Subarray antenna fed by analog beamforming network for 5G picocell applications

In this paper a subarray fed by an analog beamforming network for 5G picocell applications is proposed. Design requirements are presented taking into account frequency band operation, bandwidth, radiation pattern shape and both, antenna element and transmission line technologies. The synthesis and implementation of the analog beamforming network are described, and the final subarray architecture is provided. The proposed antenna, verified by simulation, operates at 26 GHz with a bandwidth larger than 25%. The subarray gain is higher than 16 dB with cross-polarization better than -28 dB. Its radiation pattern in elevation fulfills the desired csc(2) shape with side lobe level below -15 dB. The performance of the proposed antenna meets the requirements of the defined application.