Integration of Antenna-on-Chip and signal detectors for applications from RF to THz frequency range in SiGe technology

Abstract

This paper presents design solutions for signal detectors and Antenna on-Chip (AoC) using a state-of-the-art (SiGe) BiCMOS technology. Both CML (Current-Mode-Logic) and CMOS detectors are designed, fabricated and compared in terms of their performances such as conversion gain and robustness against process variations. Wide-band Antenna-on-Chip working in the range 60GHz to 94 GHz are designed, fabricated and characterized. Several Antenna-on-Chip structures are proposed to evaluate bandwidth and radiation efficiency performances. Near-field antenna couplings are experimentally evaluated using different technology variants with different silicon substrate thickness values. Schottky diodes are designed and characterized for feasibility analysis of THz detection, mixing and down-conversion.