IEEE ANTENNAS AND WIRELESS PROPAGATION LETTERS, VOL. 21, NO.

1, JANUARY 2022 29

A Design of Millimeter-Wave Dual-Polarized SIW

Phased Array Antenna Using Characteristic
Mode Analysis
Wendong Liu and Sen Yan , Member, IEEE

Abstract—A millimeter-wave dual-polarized beam-scanning magneto mode and electric mode of the magneto-
substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) phased array is proposed electric (ME) dipoles [1]–[5], cross-shaped slots [8],
for the 5G communications. The principle of the proposed an- resonated patch and a parasitic structure [9], [24], different
tenna radiating element is first analyzed with the characteristic substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) cavity modes [6], [7],
mode analysis to obtain a wide operating bandwidth. Then, the [17], [25], etc. To the feeding networks, multilayer substrate
horizontally and vertically polarized radiations are excited by a
differentially fed SIW cavity and a linearly tapered microstrip
and differential feeding network are the common choices
line through the coupled slots, respectively. To further validate the to increase the isolation between the dual-polarizations,
proposed design, a 1 × 4 phased array is fabricated and tested. including the form of probe feedings [1], [2], and the coupled
The experiment results show that the 11.0% overlapped dual- slots [3]–[5].
polarization bandwidth is from 25.8 to 28.8 GHz with the return loss However, the wide beam-scanning range of antenna arrays
larger than 10 dB, and the isolation between the dual-polarization is normally demands an elemental distance of around 0.5 λ0 ,
higher than 31.5 dB. The measured far-field patterns demonstrate which makes it hard to realize with the aforementioned antenna
that the beam-scanning ranges can cover ±44◦ and ±41◦ at designs. In [2], the ME-dipole elements are positioned with the
28 GHz for the horizontal and vertical polarization, respectively. distance of 0.8 λ0 in the array, which will result in a limited
Index Terms—5G, beam scanning, characteristic mode analysis beam-scanning angle. Some mm-Wave dual-polarized beam-
(CMA), dual-polarized, substrate integrated waveguide (SIW). scanning antenna arrays are proposed in [9] and [10], but the
miniaturization and wide bandwidths of the radiators rely on
the high-cost stack-up patch antennas with 12 layers [9]. In
I. INTRODUCTION [16], the elemental distance of the patch antenna is 0.42 λ0 ,
but the impedance bandwidth is only 5.4%. Moreover, SIW
UAL-POLARIZED wideband antenna arrays in the 5G
D millimeter-wave (mm-Wave) frequency band have been
widely reported since they offer several advantages, e.g., the
structure is a popular technology in the design of arrays to
provide high isolation between different radiated elements.
Compared with using the SIW cavity to enclose the radiating
larger data speed and capacity, higher gain to compensate the
patches [24], using the SIW cavity itself as the radiator can
transmission loss, and smaller multipath interference [1]–[8].
further benefit miniaturization. In our previous SIW antenna
Meanwhile, as the phased antenna array technology has been
array design [26], the separation between SIW elements is
widely used in recent decades [9]–[17], the aforementioned
0.62 λ0 , which is still large for the beam-scanning array. There-
mm-Wave arrays could achieve more flexible and accurate
fore, realizing the wide bandwidth on a small SIW cavity is
beam scanning performance, and a smaller size compared with
of great significance for beam-scanning characteristics, and
traditional multibeam networks using the Rotman lens [18],
characteristic mode analysis (CMA) is a suitable tool to an-
Luneburg lens [19], [20], reflectarray [21], and Butler matrix
alyze the desired modes and patterns in the aimed frequency
[22]–[23]. Generally, miniaturization of radiation elements,
band [27].
reduction of array coupling, and improvement of isolation be-
In this letter, a dual-polarized beam-scanning SIW antenna
tween the dual-polarization are crucial issues to enhance the
array is proposed for 5G applications. The design approaches
maximum beam scanning angle and the quality of communica-
of the SIW cavity-backed slot antenna element are based on the
tion systems.
CMA. Then the dual-polarized antenna array feeding networks
Dual-polarized antennas are mostly achieved by the
are realized by the SIW cavity and the coupling slots. The
centrosymmetric radiators. The wide bandwidths of
antenna array performances, including the reflection coefficient,
the radiators have been realized through combining
the coupling between array elements, the isolation between the
different resonators or different resonant modes, e.g.,
dual-polarization, and the far field patterns at different beam-
scanning angles are simulated and measured, which demon-
Manuscript received September 4, 2021; accepted September 26, 2021. Date strates the proposed array could be a promising candidate in
of publication September 29, 2021; date of current version January 12, 2022. the 5G communications.
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation, China,
under Grant 61901351. (Corresponding author: Sen Yan.)
The authors are with the School of Information and Communications II. ANTENNA DESIGN
Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China (e-mail:
[email protected]; [email protected]). The geometry of the proposed dual-polarized antenna element
Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/LAWP.2021.3116260 with the feeding network is shown in Fig. 1. The Rogers 4350B

