On-chip antenna

What is it about?

Having an antenna on the same chip as the electronic signal processing enables fully integrated communications and sensing systems that use radio frequencies. A chip can only support small structures which means that the radio frequencies must be very high - currently referred to as mmWaves and THz frequencies. An antenna concept for such a system is presented. It can be fabricated onto a chip in a process that is compatible with the most common electronics fabrication, CMOS. The antenna comprises a waveguide array for low-loss feeding of a large electric aperture which allows higher directive gain than an elemental antenna. The radiating elements are slots which are manufactured with the waveguide. The waveguide and slots self-assemble during the fabrication process.

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Why is it important?

Communications and sensing using radiowaves have traditionally met ever-soaring demand by moving to higher frequencies. We are at the point where the frequencies are high enough to allow the chip to support the antenna, instead of having to have the antenna as a separated component of a system. The use of mmwaves and THz is challenging because of the losses in most materials at these frequencies. The on-chip concept presented in this paper offers a solution for high-efficiency antennas on a chip. Moreover, the antennas, as arrays, can support higher directive gain, and this in particular offers increased system efficiency in most radio systems. The massive energy usage of the world's radio systems, because of their poor system efficiency, has become a major concern, and this building block comprising high gain with low loss, integrated onto a single chip, is a step to improve the very poor energy efficiency of current multi-user systems.