Millimeter wave Frequency Reconfigurable Antenna
For 5G WLAN
1st Muhammad.Abbas
Student of Electrical Engineering Department
University of Engineering and Technology
Peshawar, Pakistan
3rd Sehar Bibi
Student of Electrical Engineering Department
University of Engineering and Technology
Peshawar, Pakistan
5th M.Suleman Khan
Lecturer Electrical Engineering Department
University of Engineering and Technology
Peshawar, Pakistan
suleman47@gmail.com
7th M.Kamran Shereen
Lab Engineer Electrical Engineering Department
University of Engineering and Technology
Peshawar, Pakistan
engrkamran@uetpeshawar.edu.pk
Abstract—This paper presents the comparative analysis of
most demanded future 5G millimeter wave reconfigurable wire-
less generation networks antenna. The four Models of antennas
presented are designed on 60GHz resonant frequency, standard-
ized unlicensed band for future 5G Wireless local area net-
work (WLAN) applications. The main Purpose of reconfigurable
antennas are to remunerate the operation challenges of multi
frequencies. The IEEE 802.11ad standard is used which is the
requirement of 5G to meet the simulation results of the antennas.
The variable resistors are used in the slotted microstrip patch
antenna to achieve the reconfigurable mechanism. Four models
are presented, analyzed, simulated and their results are compared
in this paper. The material of ground and patch used is the same
material copper while the material used in substrate is named as
Roger-RT5880 , relative permittivity 2.2(?r =2.2). The substrate
material used is the same in all four models with changed in
thickness of the substrate. The four models are simulated by using
a software known as CST (Computer Simulated Technology).
Index Terms—Millimeter-wave; Planar antenna; GCPW feed;
Reconfigurable; 5G Networks.
I. INTRODUCTION
The desire to design an antenna, which are used to re-
munerate the challenges of multi-frequencies, reconfigurable
978-1-5386-7536-6/18/$31.00 ©2018 IEEE
2nd Bushra Sikandri
Student of Electrical Engineering Department
University of Engineering and Technology
Peshawar, Pakistan
4th Muhammad Adil
Student of Electrical Engineering Department
University of Engineering and Technology
Peshawar, Pakistan
6th Waleed Shahjehan
Lab Engineer Electrical Engineering Department
University of Engineering and Technology
Peshawar, Pakistan
antennas, become a solution for such frequency challenges. In
recent years an interest is developed among research commu-
nity to bring improvement in the designs of antennas for future
5G antennas that operate on 5G frequency bands; 28GHz ,
38GHz and 60 GHz [1]. The complete focus of 4G and 5G is
the cellular networks combination such as Bluetooth, 3G and
GSM, WLAN [2]. In 2015, the broadband wireless frequencies
of future 5G according to FCC standards are freshen and
the old standards are changed which are FCC-15138 based,
and the ruled bands are 28GHz, 37GHz, 39GHz and 64-
71GHz bands. These bands extend the unlicensed 60GHz band
effectively, 802.11ad broadband, WiGig uses. The researcher
now working on the defined standards for the future 5G
applications [1].
The designing improvements in the microstrip patch antenna
is an evolutionary process from 1970’s [3].The demand of
wideband operation is increasing for the printed antennas ,
so researchers are working on to achieve those challenges, by
bringing improvements in the design through various methods
to achieve the desired results and goals. Various methods are
implemented for altering antennas dimensions, radiators shape
of an antenna is adjusted so that longer distances are covered
by current paths. On the other hand, another method is to
change the size of the antenna, become larger and this make
the antenna high profile antenna, this improvements of sizes
are happened by adding the additional layers or gaps in the
antenna structure.However other methods are shorting walls
[4], by introducing U-slot array [5], using stacked patch [6],
by introducing Y-V Slot [7], using folded shorting wall [8],
by introducing different Slots [9], using pair of slots on the
patch with total size of the antenna 150mmx150mmx14.3
[10], using on thick substrate E-shaped patch with ground
plane size of 140mmx210mmx15mm [11], by using circular
arch shaped slot on a thick substrate. The [4]- [12] designs
influence vast impedance bandwidths. However all the re-
maining antennas are larger in dimensions and are therefore
challenging to fit in small devices [13]. Antennas are the most
