A Compact 26GHz Phased Array Antenna based on Liquid Crystal for 5G Applications

Quqing Huang; Haifan Yin; Li Tan; Yuhao Zhang; Ningyi Shan; Tao Wang; Mahmoud M. Salim

doi:10.1109/RFAT69041.2026.11634012

A Compact 26GHz Phased Array Antenna based on Liquid Crystal for 5G Applications

Quqing Huang^*
, Haifan Yin
, Li Tan
, Yuhao Zhang
, Ningyi Shan
, Tao Wang
, Mahmoud M. Salim

^*Corresponding author for this work

Interdisciplinary Research Center for Communication Systems and Sensing

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

Abstract

This paper presents a 4×4 phased array based on liquid crystal (LC) with the characteristics of low-profile (0.09λ₀ at 26 GHz), small-footprint and continuous beam scanning. The maximum continuous phase shift of the antenna element is 436°, which is achieved through the combination of the LC phase shifter and two PIN diodes. We first design a patch antenna unit based on the LC phase shifter, which is controlled by the external bias voltage. The designed LC phase shifter achieves a maximum phase shift of 256° with the insertion loss of 0.34 dB. By controlling two PIN diodes, the antenna element can reach another 180° phase shift. With the 180° phase compensation brought by the diodes, we shorten the length of the LC microstrip line, enabling the antenna unit to reach a reduced size of 0.39λ₀ ×0.42λ₀. Based on the antenna element, we design a 4×4 antenna array using T-type microstrip power divider and aperture-feeding structure to verify the beam-steering ability.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	2026 IEEE 9th International Conference on Radio Frequency and Antenna Technologies, RFAT 2026
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages	100-104
Number of pages	5
ISBN (Electronic)	9798331572754
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/RFAT69041.2026.11634012
State	Published - 2026
Event	9th International Conference on Radio Frequency and Antenna Technologies, RFAT 2026 - Shenzhen, China Duration: 15 May 2026 → 18 May 2026

Publication series

Name	2026 IEEE 9th International Conference on Radio Frequency and Antenna Technologies, RFAT 2026

Conference

Conference	9th International Conference on Radio Frequency and Antenna Technologies, RFAT 2026
Country/Territory	China
City	Shenzhen
Period	15/05/26 → 18/05/26

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2026 IEEE.

Keywords

antenna design
beam steering
LC phased shifter
liquid crystal
passive phased array

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Computer Networks and Communications
Instrumentation

Access to Document

10.1109/RFAT69041.2026.11634012

Cite this

Huang, Q., Yin, H., Tan, L., Zhang, Y., Shan, N., Wang, T., & Salim, M. M. (2026). A Compact 26GHz Phased Array Antenna based on Liquid Crystal for 5G Applications. In 2026 IEEE 9th International Conference on Radio Frequency and Antenna Technologies, RFAT 2026 (pp. 100-104). (2026 IEEE 9th International Conference on Radio Frequency and Antenna Technologies, RFAT 2026). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.. https://doi.org/10.1109/RFAT69041.2026.11634012

Huang, Quqing ; Yin, Haifan ; Tan, Li et al. / A Compact 26GHz Phased Array Antenna based on Liquid Crystal for 5G Applications. 2026 IEEE 9th International Conference on Radio Frequency and Antenna Technologies, RFAT 2026. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2026. pp. 100-104 (2026 IEEE 9th International Conference on Radio Frequency and Antenna Technologies, RFAT 2026).

@inproceedings{a21f47e868274a60be1ac40198daa4bc,

title = "A Compact 26GHz Phased Array Antenna based on Liquid Crystal for 5G Applications",

abstract = "This paper presents a 4{\texttimes}4 phased array based on liquid crystal (LC) with the characteristics of low-profile (0.09λ0 at 26 GHz), small-footprint and continuous beam scanning. The maximum continuous phase shift of the antenna element is 436°, which is achieved through the combination of the LC phase shifter and two PIN diodes. We first design a patch antenna unit based on the LC phase shifter, which is controlled by the external bias voltage. The designed LC phase shifter achieves a maximum phase shift of 256° with the insertion loss of 0.34 dB. By controlling two PIN diodes, the antenna element can reach another 180° phase shift. With the 180° phase compensation brought by the diodes, we shorten the length of the LC microstrip line, enabling the antenna unit to reach a reduced size of 0.39λ0 {\texttimes}0.42λ0. Based on the antenna element, we design a 4{\texttimes}4 antenna array using T-type microstrip power divider and aperture-feeding structure to verify the beam-steering ability.",

keywords = "antenna design, beam steering, LC phased shifter, liquid crystal, passive phased array",

author = "Quqing Huang and Haifan Yin and Li Tan and Yuhao Zhang and Ningyi Shan and Tao Wang and Salim, \{Mahmoud M.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2026 IEEE.; 9th International Conference on Radio Frequency and Antenna Technologies, RFAT 2026 ; Conference date: 15-05-2026 Through 18-05-2026",

