Optimised 4 × 4 millimetre-wave antenna array with DGS using hybrid ECFO-NM algorithm for 5G mobile networks

• Published in: IET microwaves, antennas & propagation antennas & propagation, 2017-09, Vol.11 (11), p.1516-1523
• Main Authors: Mahmoud, Korany R, Montaser, Ahmed M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 5G mobile communication; 5G mobile networks; antenna array structure; antenna feeds; antenna gain; antenna performance characteristics; antenna radiation patterns; array radiation characteristics; broadband impedance bandwidth; convergence; convergence capability; corporate feed network; defected ground plane structure; defected ground structures; DGS; enhanced central force optimisation; fifth generation mobile networks; frequency 28 GHz to 38 GHz; half‐power beamwidth; hybrid ECFO‐NM algorithm; imaging applications; microstrip antenna arrays; microstrip patch antenna array; millimetre wave antenna arrays; millimetre‐wave wireless communications; Nelder–Mead algorithm; optimised 4x4 millimetre‐wave antenna array; particle swarm optimisation; particle swarm optimisation algorithms; radiation efficiency; reflection coefficient; Research Article; return loss
• ISSN: 1751-8725; 1751-8733; 1751-8733
• DOI: 10.1049/iet-map.2016.0959

A novel optimised 4 × 4 microstrip patch antenna array operating in the 28−38 GHz frequency range for fifth generation mobile networks is presented. The proposed structure is fed by the corporate feed network printed on the same side of the substrate. To improve the array radiation characteristics, a defected ground plane structure (DGS), which acts as coupled c-shaped in the ground plane, is used. The dimensions of the antenna array structure are optimised using a new hybrid approach involving the enhanced central force optimisation (ECFO) and Nelder–Mead (NM) algorithms. To illustrate the convergence capability of the ECFO-NM algorithm, the results are compared with those obtained using stand-alone ECFO and particle swarm optimisation algorithms. The results show the effect of DGS on the antenna performance characteristics, i.e. the radiation efficiency and return loss are improved, on average, by ∼17.14 and 69.2%, respectively. Furthermore, the realised antenna gain was increased by 2.44 dBi with a negligible effect on the half-power beamwidth. The optimised antenna array yielded a broadband impedance bandwidth higher than 32% for a reflection coefficient lower than −12 dB and a total realised gain of up to 18.65 dBi, which makes it suitable for imaging applications and millimetre-wave wireless communications.