A Zero-Mode Induced mmWave Patch Antenna With Low-Profile, Wide-Bandwidth and Large-Angle Scanning for 5G Mobile Terminals

Millimeter-Wave (mmWave) antennas for 5G mobile terminals require a wide bandwidth, large-angle beam scanning, low-profile design, and multi-substrate compatibility for module-level integration. In this paper, we propose one candidate design employing a patch structure with the shorting pin to particularly generate extra zero modes. By taking advantages of the 2nd zero-mode with the TM01 mode, we can obtain a wide bandwidth covering 23.5~28 GHz, a large-angle beam scanning with ±60°, as well as keep the substrate as low profile as 0.508 mm. Thanks to the zero-mode induced patch-type design, it is compatible to multi-layer configuration possessing the extensibility and flexibility for further module design. We experimentally valid the design of a $4\times2$ array with multi-layer configuration in a cell phone environment. Good RF performances with ±60° scanning in the wide bandwidth indicate this proposed design can be an appropriate candidate for 5G mobile terminals.