Showing papers on "Dielectric resonator antenna published in 2017"

Metal-Loaded Dielectric Resonator Metasurfaces for Radiative Cooling

Abstract: Tailoring emissivity and absorptivity of structured material surfaces to match atmospheric transmission spectral windows can lead to radiative cooling that consumes no external energy. Recent advances in nanofabrication technology have facilitated progress in the realization of structured metasurfaces. In particular, subwavelength dielectric resonator metasurface supporting various resonance modes can be efficient absorbers. Here, such metasurfaces are proposed and experimentally demonstrated enhanced by metal loading to obtain strong broadband thermal emission over a wide angle at mid-infrared frequencies. This concept results in passive cooling devices that can lower temperature by 10 °C below ambient temperature. Importantly, the utilization of standard constituent materials and processes lead to scalable fabrication compatible with silicon photonics integration, which will enable effective and energy-efficient applications in passive cooling and thermodynamic control.

Mutual Coupling Reduction in Dielectric Resonator Antennas Using Metasurface Shield for 60-GHz MIMO Systems

Abstract: An effective technique for reducing the mutual coupling between two dielectric resonator antennas (DRAs) operating at 60-GHz bands is presented. This is achieved by incorporating a metasurface between the two DRAs, which are arranged in the H-plane. The metasurface comprises an array of unique split-ring resonator (SRR) cells that are integrated along the E-plane. The SRR configuration is designed to provide bandstop functionality within the antenna bandwidth. By loading the DRA with 1 × 7 array of SRR unit cells, a 28-dB reduction in the mutual coupling level is achieved without compromising the antenna performance. The measured isolation of the prototype antenna varies from -30 to -46.5 dB over 59.3-64.8 GHz. The corresponding reflection coefficient of the DRA is better than -10 dB over 56.6-64.8 GHz.

Low-Mutual-Coupling 60-GHz MIMO Antenna System With Frequency Selective Surface Wall

Abstract: A new dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) for a millimeter-wave (mm-wave) multiple-input–multiple-output system is presented. Two approaches are exploited to reduce the mutual coupling between two antenna elements. First, a frequency selective surface (FSS) wall is inserted between the DRAs to reduce the free-space radiation. Then, two slots with different size acting like an $LC$ resonator are etched from the common ground plane of the structure to reduce the surface current. The designed FSS has a wideband characteristic from 40 to 70 GHz. The FSS is optimized for the desired frequency of 57–63 GHz. A high isolation of −30 dB is achieved when both FSS wall and slots are used. A prototype of the structure is fabricated and measured. The results give a low correlation coefficient ( $e$ –6) and a good agreement with simulation ones, indicating that the proposed antenna can provide spatial or pattern diversity to increase the data capacity of wireless communication systems at mm-wave bands.

Wide Band Circularly Polarized Dielectric Resonator Antenna With Stair-Shaped Slot Excitation

Abstract: A singly-fed wideband circularly polarized dielectric resonator antenna is proposed in this communication. Antenna structure contains a rectangular and two half split cylindrical dielectric resonators. Multiple orthogonal modes are excited in the antenna structure when excitation is applied through a stair-shaped slot. Measured results show that antenna provides wider 3-dB axial ratio and impedance bandwidths of 41.01% and 49.67%, respectively. Proposed antenna can be utilized in C-band applications.

Dual-band MIMO dielectric resonator antenna for WiMAX/WLAN applications

Abstract: In this study, a novel dual-band multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) rectangular dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) for Worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) (3.4–3.7) GHz and wireless local area network (WLAN) (5.15–5.35) GHz applications is proposed and investigated. The design operates at fundamental TEδ11 x, TE1δ1 y and higher order TEδ21 x, TE2δ1 y modes, excited through two coaxial probes, symmetrically placed adjacent to the DRA. A compact design is achieved by stacking a high permittivity material. The obtained impedance bandwidth at 3.6 GHz is 9.97% and at 5.2 GHz is 8.88%. Measured antenna gain through both ports at 3.6 GHz is 5.7 dBi and at 5.2 GHz is 6.61 dBi, respectively. Isolation achieved at 3.6 GHz is −13 dB and at 5.2 GHz is −16 dB, respectively. Co- and cross-polarisation, radiation efficiency, diversity gain, envelope correlation and mean effective gain of the proposed design are measured. Results show that the proposed design is suitable for use in MIMO WiMAX/WLAN applications.

