Millimeter Wave Antennas for Wireless Communications and Imaging Applications

最近，人们对毫米波天线和用于各种应用、服务和技术（如短距离通信、面向第五代（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）的设备越来越感兴趣并迅速增长。由于相应的波长更小，毫米波频率提供了物理上更小的天线和电路的优势，以及与微波频率相比更宽的带宽。此外，它们还为无线通信提供了额外的频谱。例如，毫米波能够支持无线个人区域网络中使用的高清视频流所需的高数据速率容量和速度。计划中的5G蜂窝网络基站和移动设备将主要利用毫米波频段，以满足消费者对无线服务提供商的高数据速率和容量日益增长的需求。此外，基于毫米波的成像系统具有吸引人的特点，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，较少的人身侵入和更安全的辐射剂量。它们可用于成像和人体穿透应用，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，后者的辐射水平较高，因此人均使用量有限。毫米波天线的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度定向的模式——远距离传输和高探测灵敏度——以及尺寸减小和合适的阻抗匹配带宽。拟议的毫米波天线及相关应用研究计划解决了下一代无线通信、传感和成像系统对紧凑高效天线的市场需求。具有高增益的天线产生非常指示的窄波束，用于高分辨率传感，并减少无线系统对功率要求和消耗的需求。该项目将重点研究和开发毫米波高增益宽带天线元件和阵列，覆盖多个毫米波频段，为多种应用服务。它将解决在30 GHz以上频率下实现高增益的高效宽带散热器的困难相关的设计挑战问题。拟议的研究还解决了与毫米波天线实施相关的挑战，以及如何测量、评估和改进其性能。开发用于长传输距离和高分辨率成像的高增益定向毫米波天线需要在应用电磁学和天线设计技术方面进行广泛而同步的研究。除了表征和改进这种毫米波天线和设备外，我们还将使用适当的制造和测量设备进行毫米波天线的原型设计和测试。考虑到低成本印刷电路板（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，这种天线的开发将实现。拟议的研究计划提供了与毫米波天线、系统和相关新兴应用相关的所需环境、设计过程和挑战的见解。它结合了以研究为基础的实践原则和活动，以培训高素质的人才，这些人才将具备解决加拿大科学研究优先事项的专业知识。

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.