Dual-polarized, differential fed microstrip patch antennas with very high interport isolation for full-duplex communication

Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/TAP.2017.2765829

This communication presents two dual-polarized microstrip patch antenna systems based on a single radiating element with 180 degrees ring hybrid coupler for differential feeding to achieve high interport RF isolation. One of the implemented single-layer patch antennas provides more than 67 dB isolation between transmit (Tx) and receive (Rx) ports at 2.4 GHz while the second fabricated antenna with slot coupled Tx port along with differential feeding for Rx operation provides more than 90 dB RF isolation at 2.41 GHz between dc isolated Tx-Rx ports. Moreover, the single-layer antenna provides better than 62 dB interport isolation for 10 dB-return loss impedance bandwidth (BW) of 50 MHz. Measured interport isolation for implemented antenna with slot coupled Tx port achieves around 70 and 79 dB port to port RF isolation for 50 and 20 MHz BWs, respectively, and these are the highest amounts of isolation for a single antenna to best of our knowledge. The antenna with slot coupled Tx port provides more interport RF isolation as compared to single-layer antenna due to low coupling between slot coupled and co-planar quarter-wave microstrip fed ports. Both antenna structures have the capability to remove in-band nonlinear self-interference (SI) components without complex SI cancellation circuits.