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30 IEEE ANTENNAS AND WIRELESS PROPAGATION LETTERS, VOL. 21, NO. 1, JANUARY 2022

Fig. 3. Evolution process of the proposed antenna element radiating slot

models. (a) Model a; (b) Model b; and (c) Model c.

Fig. 1. (a) Exploded view of the proposed antenna element. (b) Dimensions
in millimeter of the radiating slot on M1 layer. (c) Coupling slots on M2
layer. (d) Coupling slots on M3 layer. (e) Feeding microstrip line on M4 layer.
(Dimensions: a = 1.08 mm, b = 0.26 mm, c = 2.29 mm, d = 0.54 mm, e =
0.62 mm, w = 0.15 mm, g = 0.49 mm, k = 3.83 mm, and f = 1.23 mm).

Fig. 4. Current distributions of the Models a, b, and c in Fig. 3.

The evolution process of the radiating element is shown in

Fig. 3, and the CMA of the Models a–c are calculated with the
multilayer solver in CST, where the coupling slots 1 and 2 on
the M2 layer are also included in the CMA to make the mode
Fig. 2. (a) Configuration. (b) Prototype of the proposed antenna array. analysis more realizable compared to the antenna performance
(Dimensions: d1 = 5.8 mm, d2 = 5 mm).
with the actual feeding network.
Four symmetrical annular ring slots are first etched on the top
surface of the cavity to radiate and tune the resonant frequency
board with permittivity 3.48, loss tangent 0.004, and thickness of the SIW cavity as shown in Fig. 3(a), and the surface current
of 0.762 mm is used as the substrate of the resonant cavity. Two distributions of the first 6 modes are shown in Fig. 4. For
layers of Rogers 4350B boards with a thickness of 0.254 mm simplicity, we will omit the Modes 3 and 6 in the following
are used as the dual-polarized feeding network. The horizontal analysis due to the symmetry of the structure. Modes 1 and 4
polarization (HP) of the antenna is realized by the differentially are the undesired modes, since the current distributions along
fed SIW cavity 2 and the slot 1 on the M2 layer, while the two edges of the cavity are out-phase, which will result in a null
vertical polarization (VP) is excited by the microstrip line on radiation point in front of the antenna, while Mode 2 and 5 are
the M4 layer, and the energy is coupled through the slot 3 on hard to excite since the strong surface current distributes along
the M3 layer and the slot 2 on the M2 layer. Then, the 1 × the diagonal line of the surface, which needs to be decreased.
4 antenna array is shown in Fig. 2, where the elements are Therefore, two diagonal slots are loaded perpendicularly on the
separated with a distance of d1 = 5.8 mm (0.52 λ0 , where top surface as shown in Fig. 3(b), and then the in-phase current
λ0 is the free space wavelength at 27 GHz). Different layers will mostly concentrate on the edge of the SIW cavity as shown in
are held together by 4 screws at the edge of the substrates, Fig. 4. Meanwhile, the resonant frequency of mode 5 decreases
and 0.3 mm over etching are applied to the slots fabrication since the current path along the annular slots is longer, which
in order to prevent misalignment between layers which may could also be excited in our aimed frequency band. To improve
result in blocking of the coupling slots, and the distance between the impedance matching result, an annular slot is etched on the
the feeding ports using the mini sub miniature push-On (SMP) center of the top surface as shown in Fig. 3(c). We can see
connectors as shown in Fig. 2(b) is set as d2 = 5 mm to adapt to from Fig. 5 that after etching the central annular slot, the modal
the configuration of the beamforming box (BBox) [28], which significances (MSs) of Mode 2 and 5 increase in the 24–31 GHz
can provide continuous amplitude and phase control for different frequency band, which provides a potential wide bandwidth for
feeding ports independently. the SIW cavity radiator [27].

