volume | PIER Journals

Abstract

The much-anticipated year of 5G deployment has lapsed, and yet much research is ongoing on the 5G New Radio (NR) interface. The quality of service and user experience is dependent on a stable and signal strength of the wireless communication link. To serve multiple users per sector accessing dedicated and unique services pose a challenge for passive antenna systems with omnidirectional beams. Smart 5G antenna technology with null forming and beamforming promises to serve mobile users well by offering a reliable wireless communication link. To address this need, we propose a 2 x 2 MIMO antenna capable of electronically forming electromagnetic beams in one direction and nullifying electromagnetic beams in any undesired direction. We demonstrate the usefulness of the proposed antenna by evaluating five cases that showed interesting insights, confirming the hypothesis that it is possible to implement beamforming in a 2 x 2 MIMO system with less computing power and minimum number crunching. What is novel and attractive about the proposed antenna are: (a) forming a beam with maximum directivity towards the desired user, while (b) simultaneously producing nulls towards an undesirable transmitter, and (c) a fast electromagnetic tracking module inbuilt into it so that the base station antenna may constantly track and maintain the communication link with the moving wireless transceiver or cell phone. While most wireless mobile systems use two separate software modules for beamforming and tracking the mobile station, the method presented here does electronic beamforming and tracking of the mobile user with a single low memory, computationally fast technique within the range of 10 ms to 19 s.

1. IMT Vision — Framework and Overall Objectives of the Future Development of IMT for 2020 and beyond, 2015.

2. Morley, D., 5G small cells and cable: Realizing the opportunity, Shaw Communications Inc/Freedom Mobile, Alberta, Technical Report October 2018, 2018.

3. Al, E., M. Ismail, R. Nordin, and N. F. Abdulah, "Beamforming techniques for massive MIMO systems in 5G: Overview, classification, and trends for future research," Frontiers of Information Technology & Electronic Engineering, Vol. 18, 753-772, 2017.
doi:10.1631/FITEE.1601817

4. Anritsu Ten 5G Challenges for Engineers to Overcome, 8, ed.: Anritsu, 2018.

5. Joseph, M., O. Tobi, and G. A. Igwue, "Development of a new adaptive beam-forming technique for smart antenna system," International Journal of Computer Applications (0975–8887), Vol. 178, No. 11, 2019.

6. Mr, K. M., A. V. R. Holla, and H. M. Guruprasad, "Simulation of reduced complexity beamforming algorithms for mobile communication," International Journal of Innovative Technology and Exploring Engineering (IJITEE), Vol. 1, No. 2, 2012.

7. Waghmare, P., P. Gupta, K. Gehlod, A. Shakya, and L. Malviya, "2 × 2 wideband array MIMO antenna for 5G spectral band," 2019 IEEE 5th International Conference for Convergence in Technology (I2CT), Bombay, India, 2019.

8. Chu, S., M. N. Hasan, J. Yan, and C. C. Chu, "Tri-band 2 × 2 5G MIMO antenna array," 2018 Asia-Pacific Microwave Conference (APMC), 2018.

9. Yashchyshyn, Y., et al., "28GHz switched-beam antenna based on S-PIN diodes for 5G mobile communications," IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, Vol. 17, No. 2, 2018.
doi:10.1109/LAWP.2017.2781262

10. Abbas, E. A., M. Ikram, and A. Abbosh, "Dual functional MIMO antenna system for mmWave 5G and 2 GHz 4G communications," IEEE International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation, Atlanta, July 7–12, 2019.

11. Khalid, M., et al., "4-port MIMO antenna with defected ground structure for 5G millimeter wave applications," Electronics, Vol. 9, No. 71, 2020.

12. I. NTT DOCOMO 5G Evolution and 6G, ed.: NTT DOCOMO, INC., 2020.

13. Rappaport, T. S., et al., "Wireless communications and applications above 100 GHz: Opportunities and challenges for 6G and beyond," IEEE Access, Vol. 7, 78729-78757, 2019.
doi:10.1109/ACCESS.2019.2921522

14. Rappaport, T. S., Y. Xing, J. George, R. MacCartney, A. F. Molisch, E. Mellios, and J. Zhang, "Overview of millimeter wave communications for fifth-Generation (5G) wireless networks — With a focus on propagation models," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 65, No. 12, 18, 2017.

15. Singkang, L. M., K. A. H. Ping, H. Kunsei, K. Senthilkumar, K. Pirapaharan, A. M. A. Haidar, and P. R. P. Hoole, "Model based-testing of spatial and time domain artificial intelligence smart antenna for ultra-high frequency electric discharge detection in digital power substations," Progress In Electromagnetics Research M, Vol. 99, 91-101, 2021.
doi:10.2528/PIERM20090301

16. Singkang, L. M. B., K. A. H. Ping, and P. R. P. Hoole, "Electric discharges localization for substation fault monitoring using two elements sensor," Journal of Computational and Theoretical Nanoscience, Vol. 17, No. 2–3, 1009-1013, 2020.
doi:10.1166/jctn.2020.8759

17. Neiman, M. S., "The principle of reciprocity in antenna theory," Proceedings of the IRE, Vol. 31, No. 12, 666-671, 1943.
doi:10.1109/JRPROC.1943.233683

18. Hamdy, M. N., An Introduction to LTE Smart Base Station Antennas, M. N. Engineering (ed.), 2017.

19. Hoole, P. R., Smart Antennas and Electromagnetic Signal Processing in Advanced Wireless Technology: With Artificial Intelligence Application and Coding, River Publisher, USA-Denmark, 2020.

20. Pirapaharan, K., H. Kunsei, K. S. Senthilkumar, P. R. P. Hoole, and S. R. H. Hoole, "A single beam smart antenna for wireless communication in highly reflective and narrow environment," International Symposium on Fundamentals of Engineering, 2017.

21. Pirapaharan, K., H. Kunsei, K. S. Senthilkumar, P. R. P. Hoole, and S. R. H. Hoole, "A robust, 3-element triangular, reflector-less, single beam adaptive array antenna for cognitive radio network: Inter-element distance dependent beam," Journal of Telecommunication, Electronic and Computer Engineering, Vol. 8, No. 12, 4, 2016.

22. Zhang, J., S. Zhang, X. Lin, Y. Fan, and G. F. Pedersen, "3D radiation pattern reconfigurable phased array for transmission angle sensing in 5G mobile communication," Sensor, Vol. 18, No. 4204, 2018.

23. You, X., C. Zhang, X. Tan, S. Jin, and H. Wu, "AI for 5G: Research directions and paradigms," SCIENCE CHINA Information Sciences, Vol. 62, 2018.

24. Senthilkumar, K. S., et al., "A review of a single neuron weight optimization model for adaptive beam forming," Journal of Telecommunication, Electronic and Computer Engineering (JTEC), Vol. 9, No. 3–10, 2017.

Mr. Herman Kunsei

Dr. Kandasamy Pirapaharan

Dr. Paul R. P. Hoole