A D-Band Dual-Polarized High-Gain LTCC-Based Reflectarray Antenna Using SIW Magnetoelectric-Dipole Elements

Area of Science:

• Antenna Engineering
• Microwave and Millimeter-Wave Technology
• Materials Science in Electronics

Background:

• Reflectarray antennas are crucial for high-gain applications in wireless communication.
• Existing D-band antenna designs face challenges in achieving wide bandwidth and dual polarization.
• Low-temperature co-fired-ceramic (LTCC) technology offers advantages for fabricating complex microwave structures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a D-band dual linear-polarized wideband high-gain reflectarray antenna.
• To utilize LTCC technology for fabricating the proposed antenna element.
• To validate the antenna's performance through simulation and measurement.

Main Methods:

• Design of a dual-polarized magnetoelectric (ME) dipole element.
• Integration of a multilayer slot-coupling substrate-integrated waveguide (SIW) phase-delay structure.
• Fabrication of a 1296-element reflectarray prototype using LTCC.
• Measurement of the prototype in a THz chamber.

Main Results:

• Achieved peak gains of 32.25 dBi and 33.03 dBi for orthogonal polarizations.
• Demonstrated 3 dB gain bandwidths of 20% (122-149 GHz) and 19.3% (123-149 GHz).
• Phase shift coverage exceeding 360 degrees for both polarizations was confirmed.

Conclusions:

• The proposed LTCC-based D-band reflectarray antenna meets the requirements for high-gain, wideband, and dual-polarized operation.
• The novel unit cell design and fabrication method are effective for millimeter-wave applications.
• This work contributes to the advancement of antenna technology for future high-frequency communication systems.