This article has been accepted for publication in a future issue of this journal, but has not been

fully edited. Content may change prior to final publication. Citation information: DOI 10.1109/LAWP.2017.2781262, IEEE
Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters

28 GHz Switched-Beam Antenna Based on S-PIN

Diodes for 5G Mobile Communications
Yevhen Yashchyshyn, Senior Member, IEEE, Krzysztof Derzakowski, Member, IEEE, Grzegorz
Bogdan, Student Member, IEEE, Konrad Godziszewski, Member, IEEE, Denys Nyzovets, Student
Member, IEEE, Cheol Ho Kim, and Bonghyuk Park

Abstract— This paper presents a 28 GHz switched five-beam roll out of 5G services in real environment at the 2018
antenna system based on a rectangular waveguide and a PyeongChang winter Olympic Games, which may push
reconfigurable semiconductor circuit (RSC) with slots. Surface 28 GHz into consumer products before the standardization
PIN (S-PIN) diodes are used to close or open slots in order to bodies finalize 5G standards [3].
achieve required configuration of an aperture. The RSC with a
modified WR28 waveguide compose a reconfigurable radiating The mm-wave band provides large bandwidth, however,
structure (RRS) which provides three beams directed towards 0º, until recently, it had been considered unsuitable for mobile
30º, and 45º. Beam switching is achieved by reconfigurable communications because of unfavorable propagation
arrangement of set of slots. Complementary RRSs connected to conditions. Due to the high carrier frequency, mm-wave
electromechanical RF switch is used to generate remaining −30º communications undergo high propagation loss, therefore
and −45º beams. The gain of each generated beam is similar beamforming is considered as an important antenna technique
because different number of slots is opened i.e., three, five, and
nine slots for beams directed towards 0º, 30º, and 45º, improving antenna’s gain and a radio-link budget. Typically,
respectively. Aperture of the antenna is controlled by a unit beamforming is achieved by a set of antenna weights
composed of high-current operational amplifiers. Measured (amplitude and/or phase) applied to individual elements [4] in
results validate the performance of designed millimeter-wave digital domain, analog domain, or both (a hybrid approach).
reconfigurable antenna. Two most popular applications of beamforming are the digital
beamforming and the analog phased array. Full scale
Index Terms—adaptive arrays, antenna arrays, beam
implementation of digital systems is impossible due to the
switching, millimeter wave technology, surface P-i-n diodes, slot
antennas constraints of cost, power consumption and signal processing
complexity. On the other hand, the potential of analog
I. INTRODUCTION beamforming is limited by the unsatisfactory performance of
phase shifters [5]. Therefore, a hybrid approach combining
5 G is an emerging generation of mobile technology aiming
to meet data traffic requirement for coming years. It will
most likely be achieved though: ultra-densification, multiple
both analog and digital beamforming is more preferable [6].
Complexity, cost, and power consumption of the beamforming
can be even more improved by means of the reconfigurable
antenna techniques (including massive MIMO), advanced
aperture. Such antennas provide typically few switchable
waveforms, dynamic spectrum sharing, and a millimeter-wave
beams in a given sector. Several reconfigurable antennas for
spectrum for access and backhaul [1].
high frequencies have been reported in the literature including:
The World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC)-15
a planar switchable array for mobile terminal applications [7],
decided to locate mobile bands between 24.25 and 86 GHz for
a beam switching conformal array [8], an array based on
the future development of International Mobile
Luneburg lens [9], and a monolithic MEMS-based reflectarray
Telecommunications (IMT) services [2]. The 28 GHz is
[10].
attractive for several reasons. First, the 28 GHz band is still
The principle of S-PIN diodes in SOI technology was
useful to create multipath environments compared to higher
described in [11]. First application of a waveguide slot
frequencies and can be used for non-line-of-sight
antenna with reconfigurable aperture was presented in [12],
communications. Second, the 28 GHz band is a target to first
however, 64 inclined slots consumed a lot of power, required
This work was supported by Institute for Information & communications complex control unit, and provided around 20% of efficiency
Technology Promotion (IITP) grant funded by the Korea government (MSIT) [13]. In [14] an antenna based on a spatial multiplexing of
(No. 2015-0-00268, Development of a semi-conductor based smart antenna local elements (SMILE) with only four independent slots was
for future mobile communications). Part of this work includes outcomes of the
CELTA ITN project (No. 675683) of the EU Horizon 2020 Framework presented. The performance of this antenna was limited
Programme for Research and Innovation. because only one radiating slot was used in each state.
Y. Yashchyshyn, K. Derzakowski, G. Bogdan, K. Godziszewski, D. This paper presents significant improvements to already
Nyzovets are with the Institute of Radioelectronics and Multimedia
Technology, Warsaw University of Technology, Nowowiejska 15/19, 00-665
published research on a reconfigurable antenna based on
Warsaw, Poland (e-mail: { y.yashchyshyn, k.derzakowski, g.bogdan, S-PIN diodes. Firstly, the antenna covers wide ±45º sector
k.godziszewski, d.nyzovets } @ ire.pw.edu.pl). with five beams. All beams are available in desired frequency
C. H. Kim, and B. Park are with the Mobile RF Research Section, 5G Giga
Communication Research Laboratory, ETRI, 218 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu,
band and have similar gain. Secondly, the efficiency increased
Daejeon, 34129, Rep. of Korea (e-mail: { kimcheolho, bhpark } @ etri.re.kr). to 50% due to optimized dimensions, placement, and

