An 8-Element 5G Multistandard 28-/39-GHz Dual-Band, Dual-Polarized Phased Array for Compact Systems

This article presents an eight-element, 28-/39-GHz dual-band, dual-polarized phased array for user equipment, such as computers, cell phones, or other small base stations. The array is based on a dual-band stacked-patch antenna, which can operate simultaneously at 28 and 39 GHz in both polarizations, meeting the fifth-generation (5G) $2 \times 2$ polarization multiple-input–multiple-output (MIMO) standard at both frequencies. The array is fabricated on a low-cost printed-circuit board and has a measured effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP) of 27–30 dBm at P1dB with a 3-dB bandwidth of 26.5–29 and 36–40 GHz. The array scans to ±40° at 28 GHz and ±30°–40° at 39 GHz in the azimuth plane. In simultaneous dual-beam operation at the same band, complex modulation measurement with 64 quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) 400-Mbaud waveforms shows an error vector magnitude (EVM) of < 5% up to an EIRP of 20 dBm for the V- and H-polarized beams. The array needs to be calibrated at 28- and 39-GHz band separately so is currently incapable of interband carrier aggregation (CA). To the best of authors’ knowledge, this is the first demonstration of a 5G frequency range 2 (FR2) dual-band, dual-polarized active phased array.