A Novel Approach for Millimeter-Wave Dielectric Resonator Antenna Array Designs by Using the Substrate Integrated Technology

This communication describes a novel concept of designing millimeter-wave (mm-wave) dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) arrays, in which the DRA element and part of its feeding network can be codesigned and cofabricated using the printed circuit board technology. Conventionally, the DRA and its feed are designed and fabricated using different dielectric materials. As a result, a large error might take place when mounting the DRA to its feed, which will result in significant influences to the performance of the antenna, especially to those operating in the mm-wave band. The proposed concept of the substrate integrated DRA provides a possibility to minimize the above mounting errors, by shaping the DRA and its feed together using the same material and fabrication process. Two kinds of antenna element, which separately exhibits linear and circular polarization, are designed at Ka-band. In order to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed elements for array applications, two four-element antenna arrays in cooperation with different feeding networks and transitions are also designed, fabricated, and measured. Investigations show good agreement between simulation and measurement. The proposed substrate integrated DRA array can be easily extended to larger scales and has great potential to be integrated into mm-wave transceiver modules.