60-GHz CPW-fed dielectricresonator-above-patch (DRAP) antenna for broadband WLAN applications using micromachining technology

A 60-GHz coplanar waveguide (CPW) fed dielectric-resonator-above-patch (DRAP) antenna using micromachining technology is presented. In the proposed structure, the patch is elevated in the air with support of a dielectric-post, and a rectangular dielectric resonator antenna (RDRA) is fixed above the patch. The size of the RDR is 1 x 0.8 mm(2). We introduce a novel use of micromachining technology (solder ball bumping and flip chip bonding) for the first time to exactingly align and bond a small RDRA with a feed-slot. The fabricated antenna shows broadband characteristics such as -10-dB bandwidth of 17.5 GHz from 54 to 71.5 GHz, corresponding to a fractional bandwidth of 29.2%. Moreover, the radiation pattern could be measured by integrating the proposed antenna with a 60-GHz VCO. An antenna gain of about 3.6 dBi at 60 GHz is measured. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.