A Dual-Band Patch Antenna with Combined Self-Decoupling and Filtering Properties and Its Application in Dual/Squad-Band Two-Element MIMO Array

This paper proposes a dual-band patch antenna with combined self-decoupling and filtering properties, designed to suppress mutual coupling between two antenna elements both within the same dual-band and across different dual-bands. Initially, a dual-band aperture-coupled filtering patch antenna is designed, featuring a forked short-circuited SIR feedline with a quarter-wavelength open-ended stub and a U-shaped patch with two U-slots, which generate three controllable radiation nulls while introducing two additional resonant modes. The design steps are also provided in detail. Subsequently, the low mutual coupling phenomenon of two vertically placed aperture-coupled patch antennas is investigated, successfully developing a high-isolated dual-band two-element MIMO array I. Furthermore, the other quad-band two-element MIMO array II is designed, which utilizes the filtering response to significantly reduce mutual coupling across four bands. Finally, a dual-band filtering patch antenna element and two two-element MIMO arrays are fabricated and measured. The measurements and simulations validate the antenna's low mutual coupling performance in multi-band MIMO arrays and demonstrate its strong potential for future wireless communication applications.