Integrated millimeter-wave corner-cube antennas

An integrated corner-reflector antenna has been designed, fabricated and measured at millimeter-wave frequencies. The structure consists of a traveling-wave antenna integrated on a 1.2- mu m dielectric membrane, and suspended in a longitudinal cavity etched in a silicon wafer. A novel traveling wave antenna design, the modified-bend antenna, with an antenna length of 1.2 lambda and spacing 0.96 lambda from the apex, results in a wideband input impedance centered at 140 Omega and low cross-polarization levels. Measurements at 180-270 GHz show a well-defined pattern with low sidelobe levels, and a main-beam efficiency of 93% and 83% at 180 and 222 GHz, respectively. The monolithic approach allows the integration of a matching network and a Schottky-diode or SIS detector at the base of the antenna to yield a low-noise monolithic millimeter-wave receiver.<
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