3D Printed Wideband Multilayered Dual-Polarized Stacked Patch Antenna With Integrated MMIC Switch

Abstract

Capability of 3D printing for developing wideband multilayered antenna systems packaged with active RF circuit components remains relatively unexplored. To address this gap, this manuscript demonstrates wideband patch antenna that is integrated with a polarization selection switch. Antenna bandwidth is enhanced with customized substrate thicknesses and stacked patch layers. Switch is integrated with 3D vertical transitions to achieve wide bandwidth, smaller packaging, and low-loss. To enable future antenna array applications, a detailed investigation is also presented to maximize the performance of the microstrip feed lines by adjusting the substrate thickness and deposition process. The antenna consists of 13 dielectric and conductive layers. Specifically, the manuscript demonstrates the lowest attenuation in the literature for a fully printed microstrip line with 0.25 dB/cm measured loss at 18 GHz. The antenna operates with more than 80% radiation efficiency and 45% bandwidth. The polarization switch is embedded within the antenna structure. The antenna retains a high cross-polarization ratio of ~20 dB due to 3D feed line transitions and symmetric location of the switch with respect to the antenna feeds.

Keywords

• 3D printing
• 3D interconnect
• additive manufacturing
• dual-polarized antennas
• microstrip antennas
• wideband