Review on Miniature & mm- wave Antennas for 5G &

LoRa Technology
Fahmitha Banu M, Dr. Vimalathithan Rathinasabapathy
Information & Communication Technology, Anna University
Chennai, India
[email protected],[email protected]

Abstract: According to the drastic growth of Internet of Things (IoT) B. LoRa (Long Range) Technology
market, for a direct incorporation between the physical world and Low-Power, Wide-Area (LPWA) is the technology
computer-based frameworks, loT enables the devices to be detected and targeting at these emerging applications and markets at lower cost
controlled remotely to enhance the efficiency. The terms IoT and 5G are points and better power consumptions [4]. It is perfectly suitable for
used conversely because of the shared traits in the intents of both. Due
to the rapid growth of IoT, Long Range (LoRa) technology become
the IoT applications that only need to transmit tiny amounts of
popular. In this paper, review of different shapes of miniature & mm- information in long range. Before 2013, the term ‘LPWA’ did not
wave antenna for LoRa devices & 5G wireless communication are even exist. However, as the IoT market expand rapidly, LPWA has
presented. Recent advances in miniature & mm-wave antenna are become one of the fast growing space in IoT. Many LPWA
reported and design guidelines are discussed. In particular, five technologies has arisen in both licensed and unlicensed market such
different designs are identified from the recent literature based on their us LTE-M, SigFox, Long Range (LoRa), Narrow Band (NB)-IoT
attractive characteristics that support 5G requirements and and so on. Among these technologies, LoRa is the emerging
applications & LoRa Technology. technology with many advantages as shown in Fig.2 [5]. The LoRa
Index Terms: Internet of Things, Long Range Technology, Fifth Generation,
communication operates in the unlicensed frequency band [6]:
Miniature Antenna, mm-wave Antenna. • EUROPA 863-870MHz ISM Band: 3 channels,
Central frequencies: 868.10 MHz, 868.30 MHz, 868.50 MHz;
• EU 433MHz ISM Band: 3 channels,
I. INTRODUCTION
Central frequencies: 433.175 MHz, 433.375 MHz, 433.575 MHz;
A decade before, humans have emerged drastically with the growth • US 902-928MHz ISM Band;
of industrial revolution. The 4th industrial revolution is the era where • China 779-787MHz ISM Band;
a new generation of wireless communication enables widespread • China 470-510MHz Band;
connectivity between machines and objects. The communication • Australia 915-928MHz ISM Band;
system needs to support more than twenty-five billion connected • ISM Band 923-923.5MHz.
devices by year 2020. It is expected the 5th generation (5G) wireless
mobile communication will allow to connect world of humans and C. 5G Spectrum
objects. The major doubt arises how the 5G is going to meet the The 5G networks are likely to operate in the
challenges by the year 2020[1]. The 5G is categorized into three centimetrewave (3–30 GHz) and millimetre-wave (30–300 GHz)
generic services such as extreme Mobile Broad Band (xMBB), frequency bands [7, 8]. 5G will demand a revolution, since they are
massive Machine-Type Communications (mMTC), and ultra- going to be designed for short wavelengths (mm-waves), which
reliable Machine- Type Communication (uMTC) in Fig. 1 [2]. easily fit in handsets, but are still long enough to bend around or
The xMBB provides extremely high data rates in the range penetrate obstacles, such as buildings and foliage. Additionally, mm-
of Gbps. The uMTC deals with ultra-reliable and time efficient waves suffer from high attenuation due to rain. To overcome all these
devices. Another type of uMTC is reliable communication for challenges, as well as free-space attenuation, different antenna types
manufacturing in factory. The mMTC enables 5G services to lots of have been exploited for 5G networks. Most works published in
devices with energy efficiency. Nowadays, the Antennas, sensors literature on 5G antennas are concerning MIMO (multiple input
and the actuators are widely deployed for human-machine-centric multiple output) and beam steering antennas [9–14].
communication. In recent years, many research efforts have been observed towards
designing specific antennas for IoT applications with a narrow
A. Internet of Things bandwidth, such as a miniature antenna for IoT [15], a dual band
With the development of Internet of Things (IoT) antenna [16], or a compact reconfigurable antenna [17]. However,
technology, more and more practical applications of IoT technology the selection of a specific antenna may be a real challenge. For a
can be found in many industries today. Widely installed short range direct incorporation between the physical world and computer-based
radio connectivity (e.g. Bluetooth and ZigBee) are not suitable for frameworks, loT enables the devices to be detected and controlled
the environment which require long-range performance with low remotely to enhance the efficiency. The terms IoT and 5G are used
bandwidth. Although M2M solution based on cellular technology conversely because of the shared traits in the intents of both. LoRa,
can provide large coverage but it consumes a large amount of power. one of the lastborn and most promising technologies for the wide-
IoT provides a better solution to deal with such massive number of area IoT. Some of research efforts are focused on identifying suitable
devices going under concurrent evolution of technology with antenna for fifth-generation communication and LoRa applications,
underlying parameters like coverage, reliability, latency and cost especially to enable handling all devices by one system [18].
effectiveness.
 Therefore, in this paper, we compare and describe different antenna is carried out in two case (i) the miniaturization-oriented
antenna design for 5G wireless communication and LoRa optimization as shown in fig. 4(a) & (b) and (ii) the matching-
technology. oriented design as shown in fig. 5(a) & (b) [20].This antenna is
implemented on Taconic RF-35 substrate which has dimensions of
only 3.7 mm × 11.8 mm and a footprint of 44 mm2 & 66mm2, an
omnidirectional radiation pattern, and an excellent pattern stability.
The average in-band total efficiencies for both antennas are over
90% (92% for Antenna I and 96.5% for Antenna II). This antenna is
suitable for prescribed frequency range of 5 GHz to 10 GHz.

