Metasurface-based coupling suppression for wideband multiple-input-multiple-output antenna arrays

• DOI: 10.1364/oe.444293
• Publication Date: 2021-11-18T10:00:08Z
• Authors: Xiaojun Zou; Guangming Wang; Yawei Wang; Binfeng Zong
• Keywords: 0202 electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering; 02 engineering and technology

Wideband decoupling requires simultaneous improvements in the performance of an antenna array in its operating band. In this paper, a metasurface structure is proposed to accomplish this difficult task in wideband dual-layer coupled patch multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) antenna arrays. The decoupling mechanism is analyzed based on network and field theories, and dual-band response is achieved by incorporating multilayer hybrid split-ring resonators to create a meta-atom equipped with single negative property. By introducing the metasurface into the H-plane coupled MIMO array, the working bandwidth improves from 21.7% to 25.4%, mutual coupling is suppressed to less than −20 dB, gains mostly improve, and radiation patterns are modified. Moreover, the metasurface-based decoupling structure is extended to the E-plane coupled and two-dimensional arrays, exhibiting the same decoupling capability in the 22.9% and 23.6% bandwidths, respectively. Compared with existing metasurface-based decoupling works, the proposed metasurface, which is designed to be coplanar with the array, brings about no change to the array profile and possesses a wider decoupling bandwidth. These results indicate its potential in efficiently decoupling multielement wideband MIMO antenna arrays.