Investigation of MIMO Patch Antenna Arrays with Decoupled Array Elements and Preserved Broadside Radiation Patterns

The advent of the Internet of Things (IoT) and the proliferation of mobile devices have precipitated an unprecedented surge in the data capacity demands on wireless communication systems. To address this, Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) antenna systems have been widely implemented, enhancing the signal-to-noise ratio of the channel and, consequently, the channel capacity. This technology is pivotal not only in current 5G but also in the anticipated 6G wireless networks.A paramount challenge in MIMO antenna design lies in mitigating the mutual coupling between antenna elements, a phenomenon that often leads to suboptimal system performance. Existing decoupling techniques, while effective to a degree, typically result in a distortion of the radiation pattern. This distortion, in turn, affects the performance of the MIMO system, leading to a diminished channel capacity. This project aims to pioneer innovative port-decoupling methodologies that not only address mutual coupling but also preserve the broadside radiation pattern of the patch antenna elements. Termed “Preserved Broadside Radiation Pattern” (PBRP), this technique is applicable to a general two-dimensional (m×n) patch antenna array. In its implementation, a layer of non-active (dummy) patch elements will be incorporated to envelop the outermost array elements, equilibrating radiation characteristics across all active array elements. The patch shape and array parameters will undergo optimization to achieve optimal performance.The inclusion of dummy elements inherently enlarges the footprint of the MIMO antenna. To avoid this problem, a second PBRP patch array is proposed. This method employs shorting walls to suppress element couplings, ensuring minimal interference between adjacent antenna elements.Finally, the project will investigate a third PBRP array, utilizing a shared-element strategy. This approach strategically reuses certain antenna elements for different subarrays, resulting in a highly compact MIMO antenna array.Guidelines will be provided to facilitate designs of the proposed arrays.