2011 Cross Strait Quad-Regional Radio Science and Wireless Technology Conference

28-GHz Patch Antenna Arrays with PCB

and LTCC Substrates

Kuo-Sheng Chin, Ho-Ting Chang, Jia-An Liu, Shuh-Han Chao

Hsien-Chin Chiu, and Jeffrey S. Fu Department of Computer Science and Multimedia Design
Department of Electronic Engineering Taiwan Shoufu University
Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan Tainan 721, Taiwan
kschin@mail.cgu.edu.tw shchao@tsu.edu.tw

Abstract-Ka-band spectrum is relatively abundant and was backed by a metal cavity, yielding a large bandwidth [3].
therefore attractive for services of satellite communication, One study [4] presented a slot-fed stacked patch antenna, with
targeting radar, and wireless broadband access technologies. antenna feeding performed differentially via two pins. Another
However, Ka-band patch antenna is difficult in realization investigation [5] proposed a novel waveguide-to-microstrip
because the accurate manufacturing is indeed a challenge in transition to couple the stacked patch antenna array to the
obtaining excellent antenna performance at such high
transceiver module at 40 GHz. However, the design of a
frequencies. This study develops three patch antenna arrays for
compact stacked patch antenna array with large bandwidth and
operation at 28 GHz. Two of the three patch arrays with 2x2 and high gain is an ongoing challenge.
4x1 patches, respectively, are realized on microwave printed
In this study, three 28-GHz patch antenna arrays are
circuit boards (PCBs). The experimental PCB patch arrays have
designed for applications of local multipoint distribution
bandwidths up to 5.7% and gains up to 13 dBi. Another 2x2
service (LMDS). Two of them with 2x2 and 4xl patches,
stacked-patch antenna array is fabricated with low temperature
respectively, are realized on microwave printed circuit boards.
co-fired ceramic (L TCC) technology for further bandwidth
The experimental PCB patch arrays have bandwidths up to
enhancement. This LTCC stacked-patch array comprises a novel
opposite-side feeding structure to prevent any electrical effect on
5.7% and gains up to 13 dBi. Another 2x2 stacked-patch
the parasitic patch. A measured gain of 10.35 dBi and a wide antenna array is fabricated on L TCC substrates for bandwidth
bandwidth of 10.1% (26.75-29.6 GHz) are achieved. enhancement, achieving a wide bandwidth of up to 10.1%, with
a superior gain of 10.35 dBi.
Keywords- Stacked patch antenna, patch antenna array, LTCC
patch antenna, Ka-band antenna.
II. 2x2 AND 4x1 PATCH ANTENNA ARRARS WITH PCBs

1. INTRODUCTION For the preliminary design, two 28-GHz A/2 patch antenna
arrays with 2x2 and 4xl patches, respectively, on microwave
Ka-band communication systems in 26.5-40 GHz bands
printed circuit boards were developed. Figure 1 shows the
are being developed for use in satellite communications,
schematic of the 2x2 patch array with PCB substrate of Cr =

targeting radars, and wireless broadband access technologies.

3.38, tana = 0.002, and thickness of 0.762 mm. The patch
Designing such Ka-band antennas is difficult because the
elements with 2.6 mm x 2.6 mm were designed for operation at
accurate manufacturing is always required. Rectangular patch
antennas are favored for their low profile, light weight, low 28 GHz. With respect to the integration of the 2x2 patch
cost, and ease of manufacture. However, they have the elements, Fig. 1 also plots the impedance arrangement of the
shortcoming of a narrow bandwidth because of their resonant proposed array feeding network. The 2D parallel inset feeding
behavior. Their low gain is also a major drawback, which network was composed of power dividers and impedance
must be overcome. transformers with three impedances of 100 n, 70.7 n, and 50
In recent years, low temperature co-fired ceramic (L TCC) n. The photograph of this 2x2 array is shown in right side of
has become an attractive multi-layer material, and is particular Fig. 1, and detail circuit dimensions are listed in Table 1.
effective for use in high-frequency circuits. Stacked patch
antennas [1-7] are well-known to have a large antenna
bandwidth, which makes them very useful. Parasitic patches
vertically above the driven patch are coupled
electromagnetically in multi-layer structures to yield wideband
characteristics. In one investigation [1], a method for
designing stacked patch antennas with optimal bandwidth
performance by varying the thickness of the L TCC substrate
was developed. Panther et al. [2] utilized an embedded air
cavity between stacked patches in L TCC devices to reduce the
dielectric constant and quality factor, to increase bandwidth.
Fig. 1. Schematic and photo of the PCB 2x2 patch antenna array with parallel
Byun et al. designed an 8x8 stacked patch antenna array that feeding network.

