Massive MIMO Antenna Array

Design and Challenges

Dr Yue Gao
Antennas & Electromagnetics Research Group
yue.gao@qmul.ac.uk
http://www.eecs.qmul.ac.uk/~yueg/

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 Outline
Introduction from MIMO to massive MIMO
The requirements for massive MIMO antenna array
The design and performance of a single element
The design and performance of a sub-array
The design and performance of a Massive MIMO antenna array
Conclusions & future work

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2
 Abstract
Recent advance on Multiple Input and Multiple Output (MIMO) [1] have led the transformation from a
point-to-point single user MIMO to multi-user MMO (MU-MIMO). The MU-MIMO refers to a base
station (BS) with multiple antennas simultaneously serves a set of single-antenna users, and the
multiplexing gain can be shared by all users. With the staggering increase of wireless data traffic, massive
MIMO enhancing MU-MIMO benefits has shown over 10 times spectral efficiency increase over a point-
to-point MIMO under realistic propagation environment with simpler signal processing
algorithms. Massive MIMO is also known as Large-Scale Antenna Systems, Very Large MIMO, Hyper
MIMO, Full-Dimension MIMO and ARGOS), where each BS is equipped with orders of magnitude
more antennas, e.g., 100 or more. This has brought a new paradigm for antennas and propagation society
to tackle challenges to design over 100 antenna ports at base station with a set of new requirements. This
introduction briefly reviews the progress from MIMO to massive MIMO, and addresses the key challenges
for massive MIMO antenna array design via an example antenna array design [2].

Keyword: MIMO, MU-MIMO, Massive MIMO, large-scale antenna array

[1]. Y. Gao, X. Chen, Z. Ying and C. G. Parini, Design and Performance Investigation of a Dual-element PIFA Array at 2.5 GHz for MIMO Terminal, IEEE Trans. On Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 55, No. 12, pp: 3433 - 3441, Dec. 2007.
[2] R. Ma, Y. Gao, L. Cuthbert and C. G. Parini, "Dual-polarized Turning Torso Antenna Array for Massive MIMO Systems," The 9th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP 2015), Apr. 2015.

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3
 A point-to-point MIMO antenna system
Multiple Input and Multiple Output (MIMO) has
been well studied and understood in terms of point- Antenna 1 Antenna 1

to-point MIMO links as shown in Fig. 1 to achieve: Transmitter

Multipath environment
Receivers
Original message

1) Enhance radio link reliabilities via diversity [3]

Antenna 2 Antenna 2 Received message

2) Increase data rate via multiplex [4]

In a MIMO system in a given frequency band and Fig. 1 a point-to-point MIMO antenna system

time slot in a multipath environment, the reliability

or capacity can be linearly increase with the number
of transmitter and receiver antennas.
This has brought huge challenges for antenna
society to hosting multiple antennas in a size limited
mobile terminal as shown in Fig. 2 [1]. Fig 2. a prototype (left) of the dual-element antenna array and current distribution (right)
[3] J. H. Winters, On the capacity of radio communication systems with diversity in a Rayleigh fading environment, IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications Vol. 5(No. 5): 871878, 1987.
[4] G. Foschini, Layered space-time architecture for wireless communi- cation in a fading environment when using multi-element antennas, Bell Labs Tech. J., vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 4159, 1996.

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 A multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO) system
Multipath propagation environment for all
communication scenarios and multiple antennas at
mobile terminal (over 4 antennas) are very nearly
impossible to be achieved in practice.
A multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO) antenna system refers to
a base station (BS) with multiple antennas simultaneously
serves a set of single-antenna users and the multiplexing
gain can be shared by all users [5].
Fig. 3 A multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO) system
which is less sensitive to prorogation environment.
This has reduced the challenges to hosting multiple
antennas in a size limited mobile terminal and antennas
at base station only with 8 ports in LTE-Advanced.

[5] D. Gesbert, M. Kountouris, R. W. Heath, Jr., C. B. Chae, and T. Salzer, From Single user to Multiuser Communications: Shifting the MIMO paradigm, IEEE Signal Processing Magazine, Vol. 24, No. 5, pp. 36-46, Oct., 2007.

