Unified Design: Sub-6 GHz Conformal Patch Antennas Integrated With Millimeter-Wave Reflector for Fixed Wireless Access Terminals

The integration of sub-6 conformal patch antennas with an mm-wave reflector is proposed in this communication as a compact multiband antenna solution. Using the concept of shared-aperture antenna, patch antennas are placed on the surface of a reflector to obtain a dual-frequency band antenna without increasing the total volume of the system. The key aspect of the design is the use of a substrate thickness for the patches that is an integer multiple of $0.5\lambda _{0}$ at the reflector operating frequency, to obtain in-phase reflections and minimize disturbance to reflector operation. As a proof of concept, a 28-GHz off-axis reflector antenna with a sub-6 dual-band U-shaped conformal patch antenna has been designed, simulated, manufactured, and measured.

I. Introduction

In the current era of communication systems, the demand for high-bandwidth connections has driven the design focus toward operating at millimeter band frequencies [1]. The mm-waves have emerged as a prominent choice for these systems due to their ability to support high data rates and enable dense network deployments [2]. However, it is important to note that this shift toward mm-waves does not imply the exclusive utilization of these frequencies. The microwave frequency sector, particularly those below 6 GHz, continues to be relevant and widely utilized for various applications, such as cellular networks [3], [4].