MIMO Antenna Serves PDAs To 11.2 GHz

Oct. 14, 2010

To provide large channel capacity and high spectral efficiency in mobile communications systems, multiple antennas can be used within a small device. In a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system, however, it is difficult to reduce the mutual coupling between antenna elements. At Seoul's Hanyang University, Jaewon Lee, Seokjin Hong, and Jaehoon Choi have proposed a solution to this problem with a low-profile, ultra-wideband (UWB) MIMO antenna for a personal digital assistant (PDA).

To improve the impedance bandwidth, a 2-x-1- mm connecting strip is used on every antenna element. The isolation characteristic between those elements is improved by inserting two T-shaped stubs. From 2.2 to 11 GHz, the antenna offers a 9-GHz bandwidth with return loss of 10 dB or more and isolation of 20 dB or less. It provides an envelope correlation coefficient below 0.12. See "Design of an Ultra-Wideband MIMO Antenna for PDA Applications," Microwave And Optical Technology Letters, October 2010, p. 2165.

About the Author

Nancy Friedrich

RF Product Marketing Manager for Aerospace Defense, Keysight Technologies

Nancy Friedrich is RF Product Marketing Manager for Aerospace Defense at Keysight Technologies. Nancy Friedrich started a career in engineering media about two decades ago with a stint editing copy and writing news for Electronic Design. A few years later, she began writing full time as technology editor at Wireless Systems Design. In 2005, Nancy was named editor-in-chief of Microwaves & RF, a position she held (along with other positions as group content head) until 2018. Nancy then moved to a position at UBM, where she was editor-in-chief of Design News and content director for tradeshows including DesignCon, ESC, and the Smart Manufacturing shows.