volume | PIER Journals

Abstract

This paper presents a broadband MIMO antenna for miniaturized satellites and a novel metamaterial for decoupling. The proposed metamaterial exhibits single-negative characteristics (with only permittivity ε being negative) in the 4.66-6 GHz and 6.5-9 GHz frequency bands, and double-negative characteristics (with both permittivity ε and permeability μ being negative) in the 6-6.5 GHz and 9-15.97 GHz frequency bands. In MIMO antenna applications, it significantly improves isolation between antenna elements. Finally, we develop a 4-port ultra-wideband (UWB) MIMO array antenna operating from 4.66 to 15.97 GHz, covering C-band, X-band, and Ku-band. It achieves S₁₁ < -10 dB with an operating bandwidth of 11.31 GHz. With the integrated metamaterial suppressing inter-unit coupling, the antenna demonstrates low-coupling performance (S₁₂, S₁₃, S₁₄ < −20 dB and ECC < 0.035) across the entire operating band. The maximum gain reaches 7.83 dBi, providing both high-gain performance and ultra-wideband decoupling capabilities. This MIMO antenna measures 55 mm × 55 mm × 1.6 mm and uses an FR4 substrate.

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Dr. Xuemei Zheng

Mr. Linfei Yue

Dr. Yunan Zhang