A Compact Self-Multiplexing IoT Antenna for sub-6 GHz 5G-NR Services

In the realm of fifth-generation (5G) technology, the intelligent deployment of FR1 sub-6 GHz frequency bands provide a significant role in Internet of Things (IoT) based services for smart homes, smart hospitals, smart airports, smart supermarkets, etc. These IoT based services operate in different frequency bands of sub-6 GHz spectrum. For the simultaneous transmission and reception of these signals, self-multiplexing (SM) antennas are one of the best possible solutions. The SM antennas are multiport antennas which operates at several distinct frequencies with high port-to-port isolation. In this paper, a compact self-multiplexing (SM) antenna for eight distinct IoT based 5G-NR services is presented. The presented SM antenna consists of four quarter-mode substrate-integrated-waveguide (QMSIW) cavities, which are inset fed through four pair of microstrip feedlines to obtain eight distinct frequency bands of 5G-NR services. The design of the proposed antenna is quite flexible in terms of providing independent tunability to each of the operating frequency bands by varying one of the design parameters. The proposed SM antenna radiates at 3.5 GHz (n78), 3.7 GHz (n77), 4.9 GHz (n79), 5.2 GHz (n46), 5.9 GHz (n47), 6.0 GHz (n96), 6.2 GHz (n102) and 6.7 GHz (n104). High inter-port isolation (>30 dB) guarantees the good SM characteristics.