volume | PIER Journals

Abstract

In this study, we describe a compact two-port MIMO dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) system made from biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) using additive manufacturing techniques. Performance goals were achieved through a systematic performance study on the pin height, pin position, cavity width, and cavity length. The simulated results showed a wide range of bandwidth from 5.0 to 7.4 GHz with return loss (|S₁₁|) lower than -10 dB corresponding to a fractional bandwidth of approximately 36.8%. Excellent port isolation is achieved with |S₂₁| < -20 dB consistent across the entire band. The antenna provides more than 10 dBi gain with a high directivity making it useful for high-performance wireless applications. Furthermore, diversity MIMO performance confirms exceptional diversity performance with the Envelope correlation coefficient (ECC) remaining below 0.015 and ideal Diversity Gain (DG) of 10 dB. Another important feature is the electronic beam steering capability of this antenna, enabled by adjusting the phase difference between the two ports. With excitation phase shifts of 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270°, the antenna's main beam can be steered between broadside and unidirectional directions, providing flexible spatial coverage through dynamic phase control, rather than switching among fundamentally different radiation patterns. The employment of environmentally friendly PLA materials paired with 3D printing technology fosters sustainable practices for antenna development while simultaneously permitting inexpensive prototype creation and swift adaptability in the design changes. This MIMO DRA system can be extensively employed in C-band applications like the 5G communication systems, satellite downlink services, radar systems, and high-speed wireless data links where it is crucial to have wide bandwidth, high isolation, and compact size.

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Mr. Bingi Naresh Kumar

Dr. Metuku Shyam Sunder

Dr. Dasari Ramakrishna