5G mmWave Antenna | Qualcomm mmWave antenna for 5G mobile phone

This application note covers 5G mmwave antenna basics. It mentions mmwave antenna requirements and features of Qualcomm QTM052 mmWave antenna used for 5G mobile phones or smartphones.

Introduction:
The millimeter wave band uses frequencies from 30 GHz to 300 GHz in EM spectrum. 5G uses upto 100 GHz i.e. 5G millimeter wave frequency bands lies from 30 GHz to 100 GHz. There are two frequency bands FR1 and FR2 in 5G NR (New radio). FR1 supports frequencies from 450 to 6000 MHz where as FR2 supports frequencies from 24250 to 52600 MHz.

We already know about MIMO which refers to multiple input multiple output. This is used for less number of transmit and receive antennas. Massive MIMO (M-MIMO) is the new concept used for large number of antenna arrays mainly 8x8, 16x16 etc. In Massive MIMO , large number of antennas (usually 32 to 64) are used at base station simultaneously to serve tens of users or mobile subscribers (MSs) in the same time-frequency grid. M-MIMO has many benefits over traditional MIMO system.

mmwave antenna requirements

The figure-1 depicts massive MIMO antenna configurations. Following are the major driving factors for such antennas to be widely used in latest wireless technologies.
• Explosive data demand with limited spectrum
• More spectrum is available above 15 GHz in millimeter wave bands
• It is easy to scale up use of active antenna elements in available larger size antenna array.

Massive MIMO Antenna Array Configurations

Roger corporation offers high frequency PCB substrates in mmwave frequencies. For 24 GHz range, it offers woven glass reinforced, ceramic filled, thermoset resin etc. which are low loss, easily processed and compatible with hybrid multilayers. For 77 GHz range, it offers non-reinforced, ceramic filled, PTFE resin etc. which are low loss, isotropic and provides best electrical performance. The company also offers PTFE as well as thermoset resin based antenna materials in various dielectric constants. PTFE offers low loss where as thermoset resin offers rigid flat laminate and it is easy for fabrication.
Visit Rogers Corporation >> for more information.

Qualcomm™ QTM052 mmWave antenna

The figure-2 depicts QTM052 mmWave antenna from Qualcomm. This mmwave antenna module can be easily interfaced with Snapdragon X50 5G modem from Qualcomm. It supports mmwave frequency bands viz. 26.5-29.5 GHz (n257), 27.5-28.35 GHz (n261) and 37-40 GHz (n260) with 800 MHz operating bandwidth. This bands are mainly used in US.

➤Advantages of this mmwave antenna modules are their smaller size similar to fingernail and fiber optic like fast speeds. It helps in achieving advanced beam forming, beem steering and beam tracking. This features help in improving coverage range and reliability of millimeter wave signals.

➤The disadvantages are shorter range and blockage due to walls and user hand. It doesn't support n258 (24.25 to 27.5GHz) band.