Considerations for millimeter wave printed antennas

TLDR

Calculated data are presented on the performance of printed antenna elements on electrically thick substrates, as occurs for millimeter‑wave printed antennas. The study proposes an optimization procedure to maximize or minimize surface‑wave power launched from multielement printed antenna arrays. Using a moment‑method solution, the authors compute resonant length, resistance, bandwidth, surface‑wave loss, dielectric heating loss, and mutual coupling for printed dipoles and microstrip patches on PTFE, quartz, and GaAs substrates, and present an optimization procedure for controlling surface‑wave power in multielement arrays.

Abstract

Calculated data are presented on the performance of printed antenna elements on substrates which may be electrically thick, as would be the case for printed antennas at millimeter wave frequencies. Printed dipoles and microstrip patch antennas on polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), quartz, and gallium arsenide substrates are considered. Data are given for resonant length, resonant resistance, bandwidth, loss due to surface waves, loss due to dielectric heating, and mutual coupling. Also presented is an optimization procedure for maximizing or minimizing power launched into surface waves from a multielement printed antenna array. The data are calculated by a moment method solution.