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LIU AND YAN: DESIGN OF MILLIMETER-WAVE DUAL-POLARIZED SIW PHASED ARRAY ANTENNA USING CHARACTERISTIC MODE ANALYSIS 31

Fig. 5. MSs of the Models a, b, and c in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6. z-component of electric field (Ez ) distribution of (a) TE210 mode

and (b) TE120 mode at 27 GHz in the feeding SIW cavity 2.

Next, the dual-polarized feeding network is realized by the

orthogonal TE210 mode and the TE120 mode of the SIW cavity 2.
For the HP feedings shown in Fig. 1(d), the SIW cavity to mi- Fig. 7. Simulated and measured S-parameter of the (a) HP ports and (b) VP
crostrip transition is inspired by the feeding structure in [7], here ports of the antenna array.
we use the differential feedings to further expand the bandwidth
and increase the isolation between the dual-polarization, and
the bow-tie shaped slots etched on the feeding SIW cavity are are connected to the phase shift ports on the BBox. Due to the
designed for the better impedance matching. As for the VP limitation of the measurement system, the range out of −90◦ <
feedings, the linearly tapered microstrip line on the M4 layer θ < 90◦ in the radiation patterns could not be measured. With
is used to excite the wideband through the coupling slots on the different phase shifts, the beam will scan in the xoz plane
M2 and M3 layers. The electric field distribution of the TE210 where the 1 × 4 array is positioned. For the nonscanning
mode and the TE120 mode in the feeding SIW cavity 2 are shown radiation patterns in the yoz plane, the measured results at two
in Fig. 6 when the HP ports 1–4 and VP ports 5–8 are excited in typical frequencies 26 and 28 GHz are shown in the Fig. 8,
phase, respectively. and the realized gains at 26 GHz are 9.5 dBi in measurement
and 10.5 dBi in simulation for HP ports. As for VP ports,
the realized gains at 26 GHz are 8.3 dBi in measurement and
III. ANTENNA ARRAY PERFORMANCE 8.5 dBi in simulation, and these patterns will not change much
The S-parameter of the proposed prototype is measured with when the beams are scanning in the xoz plane. The measured
the AV3672E vector network analyzer. It can be seen from Fig. 7 scanning beam patterns in the xoz plane at 26 and 28 GHz are
that the bandwidth with the return loss larger than 10 dB is from shown in Fig. 9. The discrepancy between the simulations and
25.8 to 29.7 GHz in measurement and from 25.6 to 31.6 GHz measurements especially at the scanning angle mainly results
in simulation for the HP ports, and the bandwidth is from from the metal edges on the BBox. In simulation, the phase
24.8 to 28.8 GHz in measurement and from 24.3 to 29.4 GHz in differences are set as 0◦ , 120◦ , 150◦ to realize the scanning
simulation for the VP ports, which demonstrates the measured beam angles of θ = 0◦ , 30◦ , and 45◦ , respectively. The phase
11.0% overlapped dual-polarization bandwidth from 25.8 to differences are adjusted slightly in measurement considering
28.8 GHz. The differences between simulations and measure- the tiny phase shift discrepancy of the BBox performance. At
ments probably result from the fabrication discrepancy and the 28 GHz, the measured beams scan from −44◦ to 44◦ for the
air gap between different layers. The measured isolation between HP ports, and the simulated beams scan from −45◦ to 45◦ . The
adjacent ports is higher than 15.5 dB for both polarizations and realized gain at θ = 0◦ is 10.2 dBi in measurement and 10.6 dBi
the larger isolation between the nonadjacent ports is omitted in in simulation. For the extremely scanning angle at θ = 44◦ ,
Fig. 7. The isolation between dual-polarization is more than the measured realized gain is 7.0 dBi, which is 3.2 dB lower
31.5 dB in measurement and 29.4 dB in simulation. than the maximum gain at 0◦ , and the sidelobe level –8.3 dB
The far-field patterns are measured in an anechoic room at occurs at θ = −41◦ . For the VP ports at 28 GHz, the measured
Xi’an Jiaotong University where the four ports of the HP/VP beams scan from −41◦ to 41◦ , and the simulated ones scan from