Fig. 1. The 5G generic Services [2]

(a) Front View (b) Back View

Fig. 4 Antenna prototype for miniaturization oriented optimization [20]

(a) Front View (b) Back View

Fig. 5 Antenna prototype for matching oriented optimization [20]

Fig. 2. Wireless communication protocols comparison [5]. C. UIT & UCA Antenna for IoT (LoRa)

II. LITERATURE SURVEY The miniature antenna for LoRa device are presented here with
dimension of 0.06λ X 0.1λ, they are printed on 34X80X0.8 mm3 FR-
A. Quad Band Antenna for IoT (LoRa) 4 board as shown in fig. 6 [21]. This antennas operate at 868 MHz
frequency band which is a sub-GHz frequency suitable for IoT. The
Quad-band Double-PIFA (Planar Inverted-F Antenna) combined radiation efficiency of both antennas UCA & UIT are 73% & 74%.
with DGS (Defected Ground Structure) for Internet of Things (IoT)
applications as shown in fig. 3(a) & (b) [19]. The antenna is compact
in size with radiating patch of 184 mm2 basing on RO4350B
substrate with height of 1.52 mm. Operating at 900MHz,
1.8GHz,2.6GHz and 5GHzwith large bandwidth of 6.67%,
11.11%,5.77% and 16%, respectively. This antenna is suitable for all
typical IoT bands which include sub-GHz band of 908 MHz and 915
MHz; LTE-A band of No3 (1.8GHz) and No7 (2.6GHz) and
802.11n, ac of 5GHz.

Fig. 6 UIT & UCA Antenna Designs [21]

D. Ultra-Narrow Band Miniature Antennas for IoT

Ultra Narrow band (UNB) miniature antenna is designed for IoT

(a) Top View (b) Bottom View application as shown in Fig. 7 is constituted by a folded metallic wire
placed in front of a 0.5 λ × 0.5 λ ground plane that is shorted close
Fig. 3 Structure of D-PIFA to the feed which has several advantages [22]. Secondly, the antenna
tuning is very simple since the resonant frequency position can be
B. Wide Band Antenna for IoT
fixed by varying the wire length, while the impedance matching is
controlled by the feed-short distance. This antennas operate at 868
The antenna consists of a stepped impedance feed line, a
MHz frequency band suitable for IoT application using LoRa
rectangular radiator and a ground plane. Here optimization of
technology. The radiation efficiency of the antenna is 63%.
 function of the radio mobile environment and customer quality of
service using two different bands independently.

