Broadband end-fire antennas for switched sector coverage in 60-GHz wireless communications

Two types of broadband end-fire antennas are developed for sectorized coverage of 60-GHz wireless personal area networks (WPAN) applications. The first one is an integrated horn antenna in RO4000 laminates. Using the combination of through-, blind-, and buried-vias, a horn structure with both E- and H-plane flares can be mapped into a multilayer laminated substrate. A simple integrated coplanar feeding structure is designed for easy integration with other front-end components. The second one is a broadband dipole array with a simple and integrated balun. The antenna is printed on a 4-mil LCP substrate and configured for the end-fire radiation. These antennas are simulated, fabricated, and characterized in a real system to evaluate their potentials for commercial 60-GHz wireless applications.