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32 IEEE ANTENNAS AND WIRELESS PROPAGATION LETTERS, VOL. 21, NO. 1, JANUARY 2022

Fig. 8. Simulated and measured far-field patterns of the antenna array in the
yoz plane. (a) HP at 26 GHz. (b) VP at 26 GHz. (c) HP at 28 GHz. (d) VP at 28
GHz.

TABLE I
COMPARISONS OF THE PROPOSED DUAL-POLARIZED ANTENNA ARRAYS

−43◦ to 43◦ . The realized gain at θ = 0◦ is 8.4 dBi in mea-

surement and 8.6 dBi in simulation. For the maximum scanning
angle at θ = 41◦ , the measured realized gain is 5.9 dBi, which
is within the 3 dB range of the maximum gain at θ = 0◦ , and
the sidelobe level –6.3 dB appears at θ = −76◦ . If necessary, Fig. 9. Simulated and measured scanning far-field patterns of the antenna in
the sidelobe levels could be controlled by different amplitudes the xoz plane. (a)–(f) for the horizontal polarization, and (g)–(m) for the vertical
polarization.
of the feeding ports. The cross polarization at the maximum
scanning angle is 10 dB smaller than the copolarization for both
polarizations. IV. CONCLUSION
Table I gives the comparisons between the proposed dual-
polarized antenna array and other works. The wideband antenna A 1 × 4 dual-polarized beam-scanning SIW antenna array
array in [8] is fed by the power divider, which could not generate is presented and investigated for 5G communications, and the
a flexible scanning beam. The scanning antenna array in [16] results of the simulation and measurement agree reasonably
has a narrow bandwidth due to the patch antenna designs. well. By loading the radiating slots on the SIW cavity and
Furthermore, benefiting from the large isolation between the the coupling slots in the feeding network, the antenna array
miniaturized SIW cavity elements, our design provides a smaller exhibits 11.0% impedance bandwidth, 31.5 dB port isolation,
elemental distance and a larger scanning angle compared with 10.2 dBi gain, and up to 44◦ scanning angle. The overall size
the slot antenna array in [17]. Although the beam scanning range of the antenna array is 23.4 mm × 20 mm × 1.27 mm. The
of the proposed antenna is relatively smaller than the designs in compact structure, wide bandwidth, good isolation between the
[9], our antenna has the advantages of low cost instead of the dual-polarization, and beam-scanning ability make the design
12-layer structure [9]. an attractive candidate for 5G applications.

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LIU AND YAN: DESIGN OF MILLIMETER-WAVE DUAL-POLARIZED SIW PHASED ARRAY ANTENNA USING CHARACTERISTIC MODE ANALYSIS 33

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