Enhanced Data Throughput Using 26 GHz Band Beam-Steered Antenna for 5G Systems

Abstract

A high gain (20 dBi) Leaky-Wave Antenna (LWA) is presented at 26 GHz with beam steering capabilities (44°) for high data throughput in millimeter-wave (mm-wave) 5G systems. A tunable phase shifting High Impedance Surface (HIS) exhibiting low loss (< 0.1 text{dB}), is employed for the antenna's beam steering. A Piezo-Electric Actuator (PEA) is employed to electromechanically tune the HIS. The employed PEA exhibited fast (milliseconds) and continuous displacement variation of up to 500 μm. The LWA has been demonstrated by deploying it within a 5G testbed operating within the 26GHz band. It was observed that the channel performance can significantly be improved utilizing the beam steering capability of the antenna in the case when the line-of-sight (LOS) is blocked by an obstacle.