Development of a 96-element mm-waves Antenna Array for mMIMO Applications

We report the development of a dual-polarized and dipole-based 96-element antenna array for massive multipleinput multiple-output (mMIMO) communication systems operating in millimeter waves (mm-waves). The proposed array is composed of ±45°polarized elements based on half-wavelength printed dipoles, which are properly connected to a waveguide for enabling boresight radiation. Moreover, such array elements are directly fed by a K-connector and shielded by metallic vias, aiming at low mutual coupling levels. Experimental results, in accordance to the ANSYS HFSS numerical simulations, demonstrate bandwidth from 24.9 to 27.8 GHz, gain of 9.7 dBi gain and 60° beamwidth in both planes at 26 GHz. Regarding the MIMO figures of merit, the envelope correlation coefficient (ECC) and mutual coupling among the array adjacent elements are kept lower than 0.002 and -20 dB, respectively.