A low-profile wideband compressed single-arm spiral antenna array for mid-band 5G beam steering applications

Abstract

A low profile wideband spiral antenna array is presented for global mid-band 5G beam steering applications. In the global rollout of mid-band 5G, different frequencies have been licensed within each region (e.g. 3.4–3.8 GHz in the EU and 3.7–5 GHz in the USA). Therefore, antenna arrays must be able to cover a bandwidth of 3.3 GHz to 5 GHz to provide true global coverage. Initially, this work presents the design of a wideband compressed spiral antenna that provides an axial beam throughout its operational bandwidth of 3.3 GHz to 5 GHz, enabling beam steering functionality. Then, this antenna has been placed in a 4 × 4 array with a triangular lattice. The proposed spiral antenna array can provide a scanning range of − 40° ≤ θ ≤ + 40° in all azimuth directions with an average back lobe level of less than − 9.5 dB. This development will allow for low-cost integration of 5G systems for global use, such as passenger aircraft, UAVs, drones, and marine and ground vehicles.