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 A massive MIMO antenna system
Extending the benefits of MU-MIMO, Massive MIMO is
also known as Large-Scale Antenna Systems, Very
Large MIMO, Hyper MIMO, Full-Dimension MIMO
and ARGOS), where each BS is equipped with orders
of magnitude more antennas, e.g., 100 or more [6].
Massive MIMO has shown over 10 times spectral
efficiency increase over a point-to-point MIMO under
realistic propagation environment with simpler signal
processing algorithms [7][8].
Massive MIMO has brought significant challenges to AP
society as we have not experienced to designed oFigurever 1: Some possible
Fig. 3antenna
some possible antenna configurations
configurations and deployment
and deployment scenarios
scenarios for a mas
100 antenna ports at base stations in a compact sstation.
ize. for a massive MIMO base station [8].

[6] T. L. Marzetta, Noncooperative Cellular Wireless with Unlimited Numbers of Base Station Antennas, IEEE Trans. Wireless Commun., vol. 9, no. 11, pp. 35903600, Nov. 2010.
[7] F. Rusek, D. Persson, B. K. Lau, E. G. Larsson, T. L. Marzetta, O. Edfors, and F. Tufvesson, Scaling Up MIMO: Opportunities and challenges with very large arrays, IEEE Signal Processing Mag., vol. 30, no. 1, pp. 4060, Jan. 2013.
[8] E. G. Larsson, F. Tufvesson, O. Edfors, and T. L. Marzetta, Massive MIMO for Next Generation Wireless Systems, IEEE Commun. aMmassive ag., vol. 52, nMIMO system
o. 2, pp. 186195, Feb. 2can
014. be envisioned, see Fig. 1. Each antenna unit wou
active,
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is permi:ed fed
without wri:en via anby optical
permission the author.or electric digital bus.

Massive MIMO relies on spatial multiplexing that in turn relies on the base 6
stat
 Challenges for Massive MIMO antennas
Compact and low profile
Low mutual coupling
High gain to reduce cost of RF chains
Flexibility: Centralised/distributed
Configuration and orientations
Multi-modes operations
Multiple frequency bands
Correlation coefficient
Channel characterization Fig. 4 the massive MIMO antenna array made by Lund University
http://www.ni.com/white-paper/52382/en/

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 Runbo2012
ON ANTENNAS AND PROPAGATION, VOL. 60, NO. 10, OCTOBER Ma , Yue Gao , Clive Parini , Laurie Cuthbert
1
MPI-QMUL Information System Research Centre, Macao Polytechnic Institute, SAR Macao, r.ma@qmul.ac.uk

The design of a single element

2
Queen Mary University of London, School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science, London, United Kingdom
4480 IEEE yue.gao@qmul.ac.uk
TRANSACTIONS ON ANTENNAS AND PROPAGATION, VOL. 60, NO. 10, OCTOBER 2012

AbstractA compact dual-polarized antenna with four Stack Layer 1: Patches

radiating square patches is presented and arranged to establish Layers
Layer 2: Dielectric
an array for massive MIMO systems operating at 3.6GHz. There
Layer 3: Metallic Coupling strips
are three stack levels of orthohexagonal rings in the array and h1
each ring contains six sub-arrays with a gain of 16.6dBi and half- Layer 4: Dielectric

