60-GHz LTCC integrated circularly polarized helical antenna array

Abstract

A 60-GHz wideband circularly polarized (CP) helical antenna array of 4 × 4 elements is designed and fabricated using low temperature cofired ceramic (LTCC) technology. The flexible via hole distribution is fully utilized to achieve a helical antenna array to obtain good circular polarization performance. Meanwhile, grounded coplanar waveguide (GCPW) to stripline is utilized for probe station measurement. Unlike traditional helical antennas, the proposed helical antenna array is convenient for integrated applications. The fabricated antenna array has dimension of 12 × 10 × 2 mm 3. The simulated and measured impedance, axial ratio (AR) and radiation pattern are studied and compared. The proposed antenna array shows a wide measured impedance bandwidth from 52.5 to 65.5 GHz for S|11| < -10 dB, wideband measured AR bandwidth from 54 to 66 GHz for AR < 3 dB, respectively. © 2006 IEEE.