Three-Dimensional Microfabricated Broadband Patch Antenna for WiGig Applications

• NCJ Number: 249344
• Journal: IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters Volume: 13 Dated: 2014 Pages: 828-831
• Author(s): H. Mopidevi; H.V. Hunerli; E. Cagatay; N. Biyikli; M. Imbert; J. Romeu; L. Jofre; B.A. Cetiner
• Date Published: 2014
• Length: 4 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2009-SQ-B9-K005
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Award: NEMS Integrated Reconfigurable Antenna operating at 150, 400, 700, 800, and 4900 MHz bands for Interoperable Public Safety Communications

Annotation

This article describes the design, microfabrication, and characterization of a broadband patch antenna capable of covering the entire IEEE 802.11ad (WiGig) frequency band (57-66 GHz).

Abstract

A conductor-backed (CB) coplanar waveguide (CPW)-fed loop slot couples the energy to the patch antenna, resulting in a broad bandwidth. The feed circuitry, along with the loop, is formed on a quartz substrate (år = 3.9, tan ä = 0.0002 at 60 GHz), on top of which an SU-8-based three-dimensional (3-D) structure with air cavities is microfabricated. The patch metallization is deposited on top of this 3-D structure. While the main role of the structure made out of SU-8 material is to provide a mechanical support for the patch metallization, the antenna takes advantage of the air cavities underneath, thus resulting in an antenna substrate with a very low loss. This, in turn, improves the overall antenna performances. The simulated and measured impedance characteristics agree well, showing ~15 percent bandwidth. Also, the radiation pattern results demonstrate the integrity of radiation pattern with reasonably constant gain values (average ~6.4 dB) in the broadside direction over the entire WiGig band. (Publisher abstract modified)