Modelling and Simulation of an Integrated 28-GHz Rotman Lens Beamformer for 5G Subsystems

摘要

This paper presents the modelling and simulation of an integrated millimetre-wave (mm-wave) subsystem module, comprising a beamforming network (BFN) based on the flexible Rotman lens, along with the antenna arrays of resonant series-fed rectangular patches. The developed passive switched-beam network is intended for operation in the 28-GHz band, for the deployment in the fifth generation (5G) systems. The primary objective of this work is to conduct the feasibility of developing a lens-fed array subsystem based on the liquid-crystal polymer (LCP) substrate and to evaluate the performance in terms of the main figure of merit for the beam steering. The performance in terms of the generated electromagnetic (EM) radiation patterns has been shown. The BFN exhibits significant characteristics, to be utilised as a low-profile unit of the 28-GHz transceivers with the in-built electronic beam steering for the flexible 5G systems.