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This article has been accepted for publication in a future issue of this journal, but has not been fully edited. Content may change prior to final publication. Citation information: DOI 10.1109/LAWP.2017.2781262, IEEE
Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters

alignment of slots to the middle of the reconfigurable B. Reconfigurable Semiconductor Circuit

semiconductor circuit (RSC). Thirdly, power consumption and The RSC has fifteen reconfigurable slots with embedded
complexity of a control unit is lower because slots are grouped S-PIN diodes. Slots can be reconfigured by appropriate DC
and connected to common DC biasing lines. biasing. When an S-PIN is reverse biased, its surface acts like
a slot in the wall of the waveguide, hence, enables radiation.
II. RECONFIGURABLE ANTENNA DESIGN AND OPERATIONAL On the other hand, if an S-PIN is forward biased it acts like a
PRINCIPLE conducting surface and blocks radiation. Polarization of a
A. Mechanical Structure radiated wave is determined by the fundamental mode
The designed reconfigurable antenna consists of two propagating inside the waveguide, therefore it is perpendicular
identical radiating reconfigurable structures (RRSs, left and to slots as indicated in Fig. 3.
right), and a commercial electromechanical radio frequency Fig. 4 shows a schematic layout of the RSC and three
switch (ERFS) placed in between (MMT28BSL21 WR28 configurations of the aperture. In this case a wave is
waveguide switch manufactured by Logus Mircowave [15]). propagating from left end to terminated right end exciting
Each RRS (left or right) is designed to generate three beams open slots. Remaining (non-radiated) part of wave’s power is
switchable in angular directions 0º, 30º and 45º. Three ports of dissipated in the matched termination. Three, five, and nine
ERFS are used: the common port (RFC) and two switchable slots are employed to generate beams directed towards 0º, 30º,
ports (RF1 and RF2) connected to RRSs. The ERFS is used and 45º, respectively. Number of slots is related to the
for selecting either left or right RRS, hence, providing desired effective aperture of the antenna seen from different angles,
sector of radiation: towards positive (ZOX plane where θ is which is proportional to the cosine of a beam’s direction.
positive) or negative (ZOX plane where θ is negative) range of Therefore, to achieve the same performance of the antenna,
angles. In this manner, two oppositely arranged structures are more slots are used for beams directed away from the
used to achieve five beams directed towards 0º, ±30º, and broadside direction. Spacing between slots influences phase-
±45º. A model of the antenna is presented in Fig. 1. relations between fields radiated from slots, hence, determines
The RRS is based on a rectangular waveguide WR-28 direction of a beam. Slots are gathered into six groups
(7.112 mm x 3.556 mm) with a slit (60 mm x 0.64 mm) etched controlled by separated DC bias lines. Table 1 presents
along its narrower wall. The RSC is placed inside the detailed information on configurations of the antenna.
waveguide under the slit. The slit is flared in the direction of
E
the E-field and acts like a sectoral E-plane horn to improve the
H
radiation performance of the antenna. Part of the waveguide
under the RSC is filled by PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene).
PTFE has smaller permittivity than silicon and higher
permittivity than air, therefore such filling acts like a transition
and is beneficial for electrical characteristics of the antenna,
especially the impedance matching. A cross section and a
picture of the RRS are presented in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, RRS
respectively.
flare termination bonding
z
θ slit
termination y 0.3 mm 1.8 mm
x

slot #1 slot #2 slot #3

DC bias RSC
RFC right RRS
left RRS Fig. 3. Picture of the RSC mounted inside the RRS

ERFS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Fig. 1. Model of the reconfigurable antenna
IN
0.64 5.72 (a)
70 slit IN
2.54 1.00 (b)
7.11 flare IN
PTFE
RSC (c)
3.56 Fig. 4. The RSC with highlighted group of slots forming a beam in direction
Fig. 2. Cross-sections of the RRS perpendicular to the waveguide (all of: (a) 45º, (b) 30º, (c) 0º
dimensions in mm)

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Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters

