A Dielectric Resonator based MIMO Antenna System at Millimeter-Waves

Broadband wireless multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) antenna systems are currently needed to support the wide range of application standards for wireless communications. MIMO is a key technology for increasing the data rates in such wireless standards via the use of multiple communication streams via the use of multiple antennas at the receiver and transmitter sides. In this work, we will investigate the design of a dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) based planar antenna array for mm-wave frequencies targeting consumer electronic devices and short range communications that operates at a centre frequency of 30 GHz and that provides an operating bandwidth of 1GHz. The antenna array will consist of DRA elements (i.e. cylindrical or rectangular) and will be modelled and simulated using a commercial SW package (HFSS). The feed network for this planar array will be investigated as well, and integrated with the array for best matching and loss. The antenna array as its feed network will be fabricated on a commercial substrate, and tested and characterized in the laboratory for gain, efficiency and over all behaviour. A MIMO antenna system consisting of multiple DRA based arrays will be designed and fabricated. The fabricated design will be characterized in the laboratory environment at KFUPM as well as at the Royal Military College, Ontario, Canada. The project duration will be 18 months with a total budget of 431,200 SAR. It will enhance the collaboration between KFUPM, Saudi Arabia, and the Royal Military College (RMC) and Queens University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.