PET-Based Instant Inkjet-Printed 4 × 4 Butler Matrix Beamforming Network

Authors

  • Suleiman A. Babale Department of Electrical Engineering, Bayero University Kano, Kano 3011, Nigeria
  • Sharul Kamal A. Rahim Wireless Communication Centre, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Johor Bahru 81310, Malaysia
  • Kim G. Tan Faculty of Engineering & Technology, Multimedia University, Jalan Ayer Keroh Lama, Melaka 75450, Malaysia
  • Kashif N. Paracha Department of Electrical Engineering, Government College University, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
  • Arslan D. Butt Department of Electrical Engineering, Government College University, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
  • S. H. Lawan Department of Electrical Engineering, Bayero University Kano, Kano 3011, Nigeria
  • Irfan Ali Wireless Communication Centre, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Johor Bahru 81310, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13052/2022.ACES.J.370208

Keywords:

Modified coupler, PET Substrate, Butler Matrix, Crossover

Abstract

In this paper, a novel planar Butler matrix (BM) utilizing only 3dB3⁢dBhybrid couplers and a crossover are implemented using a low-cost silver-nano inkjet printing technique. Unlike in the conventional design of BM where a phase shifter is required, this novel design does not need a phase shifter to be implemented. However, the use of delicate substrates like polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in the design makes it unique. This is not possible with the conventional thermal curing process, as PET substrate cannot be subjected to an excessively feverish temperature. The results obtained show good return loss and transmission coefficients better than 26.1026.10 and 23.54dB23.54⁢dB, respectively, at the center frequency. Similarly, an amplitude imbalance of less than 2.4dB2.4⁢dB with phase mismatch within ±0.25∘±0.25∘ is achieved at the center frequency. The BM has a −10dB-10⁢dB bandwidth of 24.79% with a beam pattern produced at +13∘+13∘,−40∘-40∘, +40∘+40∘, and −13∘-13∘ when ports 1-4 of the BM are energized.

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Author Biographies

Suleiman A. Babale, Department of Electrical Engineering, Bayero University Kano, Kano 3011, Nigeria

Suleiman Aliyu Babale (Member, IEEE) received the bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Bayero University Kano, Nigeria, in 2005, the M.Sc. degree from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria, in 2012, and the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering with majors in telecommunications from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor Bahru, Malaysia, in 2018.

He has published more than 25 journal papers and conference and technical proceedings on antenna arrays, smart antenna systems, and microwave devices. He has been a Lecturer with Bayero University Kano since 2009 and a registered member of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) since 2011. His main research interests are in millimeter-wave multi-beam antenna array with Butler matrix beamforming network for 5G wireless communications.

Sharul Kamal A. Rahim, Wireless Communication Centre, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Johor Bahru 81310, Malaysia

Sharul Kamal Abdul Rahim received the first degree from University of Tennessee, USA majoring in electrical engineering, graduating in 1996, the M.Sc. degree in engineering (communication engineering) from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) in 2001, and the Ph.D. degree in wireless communication system from the University of Birmingham, U.K., in 2007.

Currently, he is a Professor with Wireless Communication Centre, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, UTM Skudai. His research interest is in smart antenna on communication system. He has published more than 50 journal papers and technical proceedings on rain attenuations, smart antenna system, microwave design, and reconfigurable antenna in national and international journals and conferences.

Dr. Rahim is also a member of IEEE Malaysia Section, Member Board of Engineer Malaysia (MBEM), and Member of Institute of Engineer Malaysia (MIEM) and Eta Kappa Nu Chapter (International Electrical Engineering Honor Society, University of Tennessee).

Kim G. Tan, Faculty of Engineering & Technology, Multimedia University, Jalan Ayer Keroh Lama, Melaka 75450, Malaysia

Tan Kim Geok received the B.E., M.E., and Ph.D. degrees from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, in 1995, 1997, and 2000, respectively, all in electrical engineering.

He was a Senior R&D Engineer with EPCOS Singapore, in 2000. From 2001 to 2003, he was with DoCoMo Euro-Labs, Munich, Germany. He is currently an Academic Staff with Multimedia University. His research interests include radio propagation for outdoor and indoor, RFID, multi-user detection technique for multi-carrier technologies, and A-GPS.

Kashif N. Paracha, Department of Electrical Engineering, Government College University, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan

Kashif Nisar Paracha received the bachelor’s degree (Hons.) in electrical engineering from the University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Taxila, Pakistan, in 2004, the M.S. degree in electrical engineering from the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Mineral (KFUPM), Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, in 2008, and the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Johor Bahru, Malaysia, in 2019.

He was a Research Assistant with the Electrical Engineering Department, KFUPM, from 2006 to 2008, and he taught with the Electrical Engineering Department, The University of Faisalabad (TUF), Pakistan, from 2008 to 2011. He is currently an Assistant Professor with the Electrical Engineering Department, Government College University Faisalabad (GCUF). He has authored or coauthored over eight research journal articles and three conference articles. His research interests include communication, wearable antenna design, metamaterials, inkjet printing methods, and algorithms.

Dr. Paracha is a Life-Time Professional Member of the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) and Senior member of IEEE, USA.

Arslan D. Butt, Department of Electrical Engineering, Government College University, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan

Arslan Dawood Butt received the B.Sc. degree in electrical engineering with distinction from EME College, NUST, Pakistan, in 2010. He immediately enrolled for M.Sc. in electronic systems engineering at Politecnico di Milano, Italy and received the master’s degree in 2012.

He later pursued the Ph.D. degree in the field of “silicon based radiation detection systems” with the same university and was awarded the Ph.D. degree with Merit in 2016. During his M.S. and Ph.D. studies, Dr. Butt worked on international projects sponsored by European Space Agency, the European Commission, and the Instituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) Milan section. In 2017, Dr. Butt joined the Department of Electrical Engineering, Government College University Faisalabad (GCUF), Pakistan as an Assistant Professor to pursue a career of teaching and research in Pakistan. In GCUF, Dr. Butt has changed his field of research to motion tracking and wearable sensors for augmented reality applications. He is the author and coauthor of about 16 research journal articles, and 40 conference articles.

S. H. Lawan, Department of Electrical Engineering, Bayero University Kano, Kano 3011, Nigeria

Sani Halliru Lawan (Member, IEEE) received the B.Eng. and M.Eng. degrees in electrical engineering from Bayero University Kano, Kano, Nigeria, in 2006 and 2013, respectively, and the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering (photonics) from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, in 2019.

He has been working as a Lecturer with Bayero University Kano since 2009. His research interest includes fiber propagation, optical and wireless communication systems, passive optical networks, and electrical engineering services.

Irfan Ali, Wireless Communication Centre, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Johor Bahru 81310, Malaysia

Irfan Ali received the B.E. degree in telecommunications from the Mehran University of Engineering and Technology (MUET), Pakistan, in 2010 and the master’s degree in telecommunications engineering from the NED University of Engineering and Technology, in 2014, and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree from Wireless Communication Centre (WCC), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM).

His research interests include dielectric resonator antennas, microstrip patch antennas, MIMO antennas, and mutual coupling analysis. He has published more than 20 papers in reputed journals and conference proceedings.

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Published

2022-07-09

How to Cite

[1]
S. A. . Babale, “PET-Based Instant Inkjet-Printed 4 × 4 Butler Matrix Beamforming Network”, ACES Journal, vol. 37, no. 02, pp. 199–208, Jul. 2022.

Issue

2022: Vol 37 Iss 2

Section

Articles