COMPACT MIMO ANTENNA WITH ENHANCED ISOLATION FOR WLAN AND C-BAND APPLICATIONS

Abstract

This article proposes a four-element Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) antenna configuration to
operate in the 4 - 8 GHz frequency range for WLAN and C-band applications. The designed structure is realized
on a cost-effective, high-loss FR-4 substrate with a compact dimension. The proposed design is suitable to serve in the 5G new radio (NR) n79 (4.4 - 5 GHz), n102 (5.925 - 6.425 GHz), n104 (6.425 - 7.125 GHz) bands, as
well as WLAN applications for the frequency ranges of 4.9 GHz, 5 GHz, and 5.9 GHz. The entire footprint of the designed antenna is 46 mm × 46 mm × 1.6mm. All four radiating elements are orthogonally placed, and
each is coupled to a feedline for better coupling performance. To decrease the inter-element coupling among the radiators, parasitic elements are added between the patch elements. Also, a defective ground structure is
used to improve isolation. These also enhance the overall antenna performance, as the result shows improvement in average isolation, total efficiency (>80%), and gain (>5 dB). The antenna design is carried out to meet the requirements of the specified frequency bands, rendering it an effective choice for WLAN, 5G NR (n79, n102, and n104), and C-band applications.