A 60 GHz Millimeter-Wave Antenna Array for 3D Antenna-in-Package Applications

This paper presents a 60 GHz millimeter-wave (mm-wave) antenna array using standard printed circuit board (PCB) for 3D Antenna-in-package (AiP) implementation. The array consists of a 4 microstrip patch elements, differentially fed with an open stub matching feed network to enable 3D integration. The 1 x 4 finite antenna array with ball grid array (BGA) and silicon (Si) interposer operates from 58.46 to 62.14 GHz with 3.6 GHz instantaneous bandwidth, low mutual coupling of about <-25 dB and achieves a realized gain of about 10.51 dBi. The array is capable of scanning down to +/- 45 degrees and provides low cross polarization levels of -40 dB. The fabricated multilayer 1 x 4 array consists of two substrates and one bondply layer with antennas, via-to-open stub matching network, and a differential to single-ended corporate feed network for the measurement. A prototype with a differential to single-ended corporate feed network was fabricated and tested showing a gain of about 10.02 dBi at the operating frequency with >= 90% radiation efficiency. Such a gain and efficiency make the presented design a leading candidate for 3D AiP applications.