Dielectric resonator based MIMO antenna system enabling millimetre-wave mobile devices

Abstract: In this study, a millimetre-wave dielectric resonator (DR)-based multiple-input–multiple-output (MIMO) antenna system based on two linear arrays is presented. Each array that represents a single MIMO antenna consists of four cylindrical DR antenna (cDRA) elements operating at 30 GHz with a bandwidth of at least 1 GHz. Each array is designed with a fixed beam direction which is tilted to provide low field correlation. A passive microstrip-based feed network was designed to achieve this beam tilting enabling suitable magnitude and phase excitation of the individual cDRAs for radiation. The complete antenna system was designed on a two-layer substrate occupying 48 mm × 21 mm. Excellent field correlation values were measured (below 0.002) across the band of operation while peak gains were >7 dBi. High radiation efficiency is obtained. The proposed design approach for beam tilting, which enables MIMO operation, may also be useful for other compact implementations to support 5G communications.

340-GHz Low-Cost and High-Gain On-Chip Higher Order Mode Dielectric Resonator Antenna for THz Applications

Abstract: A low-cost and high-gain on-chip terahertz (THz) dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) is proposed in this work. The DRA consists of a low-loss dielectric resonator (DR) made of high-resistivity silicon material and an on-chip feeding patch realized in a 0.18-μm CMOS technology for exciting the desired electromagnetic (EM) mode. The DR can be easily fabricated to the required dimension by wafer dicing of a 2-in silicon wafer. With a 500-μm thick DR, a higher order mode of TE δ, 1 , 7 can be excited, which greatly enhances the antenna gain. Such higher order mode operation also provides a reliable design. If a fundamental mode is selected, the DR thickness is around 100 μm at THz frequencies, which not only requires an additional wafer thinning process, but the wafer is also easily broken during the fabrication process. The feeding patch is used to excite the TE δ, 1 , 7 mode. Moreover, its ground plane also prevents the EM field from leaking into the lossy CMOS silicon substrate, which improves the antenna efficiency. The simulated antenna gain can be 7.9 dBi while providing radiation efficiency of 74% at 341 GHz with 7.3% bandwidth. To characterize the DRA performance, an identical CMOS imager is designed to be integrated with the proposed DRA and an on-chip patch antenna. By comparing the measured responsivity of these two imagers, the gain improvement of the DRA over the on-chip patch antenna can be obtained. Three samples are measured to evaluate the robustness of the proposed antenna over process variation. The measured results show that the maximum gain improvement of 6.7 dB can be acquired at 327 GHz. The proposed DRA with the integrated CMOS imager is also employed to successfully demonstrate a THz transmissive imaging system at 327 GHz. To the best of authors’ knowledge, this is first higher order mode DRA working at THz frequencies.

Wideband Glass and Liquid Cylindrical Dielectric Resonator Antenna for Pattern Reconfigurable Design

Abstract: A mode reconfigurable dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) to realize radiation pattern reconfiguration is presented for the first time. The DRA is composed of two zones: the inner zone is a solid cylinder fabricated by K9 glass ( $\varepsilon _{r} = 6.85$ ) and the outer zone is filled with a dielectric liquid—ethyl acetate ( $\varepsilon _{r} = 7.1$ ). Both of them are put into a cylindrical container fabricated by 3-D printing technology and excited by a single coaxial probe. The inner glass DRA is excited in its broadside HEM $_{\mathrm {11\delta }}$ mode when the ethyl acetate is pumped out, while the conical TM $_{\mathrm {01\delta }}$ mode is excited in the reconstituted cylindrical DRA when the ethyl acetate is pumped in. Consequently, a mechanical reconfiguration of broadside and conical radiation patterns can be achieved over a wide impedance bandwidth of 35.5% from 3.75 to 5.37 GHz. For demonstration, the reconfigurable DRA was fabricated and measured. The measured results of the standing wave ratio, radiation pattern, gain, and efficiency are discussed. Reasonable agreement between the measured and simulated results is observed.

