3D-Printed Dielectric Resonator Antenna Array for Millimeter Wave Applications

Abstract

This paper aims to illustrate the feasibility of using inexpensive open-source 3D printing technique for the development of antennas for 5G millimeter-wave (mmWave) and future communication systems. A dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) element and its corresponding 2 × 2 array both working at 24 GHz mmWave band are designed and analyzed. The DRA array could achieve a maximum gain of 11.8 dBi at boresight direction, and ±42°/ ±46° -3-dB scanning angle at xz- and yz-plane, respectively. As a verification, the DRAs were printed using PREPERM® ABS1000 filament and generally accessible 3D printing machines. The measured results show a good agreement with the simulated ones, which proves the potential and feasibility of the low-cost open-source 3D-printing technique on the development of 5G mmWave and future applications.