Millimeter Wave Antennas for Wireless Communications and Imaging Applications

最近，人们对毫米波天线和设备的兴趣与日俱增，并迅速增长，这些天线和设备用于各种应用、服务和技术，例如短程通信、第五代(5G)蜂窝网络的未来毫米波移动通信以及传感器和成像系统。由于相应的波长较小，毫米波频率提供了物理上较小的天线和电路的优势，以及与微波频率相比可以获得更宽的带宽。此外，它们还为无线通信提供了额外的频谱。例如，毫米波能够支持用于无线个人区域网的高清晰度视频流所需的高数据速率容量和速度。规划中的5G蜂窝网络、基站和移动设备将基本上利用毫米波频段，以满足消费者对无线服务提供商日益增长的高数据速率和容量的需求。此外，基于毫米波的成像系统具有诱人的特点，包括对不同类型衣服的高穿透能力、对活体组织的极低穿透能力、较少的人身干扰和更安全的辐射剂量。它们对于成像和穿透人体的应用非常有用，例如国土安全、医学成像和国防应用。这些系统可以用来代替传统的X射线系统，因为传统的X射线系统辐射水平较高，因此限制了人均使用。毫米波天线设计是实现毫米波无线通信和成像系统的第一步。这种天线的设计要求包括高方向性方向图--用于长传输距离和高检测灵敏度--以及通过适当的阻抗匹配带宽减小尺寸。拟议的毫米波天线和相关应用研究计划满足了市场对紧凑型高效天线的需求，这些天线用于下一代无线通信、传感和成像系统。具有高增益的天线产生非常定向的窄波束，用于高分辨率传感，并降低无线系统对功率的需求和消耗。该计划将重点研究和开发覆盖多个毫米波频段的毫米波高增益宽带天线元件和阵列，以服务于多种应用。它将解决与实现在30 GHz以上频率下具有高增益的高效宽带辐射器有关的具有挑战性的设计问题。拟议的研究还涉及与实施毫米波天线有关的挑战，以及如何测量、评估和改进其性能。发展高增益定向毫米波天线，用于远距离传输和高分辨率成像应用，需要在应用电磁学和天线设计技术方面进行广泛和并行的研究。除了表征和改进这些毫米波天线和器件外，我们还将使用适当的制造和测量设备来进行毫米波天线的原型和测试。这种天线的开发将考虑到低成本的印刷电路板(PCB)工艺和通常用于3D无源元件和封装的低温共烧陶瓷(LTCC)技术。拟议的研究计划提供了对毫米波天线、系统和相关新兴应用所需的大气、设计过程和挑战的洞察。它结合了以研究为基础的实践原则和活动，以培训将具备处理加拿大科学研究优先事项的专门知识的高素质人员。

Recently, there has been increasing interest and rapid growth in millimeter (mm)-wave antennas and devices for use in diverse applications, services and technologies such as short-range communication, future mm-wave mobile communication for the fifth generation (5G) cellular networks, and sensor and imaging systems. Due to the corresponding smaller wavelength, mm-wave frequencies offer the advantage of physically smaller antennas and circuits as well as the availability of much wider bandwidth compared to microwave frequencies. In addition they provide additional spectrum for wireless communications. For example, mm-wave is capable of supporting the needed high data rate capacity and speed for high definition video streaming used in Wireless Personal Area Networks. The planned 5G cellular networks base stations and mobile devices will essentially make use of mm-wave frequency bands to meet consumers’ ever growing demand for high data rate and capacity from wireless service providers. Also, mm-wave-based imaging systems have attractive characteristics including high penetration ability for different types of clothes, very low penetration for living tissues, less physical personal intrusion and safer doses of radiation. They are useful for imaging and body penetrating applications such as homeland security, medical imaging, and defence applications. These systems could be used instead of traditional X-ray systems, which have higher levels of radiation and thus limited use per person. Millimeter-wave antenna design is considered as the first step for realizing mm-wave wireless communication and imaging systems. Design requirements for such antennas include highly directional patterns – for long transmission range and high detection sensitivity - and size reduction with a suitable impedance matching bandwidth. The proposed research program in mm-wave antennas and related applications addresses the market demand for compact high efficient antennas for next generation wireless communications, sensing and imaging systems. Antennas with high gain produce very directive narrow beam for high resolution sensing as well as reduce the demand for power requirements and consumptions by wireless systems. The program will focus on investigation and development of mm-wave high gain broadband antenna elements and arrays that cover multiple mm-wave frequency bands to serve several applications. It will address design challenging problems related to difficulties of realizing efficient broadband radiators with high gain at frequencies above 30 GHz. The proposed research also addresses challenges associated with the implementation of mm-wave antennas and how their performance can be measured, assessed and improved. Developing high gain directional mm-wave antennas for long transmission range and high resolution imaging applications needs an extensive and concurrent research in applied electromagnetics as well as antenna design techniques. In addition to characterizing and improving such mm-wave antennas and devices, we will use proper fabrication and measurement facilities for mm-wave antennas prototyping and testing. The development of such antennas will be realized considering both the low cost Printed Circuit Board (PCB) process and the Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramic (LTCC) technology that is typically used for 3D passive components and packaging. The proposed research program provides insight into the required atmosphere, design process and challenges associated with mm-wave antennas, systems and related emerging applications. It incorporates research-based hands-on principles and activities for the training of highly qualified personnel who will be equipped with the expertise to tackle Canada’s scientific research priorities.