System Design, Applications and Development Trends in the Millimeter-Wave Range

The advent of reliable and efficient solid-state sources as well as the progress in low-cost integration procedures, i.e. Hybrid- and Monolithic-Integration Techniques, respectively, has made millimeter-wave technology mature and available today. Two major types of applications have to be distinguished in the millimeter-wave range, as well for commercial as for military employment: radio-location and communications. Despite describing the general application areas only - contact free measurement of velocity or distance for industrial/commercial use, intelligent seeker systems for terminal-guidance, communication systems for traffic control or telephone network enlargements or covert, i.e. (LPI), communication -, this paper will also give an insight into specific millimeter-wave system design, being not only necessary, but also possible in this particular frequency range. Design and realization of 60 GHz voice communication equipment and W-Band seeker front-ends will be presented.