China3D printingNet, April 13th, researchers headquartered in the United Kingdom focused on using3D printingManufacturing low-cost multiple input multiple output (MIMO) antennas for 5G communication systems.
use3D printingThese proposed MIMO can transmit light beams in multiple directions without using a phase shifter to provide continuous real-time coverage. In addition, they can operate on the 28 GHz 5G frequency band, and their wide bandwidth performance exceeds 4 GHz.
Therefore, the researchers found that due to the use of3D printingThese antennas provide a low-cost option for realizing 5G and millimeter wave applications. also,3D printingIt also simplifies complex design choices so that the direction of the antenna beam can be changed and its directivity can be increased.
A schematic diagram of the antenna with a wall on the side. (A) Front view, (b) Perspective view. Pictures from Shaker Alkaraki and Yue Gao.
3D printingAdvantages of the antenna
The researchers first outlined the upcoming 5G standardization currently being implemented in most countries/regions. 5G wireless technology is a major improvement to the current technology, which is expected to increase the overall system capacity by hundreds of times, and increase the overall system throughput with higher frequency spectrum and energy efficiency, while minimizing system delay. 5G will be introduced in countries/regions with the following millimeter wave (mm-wave) frequency bands: 24 GHz to 29.5 GHz, 37 GHz to 42.5 GHz, 47.2 GHz to 48.2 GHz, and 64 to 71 GHz.
3D printingHow to become an effective manufacturing process for designing antennas, and has been used to produce antennas for various applications in different frequency bands from microwaves to terahertz frequencies.According to China3D printingNet understand, use3D printingProviding antenna solutions has many advantages, such as implementing complex shapes at low cost. “
In fact, companies such as the European Space Agency (ESA) have adopted it in their PROBA-3 space missions3D printingantenna. The antenna was developed by the Spanish engineering technology group SENER and the Advanced Aerospace Technology Center (CATEC)3D printingof.In addition, researchers at the University of Delaware (UDEL) also use the XJet Carmel 1400 system, using3D printingTechnological development of new 5G antennas.Lunewave, a radar and antenna manufacturer based in Arizona, is a start-up company whose proprietary technology is completely focused on3D printingLens antenna. The company raised $5 million in a seed round of financing in 2018.
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3D printingRendering of a helical antenna. Picture from SENER.
3D printingMIMO antenna prototype
According to the researcher,3D printingThe antenna process can be divided into two stages.First is actual3D printingThe process itself, and then the metallization process.The researchers explained that compared with low-cost electroless plating, the use of low-cost metallization techniques is more effective because it helps reduce3D printingThe cost of the antenna, which is the main benefit of using additive manufacturing in the first place.
The MIMO antenna system uses multiple antennas, which helps increase the system link capacity. However, producing a MIMO system through a traditional manufacturing process requires high cost of system components.Therefore, the researchers recommend3D printingMIMO antennas to limit the cost of producing antennas, while also making the system more efficient and making the antenna steerable.
The author explained: “We have proposed an innovative low-cost MIMO antenna for 5G millimeter wave base station applications. The MIMO antenna is3D printingTechnically manufactured, it offers the opportunity to deliver innovative and complex antenna designs at an overall reduced cost compared to traditional antennas. The proposed MIMO antenna is compact, low-cost, high-efficiency, and high-gain, and it can provide beam switching capability by using novel technology without using phased array technology. “
The effect of wall height (?ℎ) on the antenna radiation pattern. Pictures from Shaker Alkaraki and Yue Gao.
The MIMO antenna prototypes developed for this research include 2×2 systems and 4×3 MIMO systems.In addition to reasonable price and high efficiency, these prototypes also have3D printingRealized beam switching function. Each MIMO antenna consists of two main parts: a feed structure and a radiating structure.The feeding structure is designed to couple electromagnetic energy to the surface of the radiating structure, which is the surface of the system3D printingPart, consists of a central groove surrounded by a rectangular cavity and two corrugations. Use Objet30 3D printingMachine-to-radiation structure3D printing, And then use the spray metal (JMT) spray metallization process to metallize it.This involves3D printingThe structure is coated with a thin layer of silver with a thickness of 2.5μm.
The beam steering mechanism existing in 4 x 3 MIMO is determined by the side of the antenna3D printingComposition of metallized wall. Depending on the height of the wall, the metallized wall helps to steer the beam to the desired direction while also increasing the gain of the antenna. This is caused by an increase in the increase in the wall height, which in turn causes the gain to rise to the saturation point.
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