High gain millimeter wave antennas for 5G wireless and security imaging systems

Summary form only given, as follows. The complete presentation was not made available for publication as part of the conference proceedings. Recently, there has been increasing interest and rapid growth in millimeter (mm)-wave antennas and devices for use in diverse applications, services and technologies such as short-range communication, future mm-wave mobile communication for the fifth generation (5G) cellular networks, and sensor and imaging systems. Due to the corresponding smaller wavelength, mm-wave frequencies offer the advantage of physically smaller antennas and circuits as well as the availability of much wider bandwidth compared to microwave frequencies. In addition they provide additional spectrum for wireless communications. For example, mm-wave is capable of supporting the needed high data rate capacity and speed for high definition video streaming used in Wireless Personal Area Networks. The planned 5G cellular networks base stations and mobile devices will essentially make use of mm-wave frequency bands to meet consumers’ ever growing demand for high data rate and capacity from wireless service providers. Also, mm-wave-based imaging systems have attractive characteristics including high penetration ability for different types of clothes, very low penetration for living tissues, less physical personal intrusion and safer doses of radiation. They are useful for imaging and body penetrating applications such as homeland security, medical imaging, and defence applications. These systems could be used instead of traditional X-ray systems, which have higher levels of radiation and thus limited use per person. Millimeter-wave antenna design is considered as the first step for realizing mm-wave wireless communication and imaging systems. Design requirements for such antennas include highly directional patterns – for long transmission range and high detection sensitivity - and size reduction with a suitable impedance matching bandwidth. This talk will address the market demand for compact high efficient antennas for next generation wireless communications, sensing and imaging systems. The main part of the talk will focus on investigation and development of mm-wave high gain broadband antenna elements and arrays that cover multiple mm-wave frequency bands to serve several applications. Antennas with high gain produce very directive narrow beam for high resolution sensing as well as reduce the demand for power requirements and consumptions by wireless systems. The keynote will also present the most recent research activities at Concordia University highlighting, in particular, development of high gain directional mm-wave antennas for long transmission range and high resolution imaging applications. In addition, a 60GHz system for potential detection of threatening materials will be described. System setup and signal pre-processing principle are introduced. The imaging/detection system for weapons and liquids concealed by clothing, plywood, and plastics will be discussed.