3D Printed Millimeter wave Antenna Integrated into a Ring for 5G Applications

A 3D printed antenna embedded in a 3D printed ring for 5G millimeter wave applications is proposed. Two additive manufacturing (AM) methods have been combined in a single machine to develop the structure. Fused filament fabrication (FFF) was used to make the substrate of the antenna and supporting ring while direct write with conductive paste was used to create the antenna radiator. Polylactic acid (PLA) plastic was used in the development of the dielectric layers while the metallic patch of the radiator was created using silver paste. Reflection coefficient and radiation pattern of the ring antenna were tested in free space and worn on a hand phantom. The hand phantom was developed using pork sausages placed inside a thin glove. The design and simulations were carried out in CST Microwave StudioTM. Measured results show consistency with the simulated results. The antenna operates satisfactorily at the proposed 5G millimeter wave communication band. This work aims to demonstrate a concept of millimeter wave 3D printed ring antennas and the development and use of sausage-based hand phantoms for antenna measurements.