Active integrated antennas for automotive applications

The demands of the fast growing market of wireless sensor and communication applications can only be satisfied by RF front-ends that offer a good value for both the manufacturer and the consumer with respect to price and complexity. The concept of active integrated antennas (AIAs) allows combination of innovative features such as compactness, low cost, low profile, and minimum power consumption. AIAs have been designed, fabricated, and used as low-cost front-ends for sensor applications in the frequency bands around 24, 61, and 76.5 GHz allocated for industrial and vehicular applications. Actual antenna designs are discussed and their usability for automotive applications is evaluated.