significant part of communication devices. In communication
systems and radar the antenna plays a vital role. Similarly
different antennas practically used have been implemented for
the past few decades. The limitation arrives because of the
characteristics of antennas which are fixed. The fixed char-
acteristics antennas are loop, slot/horn, dipoles/monopoles,
reflector, helical and microstrip antennas etc. The solution to
reduce these limitation is compensated by the reconfigurable
antennas whose purpose is to meet the future 5G demands, by
making antenna reconfigurable, the antenna performance can
be adjusted according to the desire when needed and remove
the limitation of fixed characteristics antennas [14]. In recent
years the reconfigurable antennas demand is because of its
versatile designing as compared to the simple patch antenna
operated with fixed characteristics [15]. Advanced wireless
communication systems such as wireless local area network
(WLAN) and personal communication service (PCS), the key
role is played by the reconfigurable antennas in it. Advance
technology demanded devices which contains antenna that can
be configured dynamically so that their resonating frequency ,
parameters, or radiation patterns reconfigure according to the
need when desired [15].
This paper presents the comparative analysis of four future 5G
technology based reconfigurable antennas. The design of the
antennas is very simple composed of ground, substrate, patch
with different vertical or horizontal slots, variable resistors,
with two feeding techniques, one is grounded coplanar wave
guide technique known as GCPW technique and the other is
simple coplanar wave guide technique, three antenna models
are designed on GCPW technique and one antenna model is
designed on simple CPW technique. The advantage of slotted
ground plane is high bandwidth achievements and ease of
fabrication. The simulation of the four model is done and
results are obtained in the form of different parameters in-
cluding VSWR, Bandwidth, return loss, Directivity and Gain.
The simulation is done through CST (Computer Simulated
Technology) for the four antenna models. Designed antennas
on 60 GHz frequency Results are concise, and according to
future 5G Wi-Fi application.
II. INVESTIGATION AND DESIGN
This paper presents a comparative analysis of different
reconfigurable antenna designs for 5G each operating at
60GHz resonating frequency. The proposed antenna designs
have different dimensions of ground planes and radiating
patches. The substrate used is named as Roger-RT5850
with a relative permittivity of 2.2 and loss tangent equal
to 0.0009 with different thicknesses. The antennas are fed
by two different feeding techniques, Microstrip line feeding
technique and Ground Coplanar waveguide (GCPW) feeding
technique.
A. Model 1
Model 1 reconfigurable antenna with slotted patch is shown
in fig1.1. The feeding technique used to feed the model 1
antenna is the GCPW technique with input impedance of
75Ω. The antenna dimensions are 5.5x5x0.562mm3. The main
radiating element is square shaped patch having small slots and
dimensions of 3.6x3.6mm2. The substrate used is named as
Roger RT Duroid 5880 with relative permittivity of 2.2 and
thickness of the substrate is 0.562mm. The radiating patch is
fed using CPW feed with length 2.05mm and thickness 0.4.
Reconfigured frequency is achieved by using four resistors,
two connected between cpw and patch and other two in the
slots in the patch.The geometry of the slotted reconfigurable
antenna of model 2 is shown in II-A
Fig. 1. Front View of Model 1
B. Model 2
Here we have designed a ground coplanar waveguide
(GCPW) fed reconfigurable millimeter wave antenna for 5G.
Reconfigured frequency is achieved by using two resistors
connected between ground and patch. The antenna has simple
structure with ground plane of 5.5mmx5.5 mm dimension and
height of 0.1mm. The substrate is named as Roger RT Duroid
with relative permittivity of 2.2 and thickness of 0.562mm..
The main radiating element is a square shaped patch having
the dimensions of 3.6mmx3.6mm having a small slot. The
input impedance of antenna is 75?. The radiating patch is fed is fed using CPW feed with length 1.1mm and thickness
using CPW feed with length 2.15mm and thickness 0.45. The 0.4. Reconfigured frequency is achieved using two resistors
geometry of the slotted reconfigurable antenna of model 2 is connected between CPW and patch II-D.
shown in II-B

