A 60-GHz on-chip tapered slot Vivaldi antenna with improved radiation characteristics

This paper presents a design of 60-GHz exponential tapered slot Vivaldi antenna-on-chip (AOC). The antenna is designed using standard 0.18μm six metal-layers CMOS technology. A double-Y balun feeding structure is used to make transition from coplanar waveguide to slot-line. Two techniques are investigated for improving antenna radiation properties. The first technique incorporates equal corrugations on the edges of exponential flaring section and other on the backed-edge of antenna to enhance the antenna gain. Second, a planar arc reflector is constructed using metal vias between M6 and M1 to inhibit the back lobe, contributing to the enhancement of gain and efficiency. The overall antenna size is compact and equal to 785μm × 930μm. The influence of the antenna position on the radiation properties is also studied. The proposed antenna offers endfire radiation pattern with a simulated peak gain and a radiation efficiency of -0.4 dBi and 32%, respectively.