Design and diversity performance of optimized dual-element PIFA antennas for MIMO handsets

An optimized multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) antenna system is proposed. It is based on the traditional planar inverted-F antenna (PIFA) design, accommodated on a printed circuit board (PCB) for mobile handsets and operating at 21.6GHz. The PIFA dimension is reduced by 30% with meander structure etched on the conventional PIFA. Diversity performances of a parallel dual-element Meander PIFA array are evaluated in different statistical propagation environments for both without chassis and with chassis configurations. It is found that an optimized Meander PIFA with chassis can still keep nearly the same good diversity performance as the case without chassis. It has also been shown that the dual-element Meander PIFA can work well in different statistical environments.