Back-scattered Field Overmoded Waveguide Measurement Chamber for Integrated Antennas at 100+GHz

Purpose and goal:

We have proposed and numerically demonstrated a new mm-wave overmoded-waveguide measurement chamber that could overcome the critical propagation loss of conventional antenna anechoic chambers at frequencies beyond 100 GHz by creating a confined propagation environment for an antenna under test (AUT) instead of free space. A dynamic range of such a measurement setup can be up to 80dB (in simulations) for typical integrated antennas (e.g.

Antenna-on-Chip, Antenna-in-Package). More research is on the way and is expected to result in the continuation project application. Expected results and effects:

The proposed methodology has the potential to simplify and shorten the full testing process of wireless devices considerably. It opens up at least two roadmaps, e.g. fast R&D measurements for validating design concepts or fast production testing of advanced AoC/AiP/AiM products. The continuation of research is likely to yield results that can be commercialized by the present industrial partner (Ericsson) and its collaborators (e.g. Bluetest).

Approach and implementation:

The prestudy has resulted in the derived following baseline design of the OWG chamber demonstrator to be considered in the continuation project. Frequencies of the DUTs: W-band (95-120 GHz); Directivity of the AoC under test, 5-7 dBi; the number of the AoC elements from 1 to 4 elements in a sub-arrya; the area of the test zone of the OWG chamber demonstrator is 5x5 wavelength; the impedance recovering accuracy inside the OWG chamber is better than 15%; the dynamic range of the measurement setup (defined by CDF of 95%) isbetter or equal to 80 dB; the OWG dimensions are 20x11x11 wavelength.