Broadband Filtering Dielectric Resonator Antenna With Wide Stopband

Abstract: A low profile stacked dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) and a microstrip metasurface (MS) antenna are investigated and compared in this communication. It has been found that very similar radiation performance including resonant modes, reflection coefficients, boresight gains, and radiation patterns can be obtained between them, indicating that the dielectric superstrate of stacked DRA plays analogous role with MS in enhancing the antenna bandwidth and realized gain. Based on this observation, a broadband, low profile, and high gain filtering cylindrical stacked DRA is inspired by an MS-based filtering antenna. Four resonant modes including the higher order HEM $_{31\delta }$ mode and HEM $_{13\delta }$ mode are simultaneously excited in the DRA to provide a broad bandwidth of 61.4% and a peak gain of 11.4 dBi within passband, whereas a shorting via and two pairs of transverse stubs are introduced into the feeding microstrip line to generate radiation nulls in stopband and realize filtering function. Second harmonic suppression has been achieved without increasing the footprint of the antenna, and an out-of-band suppression of more than 23 dB is obtained within the wide stopband.

Single-Feed Dual-Band Circularly Polarized Dielectric Resonator Antenna for CNSS Applications

Abstract: A cross-slot-coupled dual-band circularly polarized rectangular dielectric resonator antenna (RDRA) with a small frequency ratio (123) based on compass navigation satellite system (CNSS) applications is designed, fabricated, and measured The RDRA is excited to resonate at two pairs of near-degenerate orthogonal modes of TE111 and TE113, and a cross slot is introduced to simultaneously achieve dual-band right-hand circular polarization The measured −10 dB impedance bandwidths of 114% and 84%, 3-dB axial ratio (AR) bandwidths of 21% and 22%, and antenna gains of over 54 and 43 dBic are obtained for CNSS B3 and B1 bands, respectively Reasonable consistency is achieved between measured and simulated results of reflection coefficients, ARs, and radiation patterns

High Gain Rectangular Dielectric Resonator Antenna Using Uniaxial Material at Fundamental Mode

Abstract: The use of uniaxial anisotropic materials in rectangular dielectric resonator antennas (DRAs) increases the radiation from their side walls compared to their top walls due to the fundamental radiating mode, which leads to the improvement of boresight directivity. The different boundary conditions on the walls of DRA are also investigated. The main phenomenon of gain enhancement is also theoretically explained. The proposed method is validated by comparing the simulation results for the cases of isotropic DRAs and anisotropic DRAs (ADRAs). The measured results for an aperture-coupled uniaxial ADRA show an impedance bandwidth of 20.65% between 3.17 and 3.9 GHz and a peak broadside gain of 8.4 dB.

Sound absorption by a Helmholtz resonator

Abstract: Absorption characteristics of a Helmholtz resonator positioned at the end wall of a circular duct are considered. The absorption coefficient of the resonator is experimentally investigated as a function of the diameter and length of the resonator neck and the depth of the resonator cavity. Based on experimental data, the linear analytic model of a Helmholtz resonator is verified, and the results of verification are used to determine the dissipative attached length of the resonator neck so as to provide the agreement between experimental and calculated data. Dependences of sound absorption by a Helmholtz resonator on its geometric parameters are obtained.

Wideband Circularly Polarized Dielectric Resonator Antenna With Bandpass Filtering and Wide Harmonics Suppression Response

Abstract: A wideband circularly polarized (CP) dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) with filtering response was proposed in this communication. To combine additional filtering and harmonic suppression functions within an antenna while realizing circular polarization, a new wideband filtering quadrature coupler was implemented to feed a hollow DRA. The filtering quadrature coupler was based on a snowflake shaped patch, whose operating modes can be flexibly controlled by the loading slots. Quarter wavelength coupled line sections were introduced to the coupler, realizing simultaneously wide bandwidth, excellent bandpass filtering, and wide harmonics suppression characteristics. For demonstration, a filtering CP antenna operating at 1.8 GHz was designed, fabricated, and measured. Reasonable agreement between simulated and measured results was observed. The prototype exhibited excellent bandpass filtering characteristics together with a wide overlapping bandwidth of 27.8%, within which the axial ratio value was less than 3 dB, and return loss was better than 12.4 dB. Over the same band, an average gain of 6 dBic with a variation less than 1 dB was achieved. A rejection level larger than 19 dB was found within the suppression band up to the third harmonic.

