Beam-Steering in Metamaterials Enhancing Gain of Patch Array Antenna Using Phase Shifters for 5G Application

Abstract

This article investigates how beam steering makes the antenna intelligent by increasing channel capacity, range, and reducing interference to enhance the gain of a rectangular patch array antenna for the 5G application using a novel double negative metamaterial (DNG). Beam-steering antennas are the ideal solution for a variety of system applications; it is mostly achieved using phased arrays, where phase shifters are used to control the main-beam. In this paper, the pin-diode phase shifters were considered. ”ON” and ”OFF” states provide phase shift due to different current paths. The main beam direction can be switched between the angles of 25 degrees with a 3dB beamwidth of 23 degrees. The metamaterial structure is composed of 8x8 mm on Rogers RT/duroid 5880 with 0. 254mm thickness and dielectric constant of 2.2. The proposed phase array antenna has four microstrip patch with a thickness of 0. 0175mm printed on the same Rogers RT-duroid substrate with a dielectric constant of 2.2 with dimensions of 5.40 mm x3.94 mm. The phased array antenna without metamaterial structure presented a directivity of 14. 8dBi.Gain increase to 16. 6dBi upon placing the metamaterial structure at a distance 24. 3mm.