Case Study: 5G Antenna Design 

5G mobile phones have completely transformed how we stay connected, offering lightning-fast data speeds and minimal latency compared to older generations. The development of 5G has pushed engineers to create advanced antenna designs that fit into compact devices, mainly sub-6 GHz and millimeter-wave frequencies. This progress supports a wide range of applications, from super-fast mobile internet to the Internet of Things (IoT), making 5G a key player in today’s tech landscape. 

5G mobile phones need sophisticated antenna designs to achieve higher data rates and lower latency. Designers are working on integrating multiple antennas that operate across various frequencies and bandwidths into compact devices, all while meeting the criteria for enhanced performance and coverage.

L: Low-Band (2×2)

M: Mid-Band: (4×4)

H: High-Band: (4×4)

UH: Ultra High-Band: (4×4)

Steps in 5G antenna design: from idea to the final prototype  

1. Planning the initial concept and setting the requirements: Defining frequency bands, performance requirements and constraints, such as size and integration needs 
2. Simulation and modeling in realistic scenarios: Using software tools to create and simulate the antenna design, optimizing parameters like gain, efficiency, and bandwidth 
3. Prototyping: Building a physical prototype based on the optimized design 
4. Testing and measurement: Evaluating the prototype’s performance in real-world conditions with phantoms, including tests for return loss, radiation patterns, and efficiency…something else? 
5. Iteration and optimization: Refining the design based on test results, making necessary adjustments to improve performance 
6. Final integration: Integrating the optimized antenna into the final product, ensuring it meets all regulatory and performance standards. 

Challenges in 5G antenna design 

One of the biggest challenges in modern mobile phone design is managing a densely-packed radio system with multiple transmitters and receivers that operate across wide bandwidths and various frequencies. Antennas need to be compact and seamlessly integrated into the phones without sacrificing performance. This is particularly difficult due to the limited space and the necessity to prevent interference with other components.  

Custom-oriented antenna design and support 

Convergentia has over 20 years experience of antenna design, implementation, prototyping and testing for mobile phone antennas from 2G to 5G. The design process is custom-oriented, rigorously adhering to standards and regulatory requirements. Our design process considers real-world product environments, including human-body effects using human models in simulations and phantoms in measurements.  Convergentia offers comprehensive support, from initial concept sketches to final prototype optimization, to guarantee optimal performance 

Convergentia has carried out several 5G antenna designs for customers products including design from the beginning or improving and fine-tuning client’s existing product design. Besides optimizing antenna structures and designing matching circuits, Convergentia has successfully solved challenges or effects posed by additional components or connectors. As a case example, a client’s product experienced a performance degradation of 7 dB due to the USB connector. Convergentia addressed the issue by making precise adjustments and slight modifications on the structure. The proposed modifications were initially assessed through detailed simulations to evaluate their feasibility and potential impact. The most promising modification was implemented and subjected to empirical testing and measurements to verify its performance and effectiveness. Following the structural modifications, the impact of the connector was limited to a maximum of 2 dB. 

Conclusions 

One of the major challenges in modern 5G mobile phone design is managing a tightly-packed radio system which includes multiple transmitters and receivers operating across a wide range of bandwidths and various frequencies. Convergentia is specialized in custom-tailored antenna designs for real-world applications, ensuring strict compliance with industry standards and regulations. Our design process meticulously accounts for actual product environments, incorporating human-body effects using models in simulations and phantoms in measurements.