Single-ended and balanced 90–120 GHz microstrip power amplifier MMICs have been designed for cost-sensitive 5G and 6G backhaul in a commercial 6-inch, 0.1-µm GaAs process. At 108 GHz, measured output power is 20.4 and 22.5 dBm, respectively. At 120 GHz, measured output is 12.6 and 17.4 dBm, respectively. This is the highest reported for GaAs, among the highest reported to date for microstrip MMIC amplifiers at these frequencies and competitive with more expensive InP and GaN processes. Measurement is compared with simulation.

This paper proposes a wideband four-element multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna operating in the millimeter-wave frequency band for 5G communications from 24.37–39.44 and 45.09–50.62 GHz. The antenna design has been realized using Rogers 5880 substrate and consists of a T-shaped strip that is attached to the top of a 50 Ω feeding line. Two microstrip lines are affixed at the terminal points of T-shaped strip and bent toward the feeding structure. These bent strip lines are then extended by joining two additional L-shaped microstrip lines. On the back, there is a partial defective ground plane featuring a rectangular slot and a thin strip line located at its center. The dimensions of the proposed single element and MIMO antenna are 0.933λ × 0.933λ × 0.024λ and 1.865λ × 1.865λ × 0.024λ, respectively (at 28 GHz), while the edge-to-edge distance between the radiation elements of the MIMO antenna is 4.0 mm. The design incorporates an efficient passive fan-shaped decoupling structure to decrease coupling between antenna elements. Simulations and experimental results show good agreement with each other. For all resonant frequencies the measured peak gain is greater than 4.85 dBi, radiation efficiency is over 90%, diversity gain is greater than 9.5, ECC is less than 0.025, TARC is less than -10 dB and CCL is below 0.4 bits/s/Hz. The proposed MIMO antenna, with its wide bandwidth, high gain, high inter-port isolation, and high efficiency characteristics, can be used for 5G wireless communication applications.

This paper presents a multi-mode resonator (MMR) for next-generation wireless systems that achieves single and dual-band bandpass filter (BPF) responses using a split-ring dual-path structure. The proposed BPF design is realized by employing two pairs of parallel couple lines and two symmetrical step-impedance open-circuited stubs (SIOCS). SIOCS are used to improve selectivity and increase the number of transmission zeros/poles. The proposed single-band BPF exhibits an ultra-wideband (UWB) response having a center frequency of 7.5 GHz, a minimum insertion loss of less than 0.48 dB, and a maximum return loss of 25.35 dB. The proposed UWB BPF has a stopband suppression of 39.34 dB up to 18 GHz and a 3 dB fractional bandwidth of 48.23%. Moreover, a dual-band BPF has been accomplished by utilizing the same architecture while slightly changing the MMR structure and adding more coupling. The center frequency (bandwidth) of the dual broadband BPF is 7.40 GHz (2.40 GHz) and 14.15 GHz (1.7 GHz), respectively. The measured minimum insertion loss is less than 0.23 dB and a return loss of less than 16.8 dB with 3 dB FBWs of 32.4 and 12.1%. Finally, two prototypes are fabricated to validate the proposed characteristics. The BPF's simulated and measured results are in good agreement.

An innovative and simple method for attaining broadband frequency reconfigurable antenna structure is presented using low-cost materials and a compact design. The frequency reconfigurability is attained by the “OFF” and “ON” mechanisms of three PIN diodes. Many performance observations are carried out such as reflectance coefficient, bandwidth (BW), resonance frequency, electric field, feed position variation, and gain among different configurations. The suitability of the presented work for the different applications lies in the X frequency band. The resonating frequency for all switch OFF modes is achieved at 13.2 GHz and one switch ON mode at 10.7 GHz. The proposed design yields the frequency tunability behavior over the broadband of 2.5 GHz. The design yields the directivity of 5.58 dB, the minimum reflectance coefficient of −17.27 dB, and a total gain of 3.87 dB. This design offers an electric field of 46 558 v/m, a BW of 340 MHz, and a normalized directivity of 87° using low-cost substrates. The results of the presented design were also fabricated and related to simulated results. Performance observation of the proposed work with previously published research work is also included. The presented design provides the solution of the low-cost, compact, reconfigurable antennas, which can be used for next-generation communication systems.

