High gain conical horn antenna integrated to a planar substrate for 60 GHz WPAN applications

This paper presents a new approach of design and integration of horn antennas on conventional substrates for improving interconnections with planar devices and therefore losses. Considering the mechanical and electrical properties of Ag/Cu metallised foam, a 3D micro-machining process is employed for developing a circular horn antenna, with implicit integrated excitation structure and back side cavity. This antenna can be easily mounted on a conventional substrate, providing high gain value non achievable with planar antennas, mostly at millimetre wave frequencies. Experiments and simulation results are discussed for a circular horn 60GHz integrated antenna.