Side-Edge Frame Printed Eight-Port Dual-Band Antenna Array for 5G Smartphone Applications

An eight-port antenna array operating in 3.5 GHz band (3400–3600 MHz) and 5 GHz band (4800–5100 MHz) for fifth-generation multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) in mobile handsets is presented. To reserve space for 2G/3G/4G antenna configuration, the eight-antenna array formed by two quad-antenna arrays is printed along the two long frames of the smartphone. Each antenna array unit is formed by a folded monopole and a gap-coupled loop branch, and they are disposed on the upper and bottom sides of the system circuit board, respectively. As the gap between each array unit is only 10 mm, a neutralized line is introduced between the two middle antenna units for reducing the mutual coupling. The measured results have exhibited good impedance matching and isolation. To evaluate the MIMO performance, the envelope correlation coefficient, mean effective gain, and ergodic channel capacity are investigated. Furthermore, the hand phantom effects and display panel effects are also given.