Hybrid Integration of 5G/B5G Millimeter-Wave and Microwave Antennas in Handsets for ISAC

• Published in: IEEE antennas and wireless propagation letters 2024-01, Vol.23 (11), p.3491-3495
• Main Authors: Huang, Huan-Chu, Wu, Jie, Liu, Mengdi, Cui, Shuang, Xu, Jialu, Li, Hui
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 5G mobile communication; Antenna arrays; Antenna measurements; Antennas; integrated sensing and communications (ISAC); integration; Metals; microwave; Microwave antennas; Millimeter waves; millimeter-wave; Modules; phones; sensing; Smart phones; Smartphones
• ISSN: 1536-1225; 1548-5757
• DOI: 10.1109/LAWP.2024.3411559

This letter presents an innovative, simple, low-cost, space-saving, and practical hybrid integration design of a thin FPC-based 5G FR2 millimeter-wave (mmw) antenna module and a metal-frame-based 5G FR1 microwave (mcw) antenna in a handset promising for applications of 5G and B5G integrated sensing and communications (ISAC). The thin FPC-based mmw antenna module is composed of a 1 × 4 mmw antenna array (covering the 3GPP 5G band n261 with the maximum scan angle reaching 45°), an IC shielding case, a connector, and a metal hollow carrier. The mmw antenna module is electrically connected to the metal-frame-based mcw antenna, so the length and impedance of the integrated mcw antenna can be easily and effectively optimized for better embracing lower bands. The integrated mcw antennas can well cover plenty of 3GPP 5G bands, e.g., n 7, n 12, n 29, n 30, n 38, n 40, n 41, n 71, and n 83, n 90, as well as the band for 2.4 GHz WLAN. Thus, this proposed hybrid antenna integration scheme can attain a compelling total solution for mmw and mcw antennas in smartphones of 5G and beyond 5G (B5G).