Ultra-wideband array in PCB for millimeter-wave 5G and ISM

Next generation 5G mobile architectures will take advantage of the millimeter-wave spectrum to deliver unprecedented bandwidth. Concurrently, there is a need to consolidate numerous disparate allocations into a single, multi-functional array. Existing arrays are either narrow-band, prohibitively expensive or cannot be scaled to these frequencies. In this paper, we present the first ultra-wideband millimeter-wave array to operate across the six 5G and ISM bands spanning 24−71 GHz. Critically, the array is realized using low-cost PCB. The design concept and optimized layout are presented, and fabrication and measurement considerations are discussed.