60-GHz LTCC differential-fed patch antenna array with high gain by using soft-surface structures

Huayan Jin, Wenquan Che, Kuo Sheng Chin, Guangxu Shen, Wanchen Yang, Quan Xue

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

62 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper presents a 60-GHz 4 × 4 differential -fed patch antenna array using low-temperature cofired ceramic (LTCC) process. Wideband patch with L-shaped feeding scheme is adopted as antenna element, while differential substrate integrated waveguide feeding network with low insertion loss is applied for the integration of antenna array. The differential-fed structure improves the symmetry of radiation patterns and reduces the cross-polarization level significantly. To further suppress the surface wave and improve the gain of the antenna array, one kind of soft surface structure is proposed. The equivalent circuit model of the soft surface is developed for calculating its dispersion diagram and analyzing stopband characteristics. The simulated results indicate that the antenna gain enhancement can be up to 2 dB because of the proposed soft surface. For demonstration, one prototype using LTCC process is fabricated and measured. The measured 10-dB impedance bandwidth of the antenna array is 11.7%. The measured antenna peak gain of 18.62 dBi at 61.5 GHz and symmetrical radiation patterns with a low cross polarization of -25 dB across the whole operating frequency are achieved.

Original languageEnglish
Article number7748532
Pages (from-to)206-216
Number of pages11
JournalIEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation
Volume65
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 01 2017

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 1963-2012 IEEE.

Keywords

  • 60 GHz
  • Differential-fed structure
  • High gain
  • Low cross polarization
  • Low-temperature cofired ceramic (LTCC)
  • Soft-surface structure
  • Surface wave suppression
  • Wide bandwidth

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