978-1-4244-9793-5/11/$26.00 ©2011 IEEE 355 July 26-30, 2011

 -------------- · ' · ' · - TABLE I DIMENSIONS OF THE PCB 2x2 PATCH ANTENNA ARRAY
-5 ������ ��___��
-------
Array
.,.
Patch lOOn 70.70 50n Inset
Spacing
-10 r------��--�fr==::====9 Length (mm) 2.6 5.1 1.68 5 6J2 I
ai Width (mm) 2.6 0.42 0.94 1.74 6.4 0.4
�-15�------��-��====9
iii
-20 f------\---i--I---j TABLE II DIMENSIONS OF THE PCB 4xl PATCH ANTENNA ARRAy
L - 1.45 mm and W - 2.lmm

�
- 25 f-----!--:---j
Array 70 n 50 n 41.83 35J5 35 n 25 n Inset
-30 '--'-��L...��.L.�_'__'_�_'_�'-'-' Spacing n n
� � V U � w n
Length (mm) 3.74 2.6 5.74 I 0.9 OJ OJ 0.3
Frequency [GHz)
Width (mm) - 0.2 0.43 0.68 0.92 0.94 1.58 0.2
Fig. 2. Simulated and measured SII responses of the PCB 2x2 patch array.

270 H+#-lhf-+H'*"H+�HI_+H 90 270 H--H+'H.

""
(a) (b)
Fig. 3. Simulated and measured radiation patterns of the PCB 2x2 patch (a)
antenna array: (a) E-plane and (b) H-plane. -Co-Pol. (mea.), Cross-Pol.
Parasitic patch
•••

(mea.), _._.-Co-Pol. (sim.),.--...-. Cross-Pol. (sim.)

1 0.18
I, 2 0.18 €r

I
f-! 3.74mm �
0.08
Main patch
It I 0.16
I Ground
(b)
g. 6. Single stacked-patch element: (a) 3D schematic structure and (b) cross­
ctional configuration.

14

12

�10
�
7mm
-B '"
,,
-0 • J/ ,
.� ,. ,
6 ,
-0
,.; •
0
o:s ,.
Fig. 4. Schematic and photo of the PCB 4x I patch antenna array with parallel CO 4
,/ L2
feeding network.
�;

0
2 2.5 3.5 4 4.5 5.5

W2 (mm)
Fig. 7. Bandwidth versus width of parasitic patches, W2 for various lengths,L2.

(a)
Fig. 5. Simulated and measured radiation patterns of the PCB 4xl patch
antenna array: (a) E-plane and (b) H-plane. -Co-Pol. (mea.), Cross-Pol.
•••

(mea.),-. -. - Co-Pol. (sim.),........ Cross-Pol. (sim.) (a)

