A series‐fed frequency scanning antenna for millimeter wave wireless communication

Abstract

In the realms of 5G and the upcoming 6G communications, the millimeter‐wave bands offer substantially greater bandwidth. However, due to their propagation characteristics, aligning antennas becomes a challenging issue, particularly at the node side in industrial and vehicular network applications. Angle‐scanning antennas can significantly enhance communication reliability or provide new possibilities for spatial multiplexing. Previous studies have predominantly concentrated on frequency‐scanning antennas characterized by either low‐gain individual units or expensive digital arrays. Consequently, there has been a scarcity of solutions that are both cost‐effective and high‐gain. In this study, a method is proposed for achieving frequency scanning by extending the feed lines between elements. Based on this approach, a millimeter‐wave high‐gain serial‐feed frequency‐scanning antenna is developed. This antenna operates within the 60–64 GHz millimeter‐wave ISM (Industrial, Scientific, and Medical) band and is capable of performing a 10 scan in the E‐plane. Moreover, the antenna maintains a width of less than half a wavelength, allowing for the assembly of multiple antennas into a MIMO array.