Compact Bent-Corner Orthogonal Beam Switching Antenna Module for 5G Mobile Devices

Abstract

Typically, users engage with smartphones in either single-hand or dual-hand mode. To design antennas that operate at 28 GHz and have high pattern integrity for both modes of operation, an orthogonal beam switching module is required as a single phased-arrays would fail. First, a corner bent corporate fed array operating at 28 GHz is proposed, which has a forward gain of 8.5 dBi and a high-front-to-back ratio of 20 dB. Second, a corner bent printed Yagi antenna that also operates in the 28 GHz band is proposed. Both the corner bent antennas are compatible with the panel edge of commercial smartphones. The radiation from both antennas is mostly directed away from the user. A corner bent co-polarized orthogonal beam switching module is presented and characterized. The antenna module also has a shared ground, making it a potential candidate for future 5G smartphones. Detailed results are presented with adequate justification.