Fig. 7 Structure of UNB Antenna [22]

TABLE I
COMPARISON BETWEEN DIFFERENT ANTENNA DESIGN &
PERFORMANCE FOR IoT APPLICATION Fig. 8 Omnidirectional ring - based SWAA [24]
Ref. Dimension Substrate Resonant Radiation Antenna
No. of Antenna Used frequency efficiency gain
(mm2) of IoT (%) (dB)
(MHz)
906 80.8 0.8
915 80.8 0.8
Ref
56x60x1.52 RO4350B 1800 99.9 2.28
[19] (a) Slot for 28GHz (b) Slot for 38GHz
2600 96.2 3.77 Fig. 9 Dual band slotted waveguide antenna array [24]
5000 93.6 2.9
2.70x3.74x
5000 92
Ref 5.36 Taconic Not F. Flexible Microstrip Grid Array Antenna For 5G
[20] 5.43x3.91x RF-35 given
6.05
10000 95
Ref 34x80x0.8 73 0.71 A flexible microstrip grid array antenna (MGAA) is fabricated
FR-4 868 by printing the patch and the ground plane using a 0.25-mm-thick
[21] 74 0.8
Ref 28x10x5 Copper
868
63 Not conductive rubber layer onto a 1.9 mm thick Polydimethylsiloxane
[22] (PEC) given (PDMS) substrate layer as show in fig. 10 [25]. The antenna was
915
designed to operate at 14 GHz frequency band. It is composed of 24
Ref 25x60x1 2450 Not
[23]
FR-4
3500
Not given
given radiating elements to achieve a high gain and compact size
5800 characteristics. The gain at 14 GHz is 8.7 dBi while the highest gain
for this antenna is 11.2 dBi at 15.5 GHz. This antenna is suitable for
E. Waveguide-Based Antenna Arrays for 5G Networks future flexible and conformal-5G mobile communication
applications and wearable applications due to PDMS and conductive
Two high-performance waveguide-based antenna arrays are rubber with good return loss event at bending state.
designed for 5G cellular networks, operating at 28 GHz band with
gain 12dBi and dual-band sectorial coverage using the 28 and 38
GHz bands with gain up to15.6 dBi [24]. (i) Ring-based slotted
waveguide antenna array (SWAA) is filled with Teflon—a low-loss
polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) dielectric material shown as in fig.
(8).They have milled the entire metallic structure, as the integration
of the waveguide-based periodic metal collar and waveguide feeder,
rather than alternating metal and dielectric rings. This ring based
SWAA provides a bandwidth of approximately 7.7% from 26.85 to
(a) (b) (c)
29 GHz. The SWAA measured gain was 12.25 dBi for 28 GHz. Since Fig. 10 Flexible microstrip grid array antenna [25]
the Ring-based SWAA has omnidirectional coverage in mm-wave (a) Conductive rubber mold was attached to cured PDMS surface, (b) liquid
applications, it is widely used in shopping malls, theatres, convention conductive rubber was poured into the mold, (c) cured conductive rubber image taken
centers, and stadiums. (ii) Dual-Band slotted waveguide antenna using dino-lite digital microscope.
array, is made of aluminum as shown in fig. (9). It has two slot
groups milled on each waveguide broadside face, with the purpose G. 15 GHz Grid Array Antenna For 5G
of allowing simultaneous operation over 28 and 38GHz frequency A compact grid array antenna implemented using FR4 substrate for
bands. This SWAA provides two wide bandwidths: the first one of 5G Mobile Communications at 15 GHz as shown in fig. (11). The
26.36% from 24.7 to 32.2 GHz & the second one of 9.78% from 35.5 antenna has dimensions of 49 mm X 3.58 mm X 31.6 mm with 23
to 39.15 GHz. The dual-band SWAA provides a gain of 12.6 and radiating elements to provide high gain [26]. It is excited using
15.6 dBi for 28 and 38 GHz, respectively. This dual-band SWAA coaxial feeding technique. The antenna has achieved an impedance
can be applied to adaptive 5G networks in two different ways as a bandwidth of 2.1GHz from 13.8 GHz to 15.9 GHz with a gain of
14.4 dBi at 15.9 GHz. The maximum efficiency of the antenna is
66% at 15.9GHz. It is therefore good for mobile communications
covering the 5G proposed band of 14.4–15.35 GHz.

