60‐GHz CPW‐fed dielectric‐resonator‐above‐patch (DRAP) antenna for broadband WLAN applications using micromachining technology

A 60‐GHz coplanar waveguide (CPW)‐fed dielectric‐resonator‐above‐patch (DRAP) antenna using micromachining technology is presented. In the proposed structure, the patch is elevated in the air with support of a dielectric‐post, and a rectangular dielectric resonator antenna (RDRA) is fixed above the patch. The size of the RDR is 1 × 0.8 mm 2 . We introduce a novel use of micromachining technology (solder ball bumping and flip chip bonding) for the first time to exactingly align and bond a small RDRA with a feed‐slot. The fabricated antenna shows broadband characteristics such as −10‐dB bandwidth of 17.5 GHz from 54 to 71.5 GHz, corresponding to a fractional bandwidth of 29.2%. Moreover, the radiation pattern could be measured by integrating the proposed antenna with a 60‐GHz VCO. An antenna gain of about 3.6 dBi at 60 GHz is measured. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 49: 1859–1861, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.22632