Omnidirectional circularly polarized dielectric resonator antenna with logarithmic spiral slots in the ground

Abstract: A new omnidirectional circularly polarized (CP) cylindrical dielectric resonator (DR) antenna (DRA) is excited by four open-ended logarithmic spiral slots in the ground plane. Radiated E θ and E φ components are obtained from the TM 01δ mode of the DR and the slotted ground plane, respectively. Omnidirectional CP fields can be obtained when E θ and E φ are equal in magnitude but different in phase by 90°. This CP technique does not require any special shape or treatment of DR, greatly facilitating the design. To demonstrate the idea, a prototype using a glass DR was fabricated. It is a dual-function DRA that also serves as the cover of light sources. The prototype has a measured bandwidth of ~6.2%, covering the entire 2.4-GHz WLAN band.

Wideband multiple-input–multiple-output dielectric resonator antenna

Abstract: A two-element multiple-input–multiple-output (MIMO) dielectric resonator antenna having wideband characteristics is presented The wideband operation is achieved by using a mushroom shaped dielectric resonator excited by a conformal trapezoidal patch In order to realise two-element MIMO configuration, two wideband radiators are arranged orthogonally which offers polarisation diversity The measured bandwidth (VSWR ≤ 2) for Port1 is 61% (508–950 GHz), whereas for Port2 it is 65% (489–961 GHz) The isolation between the two ports is better than 20 dB for the desired frequency band The antenna exhibits broadside radiation with cross polar level below 15 dB The peak gain of antenna varies from 334 to 740 dBi at Port1 and from 234 to 79 dBi at Port2 Moreover, the various MIMO performance metrics including envelope correlation coefficient (ECC), diversity gain, channel capacity loss and total active reflection coefficient are investigated The ECC is less than 001 and capacity loss is under 05 bps/Hz throughout the operating bandwidth The results confirm that the antenna offers effective MIMO/diversity performance The proposed antenna can be suitable for WLAN and upper ultra wideband frequency band applications

Frequency-Dependent Directive Radiation of Monopole-Dielectric Resonator Antenna Using a Conformal Frequency Selective Surface

Abstract: Development of a conformal frequency selective surface (FSS) for radiation diversity of hybrid monopole-dielectric resonator antenna has been demonstrated in this paper. In the proposed method, a planar FSS screen with meandered unit cell is designed to be reflective at 5 GHz followed by its mapping on a cylindrical surface of flexible dielectric material. The proposed conformal reflector when kept at a specific distance from the radiating element improves the bandwidth of the antenna from 26.8% to 53.67% in 4–6 GHz band. A significant enhancement of 5–6 dBi in gain is also achieved over this band. Gain of the antenna with reflector is maintained around 9.5 dBi with a variation of ±1.5 dB. On the other hand, omni-directional radiation of the antenna is maintained at an upper band of 7–9 GHz. Simulations have been performed using ANSYS High Frequency Structure Simulator (HFSS). Experimental measurements of the fabricated prototype have been provided. The proposed design is useful to achieve pattern diversity in multiband antenna system.

Dual-Fed Hollow Dielectric Antenna for Dual-Frequency Operation With Large Frequency Ratio

Abstract: A new dual-fed dual-frequency antenna that integrates a microwave hollow dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) with a high-gain millimeter-wave dielectric Fabry–Perot resonator antenna (FPRA) is investigated. To obtain the dual-frequency operation, the dielectric and air regions of the hollow DRA are designed to satisfy the resonance condition of the FPRA. The DRA and FPRA are excited by a strip and a WR-34 waveguide, respectively. For demonstration, a prototype that covers both 2.4- and 24-GHz ISM bands was fabricated and tested. The S-parameters, radiation pattern, antenna gain, and antenna efficiency are studied, and reasonable agreement between the measured and simulated results is found.

