Nam Kim

Prof. Nam Kim

School of Information and Communication Engineering, College of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Chungbuk National University, Korea
orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

29Years (1998-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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15 July 2020 in IEEE Access
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
Niamat HussainNiamat Hussain
Niamat Hussain
MJMinjoo Jeong
Minjoo Jeong
Anees AbbasAnees Abbas
Anees Abbas
Nam KimNam Kim
Nam Kim
This paper presents a metasurface-based single-layer low-profile circularly polarized (CP) antenna with the wideband operation and its multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) configuration for fifth-generation (5G) communication systems. The antenna consists of a truncated corner patch and a metasurface (MS) of a $2\times2$ periodic square metallic plates. The distinguishing feature of this design is that all the radiating elements (radiator and MS) are printed on the single-layer of the dielectric substrate, which ensures the low-profile and low-cost features of the antenna while maintaining high gain and wideband characteristics. The wideband CP radiations are realized by exploiting surface-waves along the MS and its radiation mechanism is explained in detail. The single-layer antenna geometry has an overall compact size of $1.0\lambda _{0} \times 1.0\lambda _{0} \times 0.04\lambda _{0}$ . Simulated and measured results show that the single-layer metasurface antenna has a wide 10 dB impedance bandwidth of 23.4 % (24.5 – 31 GHz) (23.4 %) and overlapping 3-dB axial ratio bandwidth of 16.8 % (25 – 29.6 GHz). The antenna also offers stable radiation patterns with a high radiation efficiency (>95%) and a flat gain of 11 dBic. Moreover, a 4-port ( $2\times2$ ) MIMO antenna is designed using the proposed design by placing each element perpendicular to each other. Without a dedicated decoupling structure, the MIMO antenna shows an excellent diversity performance in terms of isolation between antenna elements, envelope correlation coefficient, and channel capacity loss. Most importantly, the operational bandwidth of the antenna covers the millimeter-wave (mm-wave) band (25 – 29.5 GHz) assigned for 5G communication. These features of the proposed antenna system make it a suitable candidate for 5G smart devices and sensors.

28 January 2020 in IEEE Access
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
Niamat HussainNiamat Hussain
Niamat Hussain
MJMinjoo Jeong
Minjoo Jeong
AAAnees Abbas
Anees Abbas
TKTae-Jun Kim
Tae-Jun Kim
Nam KimNam Kim
Nam Kim
This paper presents the design and realization of a metasurface-based low-profile wideband Circularly Polarized (CP) patch antenna with high performance for Fifth-generation (5G) communication systems. The antenna consists of a modified patch, sandwiched between an array of 4 x 4 symmetrical square ring Metasurface (MTS) and a ground plane. Initially, the intrinsic narrow bandwidth of the conventional patch antenna is increased using a diagonal rectangular slot. For further performance enhancement, the additional resonances and CP radiations are achieved for wideband operation in terms of impedance and Axial Ratio (AR) by effective excitation of surface waves propagating along the MTS. The stacking of MTS on the modified patch without any air gap resulted in an overall compact size of 1.1λ0x 1.1λ0 x 0.093λ0. Simulated and measured results show that the MTS-based antenna offers a wide impedance bandwidth ranging from 24 - 34.1 GHz (34.7%) for |S11| <; -10 with a maximum gain of 11 dBic and a 3-dB AR bandwidth of 24.1 - 29.5 GHz (20.1 %). Moreover, the proposed antenna has a smooth gain response with a small variation in its gain (9.5 - 11 dBic) and a stable left-hand CP radiation in the desired frequency range. The operating bandwidth of this antenna is covering the proposed entire global millimeter-wave spectrum (24.2 - 29.5 GHz) for 5G communication systems.

13 May 2021 in IEEE Access
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Journal Article
Open access
Md Abu SufianMd Abu Sufian
Md Abu Sufian
Niamat HussainNiamat Hussain
Niamat Hussain
HAHussain Askari
Hussain Askari
SPSeong Gyoon Park
Seong Gyoon Park
KSKook Sun Shin
Kook Sun Shin
Nam KimNam Kim
Nam Kim
In this paper, a metasurface-based multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna with high isolation between antenna elements is presented. The main patch radiator is sandwiched between a metasurface and a ground plane to achieve performance enhancement. The fabricated single element antenna has a compact size of $0.85\lambda _{0} \times 0.85\lambda _{0} \times 0.038\lambda _{0}$ . The antenna exhibits a wideband operational bandwidth from 3.27 to 3.82 GHz for $\vert \text{S}_{11}\vert < -10$ , which corresponds to a fractional bandwidth of 15.5%. Moreover, stable radiation patterns with a peak gain of 8.1 dBi are also achieved across the operating band. The proposed single element antenna is characterized for $2 \times 2$ MIMO system by translating each antenna element orthogonal to each other. A decoupling structure consisting of slots and metallic strip with shorting pins is used to improve the isolation between the MIMO elements. The shorting pins connect the metallic strips (located between MIMO elements) on the metasurface and ground plane. These slots on ground plane and shorting pins affect the electromagnetic field distribution and consequently reduce the mutual coupling. The fabricated MIMO antenna has a compact size of $1.75\lambda _{0}\times 1.75\lambda _{0} \times 0.038\lambda _{0}$ . The proposed 4 port ( $2\times 2$ ) MIMO antenna provides 15.9% of 10 dB impedance bandwidth from 3.3 to 3.87 GHz with a peak gain of 8.72 dBi. Moreover, the proposed MIMO antenna offers excellent diversity performance, isolation between antenna elements is very high (>32dB), ECC is lower than 0.001, and diversity gain is 9.99 dB very close to the ideal value of 10dB. Owing to these features, the proposed MIMO antenna can be a good candidate for 5G Sub-6 GHz (n78 band) smart devices and sensors.

