Array of Laminated Waveguides for Implementation in LTCC Technology

Abstract : This document reports on the study of a five-element array prototype developed for communications in K-band and suitable for LTCC technology. The radiating element is an open waveguide realized in laminated technology. A novel coaxial-to-waveguide transition has also been designed as feed port for measuring the prototypes. The design, analysis, fabrication process and measurement of this antenna element were described in a previous report. To summarize, the element exhibits a 1 GHz bandwidth around a 20.7 GHz centre frequency. The element radiation pattern indicates a gain of 2.7 dBi. This new antenna is suitable for brick architecture array configuration. In an array configuration the input impedance of each radiating element is slightly perturbed by the proximity of the other antennas. The mutual coupling between the elements, however, remains below 20 dB across the bandwidth. The simulated boresight radiation pattern of a five-element array is stable over the bandwidth and the gain reaches 9.2 dBi at 20.7 GHz. These results are confirmed by the measurement. The scanned radiation patterns obtained by simulation show a good behaviour of this array for scan angles up to 50C. The measured radiation patterns for several scan angles demonstrate the scanning capability of this array.

[1]  M. Ando,et al.  Single-layer feed waveguide consisting of posts for plane TEM wave excitation in parallel plates , 1998 .

[2]  A. Fathy,et al.  LTCC-M: an enabling technology for high performance multilayer RF systems , 1999, 1999 IEEE MTT-S International Topical Symposium on Technologies for Wireless Applications (Cat. No. 99TH8390).

[3]  Langis Roy,et al.  Laminated waveguide couplers in LTCC technology , 2000, Symposium on Antenna Technology and Applied Electromagnetics [ANTEM 2000].

[4]  Chi-Chang Lin,et al.  Design of a 900/1800 MHz dual-band LTCC chip antenna for mobile communications applications , 2004 .

[5]  Laurent Desclos.  V‐Band double‐slot antenna integration on LTCC substrate using thick‐film technology , 2001 .

[6]  T. Takenoshita,et al.  A ceramic planar 77 GHz antenna array , 1999, 1999 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium Digest (Cat. No.99CH36282).

[7]  Kyutae Lim,et al.  Design of compact stacked-patch antennas in LTCC multilayer packaging modules for wireless applications , 2004, IEEE Transactions on Advanced Packaging.

[8]  G. A. Morin,et al.  Study of a Waveguide Antenna Implemented in Laminated Material , 2002 .

[9]  D. Sturzebecher,et al.  20 GHz LTCC phased array module , 1996, 1996 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium Digest.

[10]  H. Uchimura,et al.  Development of the "laminated waveguide" , 1998, 1998 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium Digest (Cat. No.98CH36192).

[11]  Yahia M.M. Antar,et al.  A new antenna implemented in laminated waveguide , 2002, 2002 9th International Symposium on Antenna Technology and Applied Electromagnetics [ANTEM].