year = "2026",

doi = "10.1109/RFAT69041.2026.11634012",

language = "English",

series = "2026 IEEE 9th International Conference on Radio Frequency and Antenna Technologies, RFAT 2026",

publisher = "Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.",

pages = "100--104",

booktitle = "2026 IEEE 9th International Conference on Radio Frequency and Antenna Technologies, RFAT 2026",

address = "United States",

}

Huang, Q, Yin, H, Tan, L, Zhang, Y, Shan, N, Wang, T & Salim, MM 2026, A Compact 26GHz Phased Array Antenna based on Liquid Crystal for 5G Applications. in 2026 IEEE 9th International Conference on Radio Frequency and Antenna Technologies, RFAT 2026. 2026 IEEE 9th International Conference on Radio Frequency and Antenna Technologies, RFAT 2026, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., pp. 100-104, 9th International Conference on Radio Frequency and Antenna Technologies, RFAT 2026, Shenzhen, China, 15/05/26. https://doi.org/10.1109/RFAT69041.2026.11634012

A Compact 26GHz Phased Array Antenna based on Liquid Crystal for 5G Applications. / Huang, Quqing; Yin, Haifan; Tan, Li et al.
2026 IEEE 9th International Conference on Radio Frequency and Antenna Technologies, RFAT 2026. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2026. p. 100-104 (2026 IEEE 9th International Conference on Radio Frequency and Antenna Technologies, RFAT 2026).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - A Compact 26GHz Phased Array Antenna based on Liquid Crystal for 5G Applications

AU - Huang, Quqing

AU - Yin, Haifan

AU - Tan, Li

AU - Zhang, Yuhao

AU - Shan, Ningyi

AU - Wang, Tao

AU - Salim, Mahmoud M.

PY - 2026

Y1 - 2026

N2 - This paper presents a 4×4 phased array based on liquid crystal (LC) with the characteristics of low-profile (0.09λ0 at 26 GHz), small-footprint and continuous beam scanning. The maximum continuous phase shift of the antenna element is 436°, which is achieved through the combination of the LC phase shifter and two PIN diodes. We first design a patch antenna unit based on the LC phase shifter, which is controlled by the external bias voltage. The designed LC phase shifter achieves a maximum phase shift of 256° with the insertion loss of 0.34 dB. By controlling two PIN diodes, the antenna element can reach another 180° phase shift. With the 180° phase compensation brought by the diodes, we shorten the length of the LC microstrip line, enabling the antenna unit to reach a reduced size of 0.39λ0 ×0.42λ0. Based on the antenna element, we design a 4×4 antenna array using T-type microstrip power divider and aperture-feeding structure to verify the beam-steering ability.

AB - This paper presents a 4×4 phased array based on liquid crystal (LC) with the characteristics of low-profile (0.09λ0 at 26 GHz), small-footprint and continuous beam scanning. The maximum continuous phase shift of the antenna element is 436°, which is achieved through the combination of the LC phase shifter and two PIN diodes. We first design a patch antenna unit based on the LC phase shifter, which is controlled by the external bias voltage. The designed LC phase shifter achieves a maximum phase shift of 256° with the insertion loss of 0.34 dB. By controlling two PIN diodes, the antenna element can reach another 180° phase shift. With the 180° phase compensation brought by the diodes, we shorten the length of the LC microstrip line, enabling the antenna unit to reach a reduced size of 0.39λ0 ×0.42λ0. Based on the antenna element, we design a 4×4 antenna array using T-type microstrip power divider and aperture-feeding structure to verify the beam-steering ability.

KW - antenna design

KW - beam steering

KW - LC phased shifter

KW - liquid crystal

KW - passive phased array

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105047948787

U2 - 10.1109/RFAT69041.2026.11634012

DO - 10.1109/RFAT69041.2026.11634012

M3 - Conference contribution

AN - SCOPUS:105047948787

T3 - 2026 IEEE 9th International Conference on Radio Frequency and Antenna Technologies, RFAT 2026

SP - 100

EP - 104

BT - 2026 IEEE 9th International Conference on Radio Frequency and Antenna Technologies, RFAT 2026

PB - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.

T2 - 9th International Conference on Radio Frequency and Antenna Technologies, RFAT 2026

Y2 - 15 May 2026 through 18 May 2026

ER -

Huang Q, Yin H, Tan L, Zhang Y, Shan N, Wang T et al. A Compact 26GHz Phased Array Antenna based on Liquid Crystal for 5G Applications. In 2026 IEEE 9th International Conference on Radio Frequency and Antenna Technologies, RFAT 2026. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. 2026. p. 100-104. (2026 IEEE 9th International Conference on Radio Frequency and Antenna Technologies, RFAT 2026). doi: 10.1109/RFAT69041.2026.11634012

A Compact 26GHz Phased Array Antenna based on Liquid Crystal for 5G Applications

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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