28 July 2022 in IEEE Internet of Things Journal
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
Niamat HussainNiamat Hussain
Niamat Hussain
Nam KimNam Kim
Nam Kim
The complete coverage of the operating frequency bands from microwave bands to millimeter (mm-wave) is required for the realization of the fifth-generation (5G) Internet of Thing (IoT) systems. Here, we present a multiband antenna operating at the microwave (2.5/3.5/5.5/7.5 GHz) and mm-wave bands (23–31 GHz), and its 12-port MIMO configuration with pattern diversity affording 360° coverage for 5G IoT applications. The multiband characteristics are obtained by adding well-designed quarter-wavelength stubs. The antenna operates at the important frequency bands from 2.37–2.65, 3.25–3.85, 5.0–6.1, and 7.15–8.5 GHz (|S11| <–10 dB), while it resonates from 23–31 GHz at the mm-wave band with the desired radiation characteristics. Moreover, the antenna has more than 95% radiation efficiency and a stable gain (> 2.5 dBi at microwave band and 6.5 dBi at mm-wave bands) characteristics. In addition, the single-element antenna is translated to design a $2\,\,\mathbf {\times }\,\,2$ MIMO antenna. This MIMO unit is further utilized in the formation of $2\,\,\mathbf {\times }\,\,4$ and the proposed $3\,\,\mathbf {\times }\,\,4$ (12-port) MIMO configurations to achieve spectral and pattern diversity. Considering the unique three-dimensional arrangement of the antenna elements, the 12-port MIMO system is the only one of its kind that offers the codesign of microwave and mm-wave antenna, good isolation, and pattern diversity, providing complete 360° space coverage in elevation and azimuth planes. The proposed antenna module is suitable for 5G IoT, especially in an indoor scenario for smart houses, offices, and vehicle-to-everything communications.

25 May 2022 in IEEE Access
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
Md Abu SufianMd Abu Sufian
Md Abu Sufian
Niamat HussainNiamat Hussain
Niamat Hussain
Anees AbbasAnees Abbas
Anees Abbas
JLJaemin Lee
Jaemin Lee
SPSeong Gyoon Park
Seong Gyoon Park
Nam KimNam Kim
Nam Kim
In this article, a 4-port circularly polarized (CP) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna at 5.9 GHz is presented for the vehicle to everything (V2X) communications. A novel hybrid decoupling structure consisting of circular ring parasites and defected ground structure (DGS) is used to reduce the mutual coupling between the MIMO elements. The circular ring parasites are incorporated between the antennas to reduce the mutual coupling between perpendicular antennas. Whereas, the DGS significantly reduces the mutual coupling between adjacent antennas. These circular ring parasites and DGS affect the electromagnetic field distribution and consequently reduce the mutual coupling. The effectiveness of the decoupling structure is explained through transmission coefficient and surface current distribution. The simulated and measured results show that the proposed MIMO antenna provides overlapping $\text{S}_{\mathrm {11 {}}}$ (−10 dB) and axial ratio (3-dB) bandwidth of 2.04% (5.82 – 5.94 GHz) with a peak gain of 7.68 dBic. Moreover, the fabricated MIMO antenna offers excellent diversity performance, isolation between antenna elements is very high (>34dB), envelope correlation coefficient (ECC) is lower than 0.001, and diversity gain is 9.99 dB, very close to the ideal value of 10 dB. Furthermore, the link budget for the proposed MIMO system is calculated to check the suitability for V2X communications which shows that the antenna can communicate between them over a distance of 1.5 kilometers with a 21 dBm of transmit power. Owing to these qualities, the proposed MIMO antenna can be an excellent choice for V2X MIMO communications.

21 March 2022 in Electronics
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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MBMuhammad Bilal
Muhammad Bilal
Syeda NaqviSyeda Naqvi
Syeda Naqvi
Niamat HussainNiamat Hussain
Niamat Hussain
YAYasar Amin
Yasar Amin
Nam KimNam Kim
Nam Kim
The work in this article presents the design and realization of a low-profile, four-port MIMO antenna supporting fifth-generation (5G) wireless applications operating at a millimeter-Wave (mm-Wave) band. Each MIMO antenna is a 2-element array fed with a corporate feeding network, whereas the single antenna is a patch with a bow-tie slot at the center and slits at the edges. The vertical and horizontal slots are incorporated as a Defected Ground Structure (DGS) to optimize the antenna performance. In addition, a slotted zig-zag decoupling structure is etched from edge to edge on the top side to enhance the isolation. Significant isolation (>−40 dB) is achieved between antenna elements by employing spatial and polarization diversity techniques. The proposed antenna covers the 5G mm-Wave band with a −10 dB bandwidth ranging from 27.6–28.6 GHz, whereas the maximum gain attained for the proposed structure is 12.02 dBi. Moreover, the lower correlation values, higher diversity gain, and lower channel capacity loss make it a suitable contender for 5G MIMO applications at the mm-Wave range.