power beam width of 12.5 in azimuth. Within a volume of h2

Layer 5: Ground Plane
883, the maximum mutual coupling level between any two Layer 6: Dielectric
ports in the array is lower than -29.8dB. With the steerable h3
feature of each beam formed by sub-array, the proposed array Layer 7: Feeding Network
can generate 18 beams covering around a whole circumference.
se sb Layout beneath Ground Plane
w1 sa
Index Termsantenna array, massive MIMO, polarization. Patch Patch
1 2
l1
I. INTRODUCTION
la Port 1
Massive MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output)
technology can provide dramatic increase in communication
capacity, because energy can be focused with extreme ls
sharpness into small regions in space, resulting from the Patch Patch Port 2
3 4
aggressive spatial multiplexing used in massive MIMO with y y
x Layout above Ground Plane x
hundreds of antennas [1]. Antenna arrays naturally become the
Fig. 1. Geometry keyofrole the proposed for Massive stacked MIMO. patchInCPorder antenna to employ
showing:the (a)numerous
side
view; Fig. 5(b) upper number
a stacked patch;dual-polarized
patch (c)of middle antenna patch;
antenna elements
and (d) lower
[9]. efficientlypatch. in space as well as Fig. 1. Structure Fig. 6 the ofproposed
the proposed singleantenna antennawith h1=0.762,
for massive h2=1.524,
MIMO [2]. h3=0.762,
maintain the required performance, research on such antenna l1=23.7, w1=23.7, la=16.6, ls=6.27, se=13.7, sa=10.0 and sb=12.5 (all
otograph [9] O. Fof theM. triple
alade, band
Ur Rehman, stacked
Y. Gao, X. Chen, apatch antenna:
nd C. Parini, (a)
Single Feed topPview;
Stacked dimensions
atch Circular Polarized Antenna for Triple Band GPS Receivers, are O
IEEE Trans. inn mm).
Antennas and Propagation, vol. 60, no. 10, Oct. 2012.
Note: ( ,
ew; and (c) side view.arrays have been investigated [2-4]. It is still very challenging
, to optimize quantity and volume , of the antenna, array,
*This use of this work is restricted solely for academic purposes. The author of this work owns the copyright and no reproduc9on in aFig. 2.
ny form is prPhotograph
=2.2
ermi:ed and
without heights
wof the
ri:en of
triple h
permission b1y , the
band h 2 and h3,patch
astacked
uthor. respectively.antenna: (a) Ontopthe top
view;
, ,
especially in the applications with longer wavelength. , ,
, The 3.6GHz, band has been and ). (b) back layer view;there and are
(c) side four view.
radiating patches which are driven by four
a popular choice for 4G LTE 8
metallic coupling strips on layer 3. On the bottom layer there is
 The performance of a single element

0
-5
-10 Simulated Measured
-15 S11 S11
-20 S21 S21
S-parameters (dB)

-25 S22 S22

!
-30
-35
-40
-45
-50
-55
-60
3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5
Frequency (GHz)

!
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9
 The current distribution of the single element

Port 1 Port 2

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10
 SVv

S-Paramet
-30
III. ARRAY CONFIGURATION
The design of a sub-array for Massive MIMO For the base station of massive MIMO system, the array
configuration is similar to the Turning Torso building, and is a
-40

three stacked levels of orthohexagonal wall rings with a -50

0
3.0 3.2 3.4 3.6 3.8 4.0 4.2 4.4
progressive twisting angle of 20 between adjacent levels, as
Frequency (GHz)
shown in Fig. 3. Each ring is composed of six antenna sub- -5
arrays, which is a linear array with four proposed antenna Fig. 2. The simulated S-parameters of the antenna sub-array and array.
units, resulting in 16 patches and 8 ports per sub-array. -10

S-parameters (dB)
Therefore, there are 18 sub-arrays distributed around the whole Simulated Measured
circumference to provide 18 independent beams with included S11 S11
-15
S22 S22
angle of 20 between adjacent boresight. Compared with the S33
Simulated model S33
configuration in paper [4], the stacked one can reduce the -20 S44 S44
radial size of the ring by increasing the longitudinal size of the S55 S55
stack. The whole array contains 288 patches and 144 ports S66 S66
-25
S77 S77
hierarchically, and only occupies a volume of 648mm648 S88 S88
mm258mm. -30
The two port-pairs with the highest mutual coupling levels 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9

are adjacent and the levels are also given in Fig. 2, which are Fig. 3. The configuration of the proposed(GHz)
Frequency Turning Torso Antenna Array.
indicated as SHh and SVv, where the subscript of Hh means 20
ports exciting horizontal polarization and belonging to two 15
Top view of the prototype
horizontally adjacent units, Vv means ports exciting vertical 10
polarization and belonging to two vertically adjacent units. 5

Realized Gain (dBi)

