A Wideband Folded Dipole Antenna with an Improved Cross-Polarization Level for Millimeter-Wave Applications

A low-profile planar millimeter-wave (MMW) folded dipole antenna fed by substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) is proposed in this letter. By etching the gaps at the proper position of 1.5 lambda dipole, an additional resonant mode is generated. Accordingly, the working bandwidth is greatly broadened. In addition, by appropriately adjusting the length of the dual-side parallel strip line (DSPSL), the radiated electric fields generated by the aperture of the feeding SIW and the connecting metallic vias of the folded dipole are designed with an out-of-phase potential. Hence, the cross-polarization of the presented folded dipole antenna is improved as well. As a demonstration, a prototype is fabricated and measured. The experimental results exhibit that the proposed folded dipole has a -10 dB impedance bandwidth of 58.5% (from 30.3 GHz to 53.7 GHz), a gain of around 5 dBi with more than 120 degrees beamwidth in H-plane, and a cross-polarization levels below -15 dB, covering the working frequency band. Compared with the up-to-date planar dipole antenna, the proposed folded dipole achieves the widest working bandwidth and low cross-polarization level. The proposed antenna can be used as the terminal antenna of the MMW communication system.

Automated summary

A low-profile planar millimeter-wave folded dipole antenna fed by substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) is proposed in this letter, achieving the widest working bandwidth and low cross-polarization level. Experimental results demonstrate a -10 dB impedance bandwidth of 58.5%, a gain of around 5 dBi with more than 120 degrees beamwidth, and cross-polarization levels below -15 dB, suitable for use as the terminal antenna of the MMW communication system.