An 8 × 8 butler Vivaldi beam-steering antenna array is introduced for X-band application. Circularly polarized array is made of eight Vivaldi elements with 1×8 platform and an 8×8 beam feeding network. Vivaldi radiating element is used in array form to enhance impedance bandwidth and overall efficiency such as gain. Using microwave passive components, for instance, 3 dB branch line couplers and crossover help to have orthogonal modes for feeding each of the elements, hence circular polarization property is achieved. Extracted results show that the array has an impedance bandwidth over 7–12.7 GHz (~58%) for VSWR≤2 and an axial-ratio bandwidth of 3.15 GHz that is between 8.15 and 11.3 GHz (~33%). The peak gain of antenna array is 18 dBi at 10 GHz. The proposed beam-steering antenna with compact size and good operation is capable to cover an angle range from −42 to 55 degree in whole operation frequency.

This paper presents a systematic comparison of the relationship between transmission line characteristic impedance and Q-factor of CPW, slow-wave CPW, microstrip, and slow-wave microstrip in the same CMOS back-end-of-line process. It is found that the characteristic impedance for optimal Q-factor depends on the ground-to-ground spacing of the slow-wave transmission line. Although the media are shown to be similar from a mode of propagation point of view, the 60-GHz optimal Q-factor for slow-wave transmission lines is achieved when the characteristic impedance is ≈23 Ω for slow-wave CPWs and ≈43 Ω for slow-wave microstrip lines, with Q-factor increasing for wider ground plane gaps. Moreover, it is shown that slow-wave CPW is found to have a 12% higher optimal Q-factor than slow-wave microstrip for a similar chip area. The data presented here may be used in selecting Z0 values for S-MS and S-CPW passives in CMOS that maximize transmission line Q-factors.

A microstrip-based lowpass filter (LPF) containing modified ring structures has been presented. Ring resonators are used to form a sharp transition region. In addition, rectangular- and tapered-shaped suppressing cells are used to create an ultra-wide stopband region. By combining the designed ring resonator and suppressors, an LPF has been designed with −3 dB cut-off frequency at 1.83 GHz. A sharp transition region has been achieved from 1.83 (at −3 dB) to 2.1 GHz (at −60 dB). A stopband region has been concluded from 2 to 21 GHz (with the corresponding attenuation level of at least 20 dB). The measured insertion loss is better than 0.1 dB (equal to a return loss of 18.1 dB) in the passband region. The proposed circuit is fabricated and measured. The measured results have an appropriate adaption with the simulated results.

In this paper, a microstrip diplexer is designed based on a novel structure consisting of the meandrous and patch cells. It operates at 0.8 and 0.9 GHz for global system for mobile communications applications. The proposed diplexer is well miniaturized with an overall size of 0.01 λg2. It has the narrowband channels making it appropriate for the modern long-range communication systems, which are widely accepted by the industry. The introduced diplexer has the other advantages of low insertion and return losses and the good isolation between channels better than −30 dB. Moreover, there is a good upper stopband rejection so that the first and second harmonics are suppressed with a maximum level of −30 dB. The designing method is based on finding the effective parameters to control the resonance frequency, miniaturization and harmonic attenuation simultaneously. To validate the designing method and simulation results, the proposed diplexer is fabricated and measured. There is a good agreement between the simulated and measured results.

Wide-band circularly polarized multi-input multi-output (MIMO) antenna array with a 2 × 4 feed network was proposed for C-band application. Different unique techniques were utilized in the proposed array to enhance the antenna characteristics, such as gain, 3 dB axial ratio bandwidth (ARBW), impedance tuning, and ruinous mutual coupling effects. A miniaturized dual-feed Tai chi-shaped antenna element with a pair of feeding points and a pair of eyebrow-shaped strips was presented for enhancing circular polarization (CP) purity and impedance matching. For a better improvement of CP features, a 2*4 MIMO sequentially rotated (MIMO-SR) feed network was used to achieve broader 3 dB ARBW. Besides, the MIMO feature of the feed network could control the left- and right-handed CP, respectively. Ultimately, specific forms of slot and slit structures were applied onto the top layer of MIMO feed network that provided a high isolation between the radiating elements and array network. Furthermore, the diversity gain (DG) was studied. The extracted measured results illustrated an impedance bandwidth of 3.5–8.2 GHz at port 1 and 3.5–8.3 GHz at port 2 for VWSR < 2 and 3 dB ARBW of 4.6–7.6 GHz at port 1 and 4.6–7.5 GHz at port 2. The peak gain of 9.9 dBi was at 6 GHz.

