Current Sheet Antenna Array and 5G: Challenges, Recent Trends, Developments, and Future Directions

Abstract

Designing an ultra-wideband array antenna for fifth generation (5G) is challenging for the antenna designing community because of the highly fragmented electromagnetic spectrum. To overcome bandwidth limitations, several millimeter-wave bands for 5G and beyond applications are considered; as a result, many antenna arrays have been proposed during the past decades. This paper aims to explore recent developments and techniques regarding a specific type of phased array antenna used in 5G applications, called current sheet array (CSA). CSA consists of capacitively coupled elements placed over a ground plane, with mutual coupling intentionally introduced in a controlled manner between the elements. CSA concept evolved and led to the realization of new array antennas with multiple octaves of bandwidth. In this review article, we provide a comprehensive overview of the existing works in this line of research. We analyze and discuss various aspects of the proposed array antennas with the wideband and wide-scan operation. Additionally, we discuss the significance of the phased array antenna in 5G communication. Moreover, we describe the current research challenges and future directions for CSA-based phased array antennas.

Antennas for 5G and 6G Communications

“…In an array, multiple antenna radiations are added constructively to enhance the gain of the antenna, thus, administering the path loss to some extent [46]. Recently, various antenna array designs have been reported for 5G sub-6 GHz systems [47][48][49][50]. The strategy proposed in [47] is a four-element antenna consisting of four hybrid antennas, as illustrated in Figure 11, operating at a sub-6 GHz band for 5G.…”

“…The reported antenna is a low profile and high gain antenna with a peak gain of 7.2 dBi. Moreover, the sheet array consists of capacitively coupled elements placed over a ground plane have made a new contribution in antenna engineering to overcome the problems associated with narrow bandwidth and low gain [50]. The performance of the proposed antenna array is tested by placing it at different body parts such as the palm, knee, backhand, etc.…”

A Wilkinson power divider with harmonic suppression through low-pass filter for GSM and LTE applications

“…With the rapid growth of technology in recent decades, the need to expand and upgrade wireless communication devices has increased dramatically. According to modern comprehensive needs to improve quality and the need for higher speed in wireless communication, special attention has been paid to increasing the quality and upgrading active and passive microwave devices such as antennas 1 – 5 , filters 6 – 18 , multiplexers 19 – 24 , and power dividers 25 – 44 . Power divider plays a vital role in modern microwave devices.…”

Design of a Circular Patch Antenna with Parasitic Elements for 5G Applications

“…With the swift enlargement of fifth generation (5G) and beyond wireless networks and exploitation of higher data transmission rates, increasing provocations have been resulted in advocate a large scale of ultramodern utility frameworks and utilizations with high reliability, low latency, lately [1,2]. One of the 5G plans is to employ the sub-6 GHz band -n34(2010-2025 MHz), n38 (2570-2620 MHz), n40 (2300-2400 MHz), n41 (2496-2690 MHz), n46 (5150-5925 MHz), n77 (3300-4200 MHz), n79 (4400-5000 MHz), etc.which, also covered mid-band of 5G (2 to 6 GHz), leading high data rates, huge capacity as well as good coverage from the essential number of available spectrums [3,4]. Modern wireless communications stretch out to new standard applications, algorithms, propagation techniques [5,6], vigorous hardware defiance as well as the relevant antenna design [7][8][9][10] fulfilling human needs.…”