LTCC patch antenna array for 5G mobile applications featuring embedded air cavities

Abstract

A LTCC patch antenna array was designed and fabricated in Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramic (LTCC) multilayer technology using picosecond laser structuring for precise manufacturing of embedded air cavities and feeding structures, which are beneficial for the antenna RF performance. Moreover, free-standing feeding vias in the embedded air cavities were successfully implemented in LTCC technology that enable a very simple and low-loss feed at the antenna ports. The 2x2 dual-polarized patch antenna array with embedded air cavities and transitions was first characterized by reflection measurements. The measured center frequency of the antenna is about 29.5 GHz and a bandwidth of nearly 1 GHz was achieved.