Novel components for integrated millimeter -wave front -ends.

Abstract

Several new components and design concepts are developed for integration in millimeter-wave front-ends. This includes antennas and novel filter configurations appropriate for a number of different system topologies. Planar interleaved-subarray antennas are demonstrated as a simple beam-steering solution for automotive and traffic-control radars. Major difficulties in implementation of the subarraying techniques at millimeter-wave band are tackled and resolved using a multitude of innovative methods. High-performance miniature-tunable filters are developed based on MEMS technology, which can be used as the integrated parts of the RF front-end in multi-band communication systems. Novel concepts are proposed for the integration of bandpass filters and microstrip antennas. Antenna-filter-antenna (AFA) modules are introduced and used to design planar array structures with various functionalities. In one application, the AFA elements are combined in a periodic array to form low-profile frequency-selective surfaces with high-order bandpass response. AFA modules, are also used to form a millimeter-wave filter-lens array (FLA), which combines the filtering and focusing functions. This novel concept is appropriate for a number of applications, including lens antennas, power combining, millimeter-wave imaging, and beam-steering systems.