A novel antenna configuration for millimeter wave communication systems

This paper introduces a new way of building a cross-slot coupling patch antenna to generate dual polarization with a CPW feed line on a single layer for the EHF band around a center frequency of 38 GHz. The antenna structure developed combines the advantages of a CPW (coplanar waveguide) with the advantages of an aperture-coupled microstrip antenna, and simplifies the structure of the antenna by reducing the number of the metallization level, from 3 down to 2, thereby making easier the integration of the active devices. In addition, this type of coupling is advantageous when applied to millimeter wave monolithic phased arrays. A unique feed design eliminates the competition for surface space between the antenna elements and the feed network. In addition, the ground plane shields the antenna half-space from spurious radiation emitted by feed lines and active devices. The antenna is designed on a high dielectric constant substrate (/spl epsiv/r=9.9), which is close to the dielectric constant of GaAs and demonstrates the feasibility of integration of such an antenna structure into monolithic circuits.