High gain active microstrip antenna for 60 GHz WLAN

A 60 GHz design comprising a three-stage pHEMT amplifier integrated with a high gain antenna on an alumina substrate is presented. The amplifier has 18 dB gain, and the antenna a directivity of 14 dBi. The amplifier is ribbon bonded to the substrate on which the antenna is etched. The antenna is a microstrip array antenna with a simple etched pattern for producibility at high frequencies. Mechanical simplicity is achieved with this design, and unnecessary transitions are avoided.