Micro-Fabricated 130–180 GHz Frequency Scanning Waveguide Arrays

Abstract

This paper describes frequency scanning slot arrays operating from 130 to 180 GHz. The arrays are micro-fabricated using the PolyStrata sequential copper deposition process. Measured reflection coefficient and radiation patterns agree with HFSS full-wave simulations. The voltage standing wave ratio is less than 1.75:1 over the entire frequency range, and the measured scanning is 1.04 <formula formulatype="inline" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><tex Notation="TeX">$^{\circ }/$</tex> </formula> GHz from 130 to 150 GHz and 32.5 <formula formulatype="inline" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><tex Notation="TeX">$^{\circ }$</tex></formula> over the full frequency range. The measured gain is 15.5 dBi for a 10-element array at 150 GHz and 18.9 dBi for a 20-element array at 150 GHz with about 3 dB of variation over the scan range.