Fig. 4. Front View of Model 4

Fig. 2. Front View of Model 2

C. Model 3
This model shows a slotted reconfigurable patch antenna
fed by Microstrip line feeding technique. Antenna has the
dimensions of 5x5x1.571mm3. The main radiating element
is rectangular shaped patch having slot and dimensions of
3.2x3.6mm2. The substrate used in model 3 is named as
Rogers RT Duroid 5880 with relative permittivity of 2.2 with
the area of 5mmx5mm and thickness of 1.571mm. Resistor is
used to reconfigure the resonating frequency of antenna. The
radiating patch is fed using Microstrip line feed with length
1.6mm and width 0.9. Fig.1.3 shows the geometry of slotted
Fig. 5. Dimensions of the Model
antenna II-C.

Fig. 6. Dimensions of the Model

Fig. 3. Front View of Model 3 III. RESULT AND ANALYSIS

D. Model 4
Model 4 reconfigurable slotted patch antenna is shown
in Fig.1.4. The feeding technique used to fed the antenna
is the GCPW technique. The dimensions of antenna are
5x5x1.3mm3. The main radiating element is rectangular
shaped patch having a slot and dimensions of 3.2x3mm2. The
substrate used in model 4 is named as Rogers RT Duroid
5880 with relative permittivity of 2.2 (?r = 2.2) with the area
of 5mmx5mm and thickness of 1.3mm. The radiating patch
Different components are used in the microstrip patch
antenna to achieve the reconfigurable mechanism, the compo-
nent used to achieve reconfigurable mechanism in this paper
antenna models are the variable resistors. The function of
these variable resistors are by changing its value, different
resonating frequencies are obtained dynamically according to
the desire. Changing in the resistor values leads to a particular
configuration of changing voltage and current distribution .By
changing the value of resistors over the range of (58-60) GHz
frequency reconfiguration is achieved and 3dB bandwidth is
conserved in the range of this particular operation. Simulation B. VSWR
of the proposed antennas are carried out in the CST (Computer
Simulated Technology) software. For one model of the four models the VSWR at the resis-
tance values of resistors R1=R2=R3=R4=100 and resonating
frequency of 60GHz , the observed value is 1.017dB, when
A. Return Loss
the value of resistor is increased from 100Ω to 110Ω then it
The graph below in fig show the change in resonant fre- results in the increase of the VSWR value which is observed
quency by changing the value of resistors certain ohm above as 1.019dB. Below 100Ω is the 90Ω, which is 10Ω below
and certain ohm below from the designed value. The changes a decrease in VSWR value, is observed which 1.012dB is.
noticed due to change in resistance of the resistors be like, the The individual value of VSWR are mentioned in a single plot
resonating frequency is observed higher when resistance value which is shown in the III-B.
of resistors are changed from 100Ω − 10kΩ, but after 5k? no
appreciable change is observed in the graph of return loss. At
the resonating frequency of 60GHz the return loss values for
the resistance of resistors R1 = R2 = R3 = R4 = 100Ω,
for one model are given in the figure below. The value of
return loss, which is observed as -41.37dB, when the value
of resistor is changed, then increase in return loss is observed
which is -40.118dB for the value of 110? resistor. Similarly
at 90Ω , which is 10Ω below from the designed value the
observed return loss is -43.859dB, all the values , the original
of resistor , the value of resistor 10Ω below and 10Ω above
are mention in the single plot mentioned below in the Fig-2.
However, the resonating frequencies of all the four model are
mentioned in a single plot mentioned in the III-AIII-A.
The VSWR of all the four comparative model is shown in
III-B.

Fig. 8. VSWR of all the models

C. Radiation Characteristics

Fig. 7. Return loss of all the models
The far field plot for gain of the one model among the four
models is shown in fig-5 . The gain is 5.65dB observed at
100? resistance, so by increasing the resistance of a resistor
from 100Ω to 110Ω the decrease in gain is observed 5.64dB
while decreasing the value of resistance 10? below from the
pre-defined designed value of 100? which is 90? the gain is
increases which is 5.66dB at 90Ω resistance of a resistor as
shown in the III-C.
 Fig. 9. GAIN of model 1.
The comparative graph of far field gain for all the four
models is shown in III-C
Fig. 10. Gain of all the models
The directivity polar plot for one of the model is shown
in figure-2.6. The directivity of the proposed antennas are
checked on 100Ω, 90Ω, 110Ω. Increasing the resistance of the
resistor causes decrease in directivity of the antenna and vice
versa. The value of directivity observed at 100Ω resistance is
9.73dB while at the value of resistance of 130Ω the directivity
observed is reduced to 9.72dB. The overall directivity polar
plots for four models at resonating frequency are shown in
III-CIII-C.
Fig. 11. Directivity of model 1.
Fig. 12. Farfield Directivity of all the models
D. Comparison of All Parameters
The comparative analysis of four reconfigurable antenna
models are given below. The comparison is based upon the
antenna parameters which are return loss, gain, directivity,
VSWR and resonant frequency. The parameters behavior are
checked on by changing the value of resistance of resistors
from original value of resistance 10Ω above and 10Ω be-
low. All the four models are designed on 60GHz resonant
frequency. The overall results of the parameters 10? above
and 10? below are mentioned in the table given below. From
the analysis it is observed that one model have better per-
formance in some parameters and another model have better
performance in some other parameters. The analysis shows
that the model 1 have good return loss with high directivity
value and VSWR is low, this shows the model 1 to be used as a
high directional antenna compare to the other models because
it can focus more power in a specified direction then the rest
of the three models. Similarly due to reduced value of VSWR
impedance matching of this antenna is good and delivered
maximum power in free space with very small reflected power
due to mismatch but due to small value of gain and bandwidth
is narrow the model 1 cannot be used speedy transmission of
radio waves in free space, so low data rate. Model 3 due to
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Fig. 13. PARAMETRIC COMPARISON AT DIFFERENT RESISTIVE

VALUES

IV. CONCLUSION
A GCPW fed millimeter-wave frequency reconfigurable
antennas are presented. Through variable resisters shifting
in resonance frequency in 58-62GHz band is achieved. The
proposed antennas have compact structure and are easy to
fabricate along with stable 3dB beamwidth for different con-
figuration. The effects of slot position, slot length and feeding
position have been investigated and analyzed on the return
loss, bandwidth, and frequency ratio for each model. The
simulated and the measured results are acceptable in terms of
the gain, return loss, bandwidth and required frequency ratio.

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