Differential microstrip patch antenna as feeder of a hyper-hemispherical lens for F-band MIMO radars

Abstract

In this paper, a novel differential microstrip patch antenna (DMPA) is designed and used to feed a lens antenna for short range F-band MIMO radars. The DMPA is fed differentially by a pair of coupled lines. The antenna is connected via a differential impedance matching network to the differential output of the modules, eliminating this way the need of a balun in the RF frontend. The simulated antenna gain is about 8 dBi and bandwidth (S11 <; -10 dB) is between 125-137 GHz. Preliminary experimental measurements are shown using Transmit/Receive modules in 0.13 μm SiGe:C BiCMOS technology, hybrid connected using wirebonding to off chip DMPAs. It is shown by the transmission link evaluation that the gain is increased by about 15 dBi adding a 10 mm radius 3D printed polyamide lens in the near field of the DMPA.