(a) Simulated Prototype (b) Fabricated Prototype

Fig. 13 Prototype of T-Shaped Antenna [28]

TABLE – II
COMPARISON OF DIFFERENT DESIGN OF mm-WAVE ANTENNA & ITS
Fig. 11 Grid Array Antenna [26] PERFORMANCE
Dimensio Resonant
Radiation
H. Compact Planar Inverted-F Antenna for 5G Ref. n of Substrate Frequency Gain
Efficiency
No. Antenna Used for 5G (dBi)
(%)
(mm) (GHz)
The design is based on a compact planar inverted-F antenna Teflon
15x9.92x8 28 12.25
(PIFA) with single layer dielectric load of a superstrate to enhance Ref. (PTFE)
Not given
the gain and achieve a wide impedance bandwidth which has the [24] 24.1x87.4 12.6 –
Aluminium 28-38
x1.77 15.6
advantage of high efficiency [27]. It covers the 28 GHz millimeter Ref. Polydimethyl 14 8.7
wave frequency bands with size of 15mm x 15mm. The antenna, is 60x60x2.4 Not given
[25] siloxane 15.5 11.2
printed on a Rogers5870 substrate with a thickness of 0.635mm and Ref. 49x3.58x3
FR4 15.9 66 14.4
copper-cladding thickness of 0.035mm as shown in fig. (12).The [26] 1.6
minimum & maximum total efficiencies are 88% and 96%, at 27.47 Ref.
4x4x1.34 Rogers5870
27.47 88 8.8
GHz and 28 GHz, respectively. The maximum and minimum [27] 28 96 8.25
realized gains are 8.8 dBi and 8.25 dBi, at 28 GHz and 28.5 GHz, Polyethylene
Ref.
16x16x4.7 terephthalate 38.75 Not given 8.2
respectively. [28]
(PET)

III. CHALLENGES

Internet of Things (IoT) & 5G together is opening up new ways

to improve our lives and work. But the quest to create a truly
connected world is giving rise to fresh challenges for those designing
the antenna. Designers of IoT devices in 5G wireless communication
using LoRa Technology (Wide area IoT) face many challenges when
it comes to create small, lightweight, Low power consumption and
low-cost devices that deliver high-quality RF performance. The
antenna is a key part of the design, and product developers must
Fig. 12 Geometry of Compact planar inverted F- Antenna [27]
consider size, RF efficiency, Power consumption and detuning issues
I. T-Shaped Patch Antenna when choosing the right kind of antenna to use. Making the right
decision is particularly important when an antenna architecture
The next design that operates in the mm-wave band is a T-Shaped design may be used in more than one type of housing.
patch antenna that was presented in [28] as shown in Fig. 13. The IV. CONCLUSION
PET substrate was used as it offers some advantages; low cost, high
flexibility, harmless to human body and resistive towards This paper is focused on the design of antennas for 5G Wireless
environmental effects. The T-shaped antenna has a length of 4.7mm Communication & LoRa Technology. The objectives and
and is printed on 16mm x 16mm PET substrate. Feeding is achieved requirements of antennas for 5G & LoRa were reviewed. Recent
using a coplanar waveguide and aperture in the ground plane. The advances in antenna design were reported and design guidelines
peak gain of antenna is 8.2dBi at 38.75GHz and the gain is above were discussed. In particular, five different designs for both 5G &
4dBi in the complete range of operation. LoRa were reported recently in the literature have been identified
based on their attractive characteristics that support 5G & LoRa
requirements and applications.
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