356

co -5
"0
'--"-10
� - 15 � � ""'"
o(! -20 "- ,/ " =
"2.-25
V> ' /
-30 l--sl:1
--S21
\I
-35 .\1
22 24 26 28 30 32
Frequency (GHz)
(b)
Fig. 8. (a) 3D schematic structure and (b) simulated S-parameter responses, of
the opposite-side feeding structure.
The full-wave EM simulator Ansoft HFSS was used in the
simulation. Figure 2 shows the simulated and measured SII
responses of the 2x2 patch array, in which the measured center
frequency is shifted slightly to 28.1 GHz. This antenna
possesses maximum return loss of 23.5 dB and 10-dB
impedance bandwidth of 5.7%. Figures 3(a) and (b) plot the
simulated and measured E-plane and
patterns at 28 GHz, respectively, obtaining a gain of 10 dBi.
Notably, the asymmetry in the E-plane and H-plane radiation
patterns is mainly caused by the feeding network.
For comparison, the second PCB patch array was designed
with 4xl patch elements. Figure 4 shows the schematic and
photo of the 4xl patch array with PCB substrate of Cr
tant5 = 0.002, and thickness of 0.508 mm. The detail antenna
dimensions are listed in Table II. The measured center
frequency is 28.25 GHz with bandwidth of 5.3%. Figure 5
plots the E-plane and H-plane radiation patterns at 28 GHz. A
higher gain of 13 dBi than the 2x2 array is observed.
III. LTCC STACKED-PATCH ANTENNA ARRAR
The stacked-patch structure is applied for further bandwidth
enhancement. Stacked-patch antenna consists of a parasitic
patch vertically above the main patch (also called the driven
patch) coupled electromagnetically in multi-layer structures.
Figures 6(a) and (b) display the 3D schematic structure and the
cross-sectional configuration of a single stacked-patch element
in L TCC with a microstrip feed line.
The proposed LTCC antenna array consists of 2x2 stacked
patch antenna elements to provide both high gain and wide
bandwidth. The circuit dimensions of a single stacked patch
element must be determined first to verifY the radiating and
bandwidth characteristics before many of them are used to
form an array. This design adopts six ceramic layers to yield
the required thickness; the parasitic patch and main patch are
placed on the first and sixth ceramic layers, respectively. The
L TCC material system, provided by Advanced Ceramic X
Corporation, with a relative permittivity of Cr
tangent of tant5 0.005, are utilized. All conductors are silver.
= 28 GHz. The 2D parallel feeding networks are developed for
The main patch had dimensions of LI 1.78 mm, WI = 1.845
mm, and hi 0.16 mm for operation at 28 GHz. The width of
= by fabricating two experimental PCB patch arrays that yielded
the feed line is set to 0.187 mm to realize a 50 0 input
impedance of the main patch. Figure 7 plots the antenna
bandwidth against the width of parasitic patches W2 with
various lengths L2, but fixed h2 0.6 mm. As shown in Fig. 7,
=
the bandwidth increases with W2 and L2 when W2 < 3.7 mm.
Figure 7 reveals that the maximum bandwidth of 12.6% is
achieved when W2 3.645 mm and L2 1.22 mm.
=
To test the performance of the antennas, the embedded feed
line of the main patch must be drawn out from within the
L TCC to the surface for connection. Accordingly, a good
vertical interconnection between the input port and the main
34
patch connection is required to allow good signal transmission.
Figure 8(a) displays a novel opposite-side feeding structure,
which does not electrically influence the parasitic patch,
because it is situated on the opposite side and separated by a
ground. The upper feed line (port 2, to main patch) is
connected to the lower feed line (port 1, to connector) using a
signal via which is lined on both sides with ground vias to
construct a vertical ground-signal-ground structure. Many
ground vias are applied to connect ground planes (on the first,
second, and sixth ceramic layers) to equalize the ground
potential. An aperture on the bottom ground (on the sixth
ceramic layer) with a radius of 0.35 mm is etched allowing the
H-plane radiation signal via and the lower feed line to pass through it without
touching. To maintain the 50-0 impedance of the feed lines,
the required width of the lower feed line increases with the
substrate, potentially causing discontinuity effects. Therefore,
the ground above the lower feed line must be leveled down to
reduce the width of the lower feed line to ensure a good
interconnection. In the authors' studies, 0.48 mm was an
= 9.7, appropriate width for the lower feed line. Figure 8(b) plots the
simulated S-parameter responses of the proposed opposite-side
feeding structure. Excellent insertion loss is observed with IS211
< 0.9 dB at 28 GHz, while IS l > 12 dB.
ll
A 2X2 stacked patch antenna array operated at 28 GHz was
synthesized on an L TCC substrate to validate the design
approach. Figures 9(a) and (b) respectively present the detail
circuit dimensions and the thickness of the layers of the
proposed 2x2 stacked-patch antenna array with an opposite­
side feeding structure. Figure 10 plots the simulated and
measured Sll responses. The measurements of Sll reveal that
the central frequency shifted to 28.18 GHz with bandwidth of
10.1% (26.75-29.6 GHz). Figures II(a) and (b) present the E­
plane and H-plane radiation patterns, respectively. From Fig.
11, the E-plane and H-plane have smooth co-polarization
patterns with half-power beamwidths of 36° and 48°,
respectively, and a gain of 10.35 dBi. All these results include
the effect of the K end-launch connector, and are favorable for
patch antennas that are operated at such a high frequency.
Figures 12(a) and (b) are photographs of the experimental
LTCC 2x2 stacked patch antenna array. The overall size,
excluding the connector, is 2.6 cm x 1.65 cm x 0.76 mm.
IV. CONCLUSIONS
In this study, two PCB patch antenna arrays with 2x2 and
= 7.5 and a loss 4x1 patch elements, respectively, are designed for operation at
= connection of elements. The design concept was demonstrated
bandwidths up to 5.7% and gains up to 13 dBi. For further
357
bandwidth enhancement, the stacked patch structure is applied
with L TCC substrate. Wideband performance is achieved by
varying the dimensions of the parasitic patch. This
investigation also develops a novel opposite-side feeding
structure for interconnection. The design concept was
demonstrated by fabricating an LTCC 2x2 stacked patch array 270 �+-':-f�t-*�':"::"-*
-iIf--j' � 270 f-+41b...�:-::-F+.'*
F--1 'io
that yielded a bandwidth of 10.1% and a gain of 10.35 dBi.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
180 180
This work was partially supported by the National Science
(a) (b)
Council, Taiwan, (NSC 99-2221-E-182-033) and
Fig. II. Simulated and measured radiation patterns of the LTCC stacked-patch
Chang Gung University, Taiwan, (UERPD290051).
array: (a) E-plane and (b) H-plane. -Co-Pol. (mea.), Cross-Pol. (mea.),
•• •

The authors would also like to acknowledge the support of Co-Pol. (sim.) ,
_. _. -
Cro s s- Pol. ( s im.)
........

High Speed Intelligent Communication (HSIC) Research

Center, Chang Gung University.

Ground

Ground
via
0.48 '
Feed line
(a) (b)
Fig. 12. (a) Top-view photograph and (b) bottom-view photograph, of the
fabricated LTCC 2x2 stacked patch antenna array with an attached K end­
launch connector for testing.
Unit : n1l11
(a)
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