2023-03-06
Investigation on a Small 4T4R MIMO Microstrip Antenna for Sub-6 GHz
New Radio Wireless Network
By
Progress In Electromagnetics Research C, Vol. 131, 1-12, 2023
Abstract
The next generation 4T4R Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) antenna solution is gradually accepted by operators in many countries as a mainstream expansion to long term evolution (LTE) networks. Using limited spectrum and high capacity, operators have successfully adopted multi-sector 4T4R MIMO deployment and achieved a 70% increase in capacity without increasing spectrum, thus paving way for state of art next generation wireless networking environment requiring antennae that are robust, small size, lighter, preferably with circular polarization. MIMO antennae provide optimality by arresting multipath fade effect and ensuring data link that is reliable. MIMO realizes efficiency in mobility with increase in capacity of links and several sub-bandwidths using polarization diversity providing better cybersecurity. This work therefore is an investigation on a small size 4T4R MIMO antenna for the use in a sub-6 GHz new radio (NR) band in a fading environment with good inter element as well as radiation isolation compared with earlier research. A rectangular patch with loaded slots is designed to obtain small size. Stubs and parasitic elements are introduced between the elements for better mutual coupling performance. Performance of the antenna is stable, with the test results agreeing. The parametrics follow the coefficient of transmission isolation technique to obtain an optimal envelope correlation coefficient.