data rates because of the incremental rapidity of mobile data growth. In 5G systems, enhancing device-to-device communication, ultra-low latency (1 ms), outstanding dependability, significant flexibility, and data throughput (up to 20 Gbps) is considered one of the most essential factors for wireless networks. To meet these objectives, a sub-6 5G wideband multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) array microstrip antenna for 5G Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) applications on hotspot devices has been proposed in this research. The 1 x 4 MIMO array radiating element antenna with a partial ground proposed in this research complies with the 5G application standard set out by the Federal Communications Commission. The planned antenna configuration consists of a hollow, regular circular stub patch antenna shaped like a crescent with a rectangular defect at the top of the patch. The suggested structure is mounted on an FR-4 substrate with a thickness "h" of 1.6, a permittivity "epsilon r" of 4.4, and a tangential loss of 0.02. The proposed antenna achieves a high radiation gain and offers a frequency spectrum bandwidth of 3.01 GHz to 6.5 GHz, covering two 5G resonant frequencies "fr" of 3.5 and 5.8 GHz as the mid-band, which yields a gain of 7.66 dBi and 7.84 dBi, respectively. MIMO antenna parameters are examined and introduced to assess the system's performance. Beneficial results are obtained, with the channel capacity loss (CCL) tending to 0.2 bit/s/Hz throughout the operating frequency band, the envelope correlation coefficient (ECC) yielding 0.02, a mean effective gain (MEG) of less than -6 dB over the operating frequency band, and a total active reflection coefficient (TARC) of less than -10 dB; the radiation efficiency is equal to 71.5%, maintaining impedance matching as well as good mutual coupling among the adjacent parameters. The suggested antenna has been implemented and experimentally tested using the 5G system Open Air Interface (OAI) platform, which operates at sub-6 GHz, yielding -67 dBm for the received signal strength indicator (RSSI), and superior frequency stability, precision, and reproducibility for the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) and a high level of positivity in the power headroom report (PHR) 5G system performance report, confirming its operational effectiveness in 5G WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) application.