Compact Transitions for Loopback Testing of Packaged Antennas with Waveguide Launchers

In this contribution, different compact transitions are presented, showing how they can be used for testing Antenna-in-Package (AiP) transceivers for 76-81 GHz automotive radar in a robust and reproducible way. The packaged antenna chosen for this work can directly launch guided modes into standard WR10 waveguides and thereby termed as “Launcher-in-Package (LiP)”. The presented concepts showcase a loopback from the TX to the RX channel of a single chip transceiver using planar and non-planar strategies. The former strategy is based on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) where planar transmission lines like microstrip lines (MSL) and substrate integrated waveguides (SiW) are used to transfer power from TX to RX facilitating a loopback test. The non-planar strategy on the other hand is designed with a multi-layer yet compact metallic waveguide block. The paper exhibits design strategies and their simulative performance, so that one can use such transitions to design the full test concept for a certain LiP transceiver.