Switched-beam antenna array for 60 GHz WPAN applications

In this paper, the design of a switched-beam antenna array to operate in the 60 GHz band for short-range WPAN applications is presented. In order to overcome the high path-loss attenuation at millimeter-wave frequencies and, moreover, to achieve high data rate wireless communications, highly directive antennas are required. In addition, beam-steering antennas are also needed to deal with the high user random mobility and human-body shadowing characteristic of indoor environments. For these reasons, we propose a design based on a five by five slot antenna array, in which each single element can be selected individually, and a dielectric flat lens to steer and enhance the radiation in a particular direction. A total of 25 fixed high-gain beams can be selected individually to scan in both theta and phi directions. Our simulation results indicate that we can achieve up to 18.4 dB of gain, and beam-steering capabilities from +30° to -30° with more than 15 dB of gain, and up to ±45° with around 14 dB, with low-side lobe levels, in the entire frequency band of interest (from 57 to 64 GHz).