TABLE I demonstrates repeatability of the RSC. The gain is higher than

CONFIGURATIONS OF THE ANTENNA
6 dBi for all configurations. Maximum gain is slightly shifted
Beam Slots ERFS position to higher frequencies giving 28.2 GHz for 0° beam, 29 GHz
for 30° beam, and 29.1 GHz for 45° beam.
−45º 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 RFC – RF1 (right RRS)
−30º 10, ,11, 13, 14, 15 RFC – RF1 (right RRS)
−0º 10, 12, 14 RFC – RF1 (right RRS) Control Bus [1..12] Ethernet PC
+0º 10, 12, 14 RFC – RF2 (left RRS) µC
+30º 10, ,11, 13, 14, 15 RFC – RF2 (left RRS)
+45º 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 RFC – RF2 (left RRS)
RRS +3.3V
ISET
C. Control unit
+1.5V Left Right
The control unit is used to bias S-PIN diodes and to change RRS
ERFS
RRS

DC Wires [1..6]
state of the ERFS. A diagram of the control part of the antenna -1.8V

is presented in Fig. 5. The control unit consists of 12 DC bias

circuits (6 bias lines for each RSC) and a microcomputer. The ×6 RF Port

microcomputer set appropriate levels on a LVTTL control bus.

The control bus is an input for high-current operational +3.3V
amplifiers. Every operational amplifier operates as a voltage ISET
source with an adjustable current limit, up to 2 A. Current
limits of amplifiers were set accordingly to number of S-PIN +1.5V
diodes connected to each bias line, assuming 100 mA per -1.8V

DC Wires [1..6]
diode. The operational amplifier in a comparator circuit is
used to switch the output between two voltages: 3.3 V and ×6
−1.8 V. Such voltages were selected to ensure appropriate control signals
DC bias
forward and reverse bias. Positive voltage is used to forward
Control Unit RF signals
bias a diode. Voltage drop on a conducting diode is
approximately 0.7 V, thus remaining part of a positive voltage Fig. 5. Diagram of the control unit and its interfaces to the antenna and a PC
will drop on DC bias lines, DC bias wires, and an internal
resistance of the amplifier. Negative voltage is used to reverse Coax to Waveguide
bias a diode and improve removal of carriers from the intrinsic Adapter
region. Picture of the complete system placed inside the
anechoic chamber is presented in Fig. 6.
Termination Termination

III. MEASUREMENTS
Reflection coefficient (S11) was measured for six states of
the antenna and is presented in Fig. 7(a). The antenna’s
bandwidth defined as |S11|<–10 dB in the worst case equals Right RRS Left RRS
ERFS
600 MHz between 27.9 GHz and 28.5 GHz. If the impedance
bandwidth is defined as |S11|<–6 dB, then in the worst case it DC Bias DC Bias
equals 2.4 GHz. Results for both RRSs are similar, although Wires Wires
one can observe dissimilarity of the reflection coefficient for
+0º and -0º. In these states the spacing between slots is for in-
phase excitation. This enables broadside radiation, however,
waves reflected from each slot are approximately in-phase and
increase the reflection coefficient. Such interference of
reflected waves is sensitive to inaccuracies of fabrication and Control Unit
misalignment during the assembly process, therefore the
reflection coefficient may vary between RRSs. This effect is
not so substantial for ±30º and ±45º states.
The gain and the radiation pattern of the antenna were Ethernet
measured inside an anechoic chamber. Fig. 7(b)-(d) present Power
ERFS
radiation patterns measured in H-plane in polar coordinates for Control Supply
most favorable frequencies. Fig. 8 shows measured realized Fig. 6. Complete system composed of the antenna and the control unit
gain versus frequency and angle θ; subfigures (a)-(c) and (d)-
(f) characterize right RRS, and left RRS, respectively. Both
structures are arranged oppositely, therefore plots of radiation
patterns are almost identical mirror reflections, which also

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This article has been accepted for publication in a future issue of this journal, but has not been fully edited. Content may change prior to final publication. Citation information: DOI 10.1109/LAWP.2017.2781262, IEEE
Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters

IV. CONCLUSION
The beam-switching antenna for 28 GHz band is based on a
reconfigurable semiconductor structure with embedded S-PIN
diodes. Only three beams can be achieved with a single RRS,
therefore two oppositely arranged RSSs connected to a switch
are employed to obtain five beams directed towards 0º, ±30º,
(a) (b) and ±45º. S-PINs on the RSC are grouped and connected to
common DC biasing lines to simplify an interface with the
control unit. Number of radiating slots increases with required
beam’s angle to achieve similar gain. The control unit is a
voltage source with a current limit providing positive and
negative voltage, hence S-PIN diodes can be forward or
reverse biased. Measurements confirmed beam-switching
(c) (d) capabilities of the antenna. The complete system demonstrates
Fig. 7. Measurements of: (a) the reflection coefficient; and radiation patterns a great potential as a mm-wave base station antenna for a
in H-plane for: (b) ±0º beams, (c) ±30º beams, (d) ±45º beams
future 5G network.

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