A Three-Port MIMO Dielectric Resonator Antenna Using Decoupled Modes

Abstract: In this letter, we propose a three-port multiple-input–multiple-output (MIMO) dielectric resonator antenna using three mutually decoupled and near-degenerate modes for X -band applications. To achieve decoupling, two of the three excited modes are chosen such that there is low mutual spatial overlapping between their field magnitudes; then, a third mode is imposed such that its field components are perpendicular to the other two modes. The impedance bandwidths of the three ports are 880 MHz, 870 MHz, and 2.61 GHZ, respectively, where contiguous bandwidth for the third port is achieved by utilizing the overlap of two resonances of $TE_{2 \delta 1}^{y}$ mode. The proposed antenna could be used either as a three-port MIMO antenna with operating bandwidth of 720 MHz, or as a two-port MIMO antenna with operating bandwidth of 880 MHz, at center frequency of 9.48 GHz. The gains of the three patterns at center frequency are 8.1 dB, 7.5 dB, and 7.4 dB, respectively.

Differential Dual-Band Dual-Polarized Dielectric Resonator Antenna

Abstract: This communication presents a differential dual-band dual-polarized dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) with high isolation and low cross polarization using a cross-shaped DR. In the differential DRA, some of the higher order modes are eliminated and electromagnetic fields of each excited mode have no interaction with its corresponding orthogonal mode. Two groups of modes are utilized to realize dual-band characteristic and each group with two orthogonal modes is used to supply dual-polarized function. Differential feeding provides the DRA with suppression of unwanted modes, much higher isolation and lower cross-polarization in both frequency bands, compared with the traditional single-end feeding. The experimental prototypes of the proposed differential DRA and its single-ended counterpart are designed and implemented. The comparison between them is also made in reflection coefficient, isolation, and radiation properties. Both simulated and measured results show significantly improved performance of the proposed differential DRA.

A Microwave Microfluidic Sensor Based on a Dual-Mode Resonator for Dual-Sensing Applications.

Abstract: In this paper, we propose a novel microwave microfluidic sensor with dual-sensing capability. The sensor is based on a dual-mode resonator that consists of a folded microstrip line loaded with interdigital lines and a stub at the plane of symmetry. Due to the specific configuration, the resonator exhibits two entirely independent resonant modes, which allows simultaneous sensing of two fluids using a resonance shift method. The sensor is designed in a multilayer configuration with the proposed resonator and two separated microfluidic channels-one intertwined with the interdigital lines and the other positioned below the stub. The circuit has been fabricated using low-temperature co-fired ceramics technology and its performance was verified through the measurement of its responses for different fluids in the microfluidic channels. The results confirm the dual-sensing capability with zero mutual influence as well as good overall performance. Besides an excellent potential for dual-sensing applications, the proposed sensor is a good candidate for application in mixing fluids and cell counting.

Steerable Higher Order Mode Dielectric Resonator Antenna With Parasitic Elements for 5G Applications

Abstract: This paper presents the findings of a steerable higher order mode (TE $^{\mathrm {y}}_{1\delta 3}$ ) dielectric resonator antenna with parasitic elements. The beam steering was successfully achieved by switching the termination capacitor on the parasitic element. In this light, all of the dielectric resonator antennas (DRAs) have the same dielectric permittivity similar to that of ten and excited by a $50\Omega $ microstrip with a narrow aperture. The effect of the mutual coupling on the radiation pattern and the reflection coefficient, as well as the array factor, was investigated clearly using MATLAB version 2014b and ANSYS HFSS version 16. As the result, the antenna beam of the proposed DRA array managed to steer from −32° to +32° at 15 GHz. Furthermore, the measured antenna array showed the maximum gain of 9.25 dBi and the reflection coefficients which are less than −10 dB with the bandwidth more than 1.3 GHz, which is viewed as desirable for device-to-device communication in 5G Internet of Things applications.

