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From 2x2 to 4x4, what are the challenges in the antenna design of smartphones?
Recently, during the 2017 IAET Summer Seminar hosted by Taiwan University, Qorvo shared insights into the evolving trends and challenges in antenna design within the mobile phone industry under the theme of "Smart Antenna Control Systems." Their presentation highlighted the increasing complexity and rapid changes in smartphone antenna specifications as devices strive to meet growing data transmission demands.
We understand that future generations of smartphones are required to accommodate increasingly intricate handset specifications. Modern handsets now incorporate multiple antennas and carrier aggregation (CA) to handle these demands. From a market standpoint, the average traditional LTE mobile phone is transitioning from 2x2 MIMO to 4x4 MIMO configurations. High-end flagships are increasingly adopting 4x4 MIMO-enabled smartphones, with some top-tier brands even embracing designs that integrate 4x4 MIMO along with CA. This shift has made antenna design more demanding, particularly in fully metallic smartphones, where the challenges are immense.
In terms of spectrum coverage, antennas must adapt to the broadening frequency range, from 600 MHz to 960 MHz, within the confined space of a mobile phone. This presents significant design hurdles. With the advent of 5G technology, anticipated to debut in 2019 with sub6G products, the demands on antenna design are set to rise even further.
From an industrial design perspective, this year's smartphones are trending towards higher screen-to-body ratios, which means less available space for antenna placement. Naturally, this makes antenna design more challenging. Additionally, user preferences are playing a larger role in balancing antenna design with industrial aesthetics.
In 2017, the North American market imposed stringent requirements on high-end smartphones, necessitating 4x4 MIMO + CA antenna designs to achieve 1 Gbps downlink speeds. Europe is gradually aligning with this trend. Experts note that upgrading from 2x2 to 4x4 MIMO offers significant advantages, including stronger signal reception and improved performance at cell edges, especially under weak signal conditions. While conventional metal-framed phones can generally meet 4x4 MIMO requirements, the real challenge lies in managing complex CA combinations simultaneously across all four antennas, which also places considerable stress on the antenna switch's performance.
Qorvo’s suite of solutions for antenna control systems (ACS), including switches, tunable capacitors, and impedance tuners, provides the necessary technology to enhance radiation efficiency and minimize mismatch losses. These innovations ensure optimal performance for both single and multi-antenna configurations, meeting the diverse and evolving needs of modern mobile devices.
As the mobile industry continues to evolve, Qorvo remains committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation to deliver cutting-edge solutions that empower the next generation of connected experiences.