This paper suggests the usage of an optimized structure of the embedded wafer-level ball grid array technology for millimeter-wave antennas-in-package. Multiple antenna arrays in a second redistribution layer have been designed, evaluated, and integrated with different transceivers to form very compact sensor packages for 61- and 122-GHz radar applications. The resulting packages contain a complete radar front end while featuring dimensions of $8\,\,\text {mm}\times 8~\text{mm}$ . The packages are easy to assemble and replaceable. Theoretical considerations, numerical results, and measurements have been carried out for the single components. For the verification of the sensor packages, a system demonstrator was developed, and measurements have been performed in continuous-wave mode. At both frequencies, promising system performance regarding range and distance errors could be confirmed without the usage of complex processing and calibration algorithms.

Antenna and Package Design for 61- and 122-GHz Radar Sensors in Embedded Wafer-Level Ball Grid Array Technology

A novel quintuple-mode filter in one cavity is proposed by modifying a quarter-mode substrate-integrated waveguide (SIW) cavity. Modes can be independently controlled by dimension parameters of the resonator. The quintuple-mode resonator is packaged to prevent electromagnetic leakage, and pillars are added to remove spurious cavity resonances introduced by the packaging. A W-band filter is designed and fabricated by using benzocyclobutene (BCB) polymer as dielectrics. The microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) fabrication process is demonstrated in detail. This filter offers the advantages of easy integration with other active devices. It is suitable for 3-D integration of millimeter-wave and sub-terahertz transceiver systems. Four transmission zeros (TZs) are obtained to improve the stopband, and insertion loss is 1.97 dB at 89 GHz with a fractional bandwidth (FBW) of 22.5%. Simulated results agree with measured results.

Quintuple-Mode W-Band Packaged Filter Based on a Modified Quarter-Mode Substrate-Integrated Waveguide Cavity

A novel method to design substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) filters with odd-order response is presented in this letter. By combining SIW and stripline technologies, a fully closed, third-order filter consisting of two SIW resonators and one stripline resonator is proposed. The stripline resonator provides a coupling path for the TE101 mode to form a passband, while the couplings for TE102 and TE201 modes are very weak, resulting in the suppression of their propagation. The principle for higher order mode suppression is carefully illustrated. On the basis of this filter, another two filters are designed by introducing different cross couplings, which generate extra transmission zeros (TZs) to enhance the selectivity. These two filters exhibit flexible response with controllable TZs. All these three filters are fabricated and measured. The measured results are in good agreement with the simulation, which validates the proposed design methodology and the idea of incorporating the stripline resonator into the SIW. They demonstrate a low insertion loss, high selectivity, and wide stopband. In addition, the proposed filters are featured by a reduced size due to the applications of the double-layer structure and miniaturized stripline resonators.

Stripline Resonator Loaded Compact SIW Filters With Wide Suppression and Flexible Response

In this letter, novel miniaturized bandpass filters with wide stopband performance are proposed on the basis of the half-mode T-septum substrate integrated waveguide (HMTSSIW) resonator. The resonant TE n 00 and TE n 0 m modes of the HMTSSIW resonator are analyzed precisely using the Ritz–Galerkin method, and their resonant frequencies can be controlled flexibly by adjusting the sizes of resonator. A three-order HMTSSIW filter is fabricated using MEMS technology on the benzocyclobutene dielectric. Simulated and measured results show the advantages of compact size and wide stopband. Then, an electric coupling structure is introduced, which allows the further suppression of the spurious TE300 mode by the controllable mixed coupling. Finally, a miniaturized HMTSSIW filter with 20-dB suppression beyond $10.37f_{0}$ is simulated and measured.

Miniaturized Half-Mode T-Septum SIW Bandpass Filter With an Ultrawide Stopband

In this letter, a compact self-packaged folded substrate-integrated waveguide filter with loaded stubs is presented. Transmission zeros (TZs) at the same number of filter order are designed to improve out-of-band performance. The position of each TZ is controlled independently. The first spurious resonance increases by up to 3.8 times the fundamental frequency by suppressing the original first parasitic resonance. A Ka -band filter with a benzocyclobutene (BCB) polymer as a dielectric is fabricated and measured to verify the design concept.

Modified FSIW Filter With $N$ Transmission Zeros Using BCB-Based MEMS Technology

This paper presents a novel quarter-mode packaged bandpass filter with four transmission zeros (TZs) in substrate-integrated waveguide (SIW) technology. The filter has an insertion loss of 2.85 dB at 30 GHz and fractional bandwidth of 20%. The design methodology of the TZs was first demonstrated to increase the attenuations of the filter stopband. The quarter-mode SIW resonators were analyzed with high-mode suppression by properly setting their feed points. The packaged filter was consistent between the simulation and measurement results and offers the advantages of compact configuration and easy integration with other devices. Mode suppressions of up to 110 GHz were also provided. The proposed concept is attractive for designing miniaturized and high-performance-packaged filters for 3-D millimeter-wave transceiver systems.

Design of a Novel Quarter-Mode Substrate-Integrated Waveguide Filter With Multiple Transmission Zeros and Higher Mode Suppressions

In this work, we present an integrated read and programming circuit for Resistive Random Access Memory (RRAM) cells. Since there are a lot of different RRAM technologies in research and the process variations of this new memory technology often spread over a wide range of electrical properties, the proposed circuit focuses on versatility in order to be adaptable to different cell properties. The circuit is suitable for both read and programming operations based on voltage pulses of flexible length and height. The implemented read method is based on evaluating the voltage drop over a measurement resistor and can distinguish up to eight different states, which are coded in binary, thereby realizing a digitization of the analog memory value. The circuit was fabricated in the 130 nm CMOS process line of IHP. The simulations were done using a physics-based, multi-level RRAM model. The measurement results prove the functionality of the read circuit and the programming system and demonstrate that the read system can distinguish up to eight different states with an overall resistance ratio of 7.9.

A Versatile, Voltage-Pulse Based Read and Programming Circuit for Multi-Level RRAM Cells

A monolithic low noise variable gain amplifier (LNA) operating at 60 GHz is presented. It is designed for a sixport receiver, which is completely integrated on a single chip. These chips are build in highly miniaturized sensors to measure distances with radar. Therefore a high performance LNA is indispensable. The circuit has been designed using a new 0.13 μm SiGe BiCMOS process from IHP (SG13G2). For implementation a three stage architecture is chosen. Measurements show a tuneable gain from 16 to 24 dB at 60 GHz, an input matching of −17 dB and an output matching of −14 dB. The circuit consumes 13 mA from a 3.3 V supply.

Matthias Volkel

Papers

Design of a Novel Quarter-Mode Substrate-Integrated Waveguide Filter With Multiple Transmission Zeros and Higher Mode Suppressions

A Versatile, Voltage-Pulse Based Read and Programming Circuit for Multi-Level RRAM Cells

A 60-GHz low-noise variable-gain amplifier in a 130-nm BiCMOS technology for sixport applications