Gain Improvement of Rectangular Dielectric Resonator Antenna by Engraving Grooves on Its Side Walls

Abstract: A new technique for increasing the boresight gain of a rectangular dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) operating at its fundamental radiating $TE_{111}^y$ mode is introduced. The idea is to increase the radiations from the side walls of the DRA compared to that of its top wall by engraving grooves on the side walls. A model based on the array theory is developed to explain the high-gain nature of the antenna. The measured results demonstrate that the proposed antenna achieves an impedance bandwidth of 21% over a band of 3.24–4 GHz, with a maximum gain of 9.6 dB. This is significantly higher with respect to available data in the literature.

Generation of Orbital Angular Momentum Radio Waves Based on Dielectric Resonator Antenna

Abstract: A method to generate orbital angular momentum (OAM) radio waves based on dielectric resonator antenna is demonstrated. An equivalent model is built to investigate this OAM antenna in detail. Simulation and measurement are also carried out for this antenna. Both simulated and measurement results show typical and efficient radiation of OAM-carrying radio waves. It can generate radio waves with different OAM mode numbers at different frequencies. Because of its compact structure, low cost, and small size, this antenna will be a cost-effective solution for OAM wave generation

Compact Laterally Radiating Dielectric Resonator Antenna With Small Ground Plane

Abstract: A unilateral probe-fed rectangular dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) with a very small ground plane is investigated. The small ground plane simultaneously works as an excitation patch that excites the fundamental TE111 mode of the DRA, which is an equivalent magnetic dipole. By combining this equivalent magnetic dipole and the electric dipole of the probe, a lateral radiation pattern can be obtained. This complementary antenna has the same E- and H-Planes patterns with low back radiation. Moreover, the cardioid-shaped pattern can be easily steered in the horizontal plane by changing the angular position of the patch (ground). To verify the idea, a prototype operating in 3.5-GHz long term evolution band (3.4–3.6 GHz) was fabricated and measured, with reasonable agreement between the measured and simulated results obtained. It is found that the measured 15-dB front-to-back-ratio bandwidth is 10.9%.

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

Abstract: 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.

A Metamaterial Inspired Compact Open Split Ring Resonator Antenna for Multiband Operation

Abstract: In this work, a metamaterial inspired compact open split ring resonator (OSRR) antenna is investigated for multiband operation. The proposed antenna uses closely employed open split rings as a radiating element which provides efficient size reduction and broader bandwidth performance. The proposed antenna with the overall size of 27.5 ? 16.08 ? 1.6 mm3 is fabricated and tested. The measured results indicate that it covers 2.4/5.2/5.8 GHz (Wireless LAN), 5.5 GHz (WiMAX) and 7.4 GHz (X-band downlink) applications. The OSRR antenna has achieved size reduction of 38.83% and 52.83% compared to the split ring resonator and ring antennas respectively. It is observed that the proposed antenna produces better performance than the existing antennas in the literature.

A Low-Sidelobe and Wideband Series-Fed Linear Dielectric Resonator Antenna Array

Abstract: A low-sidelobe-level (SLL) and wideband series-fed linear dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) array is presented. To enhance the impedance bandwidth of the DRA element, feeding rings under the DRA are used and slot windows are etched on the ground plane. A Chebyshev amplitude distribution is used to get a low SLL. To improve the antenna gain and increase the front-to-back ratio of the array, a reflector plane is placed at the back of the array. The proposed DRA array is fabricated and measured, and the structure and performances of the antenna array are presented and discussed in this letter.

Template-Based Dielectric Resonator Antenna Arrays for Millimeter-Wave Applications

Abstract: An approach suitable for millimeter-wave dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) arrays is presented. The methodology involves fabricating precise cavities in acrylic templates and filling them with composite dielectric materials to create a monolithic polymer-based DRA (PRA) array layer. The excitation feed lines are fabricated on a separate substrate layer and the two layers are aligned and bonded together to form the PRA antenna array module. The impact of the acrylic frame on the PRA performance is analyzed through simulations. A four-element array operating at 60 GHz is realized to demonstrate the approach. The performance is characterized through simulation and also experimentally verified. The array offers a wide 12% impedance bandwidth at 60 GHz and broadside radiation with 10.5-dBi realized gain and stable radiation patterns. The use of polymer-based materials provides opportunities for cost-effective volume fabrication using molding techniques.