A Dual-Band Flexible MIMO Array Antenna for Sub-6 GHz 5G Communications
This paper presents a novel dual-band flexible antenna, uniquely designed and extended to array as well as MIMO configurations for the Sub-6 GHz band. The single-element monopole antenna features a modified rectangular radiator with two L-strips and a reduced ground plane, enabling a compact dual-ba...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Sensors |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/11/3557 |
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| author | Deepthi Mariam John Tanweer Ali Shweta Vincent Sameena Pathan Jaume Anguera Bal Virdee Rajiv Mohan David Krishnamurthy Nayak Sudheesh Puthenveettil Gopi |
| author_facet | Deepthi Mariam John Tanweer Ali Shweta Vincent Sameena Pathan Jaume Anguera Bal Virdee Rajiv Mohan David Krishnamurthy Nayak Sudheesh Puthenveettil Gopi |
| author_sort | Deepthi Mariam John |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper presents a novel dual-band flexible antenna, uniquely designed and extended to array as well as MIMO configurations for the Sub-6 GHz band. The single-element monopole antenna features a modified rectangular radiator with two L-strips and a reduced ground plane, enabling a compact dual-band response. The proposed four-element, two-port MIMO configuration is extended from the 1 × 2 array antenna, achieving an overall dimension of 57 × 50 × 0.1 mm<sup>3</sup>, making it exceptionally compact and flexible compared to existing rigid and bulkier designs. Operating in the 3.6–3.8 GHz and 5.65–5.95 GHz bands, the antenna delivers a high gain of 5.2 dBi and 7.7 dBi, outperforming many designs in terms of gain while maintaining the superior isolation of >22 dB utilizing a defected ground structure (DGS). The design satisfies key MIMO diversity metrics (ECC < 0.05, DG > 9.99) and demonstrates low SAR values (0.0702/0.25 W/kg at 3.75 GHz and 0.175/0.507 W/kg at 5.9 GHz), making it highly suitable for wearable and on-body communication, unlike many rigid counterparts. Fabricated on a flexible polyimide substrate, the antenna addresses challenges such as size, bandwidth, isolation, and safety in MIMO antenna design. The performance, validated through fabrication and measurement, establishes the proposed antenna as a superior alternative to existing MIMO designs for compact, high-performance Sub-6 GHz 5G applications. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e32882b898824eb88e8c7a48ebf8f156 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj-art-e32882b898824eb88e8c7a48ebf8f1562025-08-20T03:11:24ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202025-06-012511355710.3390/s25113557A Dual-Band Flexible MIMO Array Antenna for Sub-6 GHz 5G CommunicationsDeepthi Mariam John0Tanweer Ali1Shweta Vincent2Sameena Pathan3Jaume Anguera4Bal Virdee5Rajiv Mohan David6Krishnamurthy Nayak7Sudheesh Puthenveettil Gopi8Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, IndiaDepartment of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, IndiaDepartment of Mechatronics, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, IndiaDepartment of Information and Communication Technology, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, IndiaIgnion, 08174 Barcelona, SpainCentre for Communications Technology, London Metropolitan University, London N7 8DB, UKDepartment of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, IndiaDepartment of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, IndiaDepartment of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, IndiaThis paper presents a novel dual-band flexible antenna, uniquely designed and extended to array as well as MIMO configurations for the Sub-6 GHz band. The single-element monopole antenna features a modified rectangular radiator with two L-strips and a reduced ground plane, enabling a compact dual-band response. The proposed four-element, two-port MIMO configuration is extended from the 1 × 2 array antenna, achieving an overall dimension of 57 × 50 × 0.1 mm<sup>3</sup>, making it exceptionally compact and flexible compared to existing rigid and bulkier designs. Operating in the 3.6–3.8 GHz and 5.65–5.95 GHz bands, the antenna delivers a high gain of 5.2 dBi and 7.7 dBi, outperforming many designs in terms of gain while maintaining the superior isolation of >22 dB utilizing a defected ground structure (DGS). The design satisfies key MIMO diversity metrics (ECC < 0.05, DG > 9.99) and demonstrates low SAR values (0.0702/0.25 W/kg at 3.75 GHz and 0.175/0.507 W/kg at 5.9 GHz), making it highly suitable for wearable and on-body communication, unlike many rigid counterparts. Fabricated on a flexible polyimide substrate, the antenna addresses challenges such as size, bandwidth, isolation, and safety in MIMO antenna design. The performance, validated through fabrication and measurement, establishes the proposed antenna as a superior alternative to existing MIMO designs for compact, high-performance Sub-6 GHz 5G applications.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/11/3557Sub-6 GHzantenna arrayMIMOCMASARflexible |
| spellingShingle | Deepthi Mariam John Tanweer Ali Shweta Vincent Sameena Pathan Jaume Anguera Bal Virdee Rajiv Mohan David Krishnamurthy Nayak Sudheesh Puthenveettil Gopi A Dual-Band Flexible MIMO Array Antenna for Sub-6 GHz 5G Communications Sensors Sub-6 GHz antenna array MIMO CMA SAR flexible |
| title | A Dual-Band Flexible MIMO Array Antenna for Sub-6 GHz 5G Communications |
| title_full | A Dual-Band Flexible MIMO Array Antenna for Sub-6 GHz 5G Communications |
| title_fullStr | A Dual-Band Flexible MIMO Array Antenna for Sub-6 GHz 5G Communications |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Dual-Band Flexible MIMO Array Antenna for Sub-6 GHz 5G Communications |
| title_short | A Dual-Band Flexible MIMO Array Antenna for Sub-6 GHz 5G Communications |
| title_sort | dual band flexible mimo array antenna for sub 6 ghz 5g communications |
| topic | Sub-6 GHz antenna array MIMO CMA SAR flexible |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/11/3557 |
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