Millimeter Wave Antennas Using Gap Waveguides with Beam Steerability at Fixed Frequencies for Beyond 5G Mobile Communications

In this paper, we design a 60 GHz millimeter-wave gap waveguide antenna for beam steering applications. Implemented on the premise of a waveguide slot-array, radiated beams can be shone towards designated directions by sliding the pin lattice that makes up one of the walls, thereby altering the modal resonance and thus the phase pattern across the radiating aperture. The array consists of six staggered longitudinal slots. Designs by simulations indicate the ability to steer the main beam through 10 degrees in the elevation plane. The simulated realized gain is 12 dB and the bandwidth is from 54 to 62 GHz (13% fractional bandwidth). The main advantages of this antenna are that it can tailor the main beam with one simple mechanical motion, thereby circumventing the need for complicated electronic networks such as phase shifters, switches or diodes, thus lowering the costs and complexities.