Multimodal planar monopole filtenna for 5G applications

This paper presents a novel planar filtering antenna (filtenna) with simple layout based on tightly-coupled different-length monopoles. Its design methodology is based on an even-mode/odd-mode decomposition of the monopole currents, and the combination of both modes in a multimodal circuit model that facilitates the design and tuning of the antenna and the accompanying feeding network, since most of the process is performed using fast circuit simulations. The circuit model casts light into the interaction between conducting and radiating modes in the bulk of the antenna, and on how this interaction can be used to propose feedback loops that increase and define the radiation band. Using these modal tools, a filtenna was designed and fabricated to fully cover the new 5G frequency bands (n77, n78 and n79) from 3 to 5 GHz that are currently being adopted by many countries for high-capacity data transmission. It features a 62.9% FWB, dipole-like radiation patterns, good out-of-band rejection up to 10 GHz, and a very good trade-off between design/structural-simplicity and bandwidth.