In this paper, a microstrip diplexer composed of two similar resonators is designed. The proposed resonator is consisting of four microstrip cells, which are connected to a coupled lines structure. In order to select a suitable geometric structure, first, all cells are assumed as undefined structures where there is a lack of basic information about their geometry and dimensions. Then, an equivalent LC circuit of the coupled lines is introduced and analyzed to estimate the general structure of the resonator respect to a requested resonance frequency. The proposed diplexer is designed to operate at 2.36 and 4 GHz for wireless applications. The insertion losses (S21 and S31) are decreased significantly at the resonance frequencies, so that they are 0.2 and 0.4 dB at 2.36 and 4 GHz, respectively. The designed diplexer is fabricated and measured and the measurement results are in a good agreement with the simulations.

Design method for band-stop filters (BSFs) that suppress a requested number of spurious bandstops and reduce ripples in the passbands below ~1 dB is proposed. BSF is designed in a form of a cascade of cells, each consisting of steps of equal electrical length, where the number of steps is used to control the number of suppressed spurious bandstops. Analytical formulas are developed that enable initial design of BSF for a given central frequency, depth, and bandwidth of the stopband. Varying the minimum characteristic impedances of initial cells, through an optimization using circuit simulation, the ripples in passbands are reduced below ~1 dB. Using the proposed theory, three filters in microstrip technology, with suppression of 3, 5, and 7 spurious stopbands respectively, were designed, fabricated, and measured. Good agreement between simulated and measured results has been observed. The proposed design can be recommended for filters having broad stop bandwidths, between 40 and 100%.

A new quad-band bandpass filter for Global System for Mobile Communications, Wireless Local Area Network, and Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access is designed and fabricated using the stub-loaded resonator (SLR) technology without complex fabrication process, such as via-hole or multi-layer substrate. Owing to the embedded SLR, the proposed quad-mode resonator is compact. Equivalent circuits of the proposed quad-mode resonator are analyzed in detail, and high design freedom is shown because of shifting the passband frequencies individually. Good passband selectivity and isolation of the each passband at 1.8, 2.4, 3.5, and 5.2 GHz can be well achieved due to the transmission zeros appeared near the each passband edges. Experimental results show good agreement with the simulated results.

In this paper, an accurate neuro-fuzzy-based model is proposed for efficient computer-aided design (CAD) modeling and optimization of microwave circuits and devices. The adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) approach is used to determine the scattering parameters of a microstrip filter and is applied to the optimization design of this microstrip filter. The ANFIS has the advantages of expert knowledge of fuzzy inference system and learning capability of artificial neural networks. The neuro-fuzzy model has been trained and tested with different sets of input/output data. Finally, different results, which confirm the validity of the proposed model, are reported.

In this paper, a miniaturized bandpass filter for ultra-wide-band applications is proposed. It is based on the embedding of high-pass structures in a low-pass filter. A semi-lumped technology combining surface-mounted capacitors and transmission lines has been used. The filter design rules have been carried out. Furthermore, two filters having a 3-dB fractional bandwidth of 142 and 150%, centered at 0.77 and 1 GHz, respectively, have been realized for a proof of concept. Measured characteristics, in good agreement with simulations, show attractive properties of return loss (|S11| <−18 dB), insertion loss (<0.3 dB), and a maximum group delay and group delay variation of 2 and 1.3 ns, respectively. A distributed filter based on the same low-pass/high-pass approach has been also realized and measured for comparison. The size reduction reaches 85% for the semi-lumped filter, and its selectivity is improved with a shape factor of 1.3:1 instead of 1.5:1. The semi-lumped filter's drawback is related to a smaller rejection bandwidth compared to the distributed one. To improve the high-frequency stopband, an original technique for spurious responses suppression based on capacitively loaded stubs has been proposed. Even if the performances do not reach that obtained for the distributed approach, with this technique spurious responses are pushed until eight times the center frequency. A sensitivity study vs. critical parameters has also been carried out, showing the robustness of the design.