Obviously, the mutual coupling levels between the ports of 0
array are still low enough, no more than -29.8dB. -5
If all the four Port 1s or 2s in a sub-array are excited -10
simultaneously with in-phase signals, a horizontal or vertical -15 Horizontal Pol. Vertical Pol.
zx-Plane Co-Pol. yz-Plane Co-Pol.
polarization beam along the normal of the sub-array broadside -20 zx-Plane X-Pol. yz-Plane X-Pol.
is formed. For both polarization modes, their radiation patterns -25 yz-Plane Co-Pol zx-Plane Co-Pol
yz-Plane X-Pol. zx-Plane X-Pol.
are similar, as shown in Fig. 4. The gain is 16.6dBi and the -30
-180 -150 -120 -90 -60 -30 0 30 60 90 120 150 180
Bottom view half-power
of the prototype beam widths are about 12.5 in azimuth and 52 in Degree
altitude. If the signals with equal phase shifts are applied on
Fig. 4. The radiation patterns of the sub-array.
the same mode ports, the beam can be steered in azimuth.
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Simulation shows that the steering angle from the broadside is
about 9 degrees with the side-lobe level of less than -10dB REFERENCES 11
 The performance of the sub-array for Massive MIMO

! !

Horizontal linear polarisation Vertical linear polarisation

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12
 Vv

S-Param
-30
III. ARRAY CONFIGURATION
Theconfiguration
design of
For the base station of a Massive
massive MIMO system, the MIMO
array
is similar to the Turning Torso building, and is a
antenna array -40

three stacked levels of orthohexagonal wall rings with a -50

3.0 3.2 3.4 3.6 3.8 4.0 4.2 4.4
progressive twisting angle of 20 between adjacent levels, as
Frequency (GHz)
shown in Fig. 3. Each ring is composed of six antenna sub-
arrays, which is a linear array with four proposed antenna Fig. 2. The simulated S-parameters of the antenna sub-array and array.
units, resulting in 16 patches and 8 ports per sub-array.
Therefore, there are 18 sub-arrays distributed around the whole
circumference to provide 18 independent beams with included
angle of 20 between adjacent boresight. Compared with the
configuration in paper [4], the stacked one can reduce the
radial size of the ring by increasing the longitudinal size of the
stack. The whole array contains 288 patches and 144 ports
hierarchically, and only occupies a volume of 648mm648
mm258mm.
The two port-pairs with the highest mutual coupling levels
! ! 3. The configuration of the proposed Turning Torso Antenna Arra
Fig.
are adjacent and the levels are also given in Fig. 2, which are
indicated as SHh and SVv, where the subscript of Hh means 20
one hexciting
ports exagonhorizontal polarization three
and hbelonging exagons tostacked two 15
The turning torso massive MIMO array
horizontally adjacent units, Vv means ports exciting vertical 10
polarization and belonging to two vertically adjacent units. 5

ealized Gain (dBi)

Obviously, the mutual coupling levels between the ports of 0
array are still low enough, no more than -29.8dB. -5
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If all the four Port 1s or 2s in a sub-array are excited -10
simultaneously with in-phase signals, a horizontal or vertical -15 Horizontal Pol. Vertical Pol. 13
zx-Plane Co-Pol. yz-Plane Co-Pol.
 Conclusions & future work
Recent progress on MIMO, MU-MIMO and massive MIMO has been reviewed with a
proposed design, that is:
A compact dual-polarized antenna with four radiating square patches
A sub-array with the four proposed single element
A total 144 ports array with 18 sub-array for massive MIMO

The features for the proposed massive MIMO antenna array:

Compact in size but also with low mutual coupling
The choice of higher gain narrow beam or lower gain wider beam
Flexible configuration and arrangement of the sub-arrays
There are enormous research challenges and opportunities for us to design
and characterize over 100 antennas at the base station for Massive MIMO.
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14
 Questions, comments and suggestions
are warmly welcome!

Acknowledgements:
Dr Yue Gao Dr Rubo Ma
yue.gao@qmul.ac.uk Prof Laurie Cuthbert
Prof Clive Parini

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