An integrated configuration of antennas and filters for front-end module in massive-MIMO transmitter

This paper presents an integrated configuration of patch antennas and low-profile filters for a front-end module in a Massive-MIMO transmitter on 5G era. It is very important for the Massive-MIMO transmitter to build thin and light-weight equipment from the viewpoint of easy installation. However, in general, conventional filters used in base station transmitters are large and heavy-weight, which prevents the Massive-MIMO transmitter from achieving its compact-sized configuration. This paper employs a substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) filter which can provide thin structure combined with antennas using the same substrate material. This paper evaluates the proposed configuration by computer simulation including SIW filters and patch antennas in order to reveal the directivity degradation by the SIW filters. There is almost no degradation with regard to the directivity of the proposed configuration as an array antenna. These investigation results show a key-way to configure the Massive-MIMO transmitter that can offer advantages in low-profile and light-weight.