Integrated antenna module with micro-waveguide
First Claim
1. An antenna array, comprising:
- a semiconductor substrate having a first surface and an opposing second surface;
a plurality of heavily-doped contact regions extending from the first surface to the second surface;
a plurality of antennas formed on an insulating layer adjacent the first surface, each antenna being coupled to corresponding ones of the contact regions by vias;
driving circuitry formed on the second surface of the substrate, wherein the driving circuitry is configured such that each antenna corresponds to an RF beam forming interface circuit adapted to perform at least one of phase-shifting and attenuating an RF signal according to a transmit beam forming command to form an RF driving signal for driving the corresponding antenna, the RF beam forming interface circuit also adapted to perform at least one of phase-shifting and attenuating a received RF signal from the corresponding antenna according to a receive beam forming command, and a waveguide network formed in a network substrate adjacent the second surface, wherein the waveguide network is adapted to provide the RF signal to and to receive the received RF signal from each RF beam forming interface circuit.
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Abstract
In one embodiment, an antenna array is provided that includes a semiconductor substrate having a first surface and an opposing second surface; a plurality of heavily-doped contact regions extending from the first surface to the second surface; a plurality of antennas formed on an insulating layer adjacent the first surface, each antenna being coupled to corresponding ones of the contact regions by vias; driving circuitry formed on the second surface of the substrate, wherein the driving circuitry is configured such that each antenna corresponds to an RF beam forming interface circuit adapted to perform at least one of phase-shifting and attenuating an RF signal according to a transmit beam forming command to form an RF driving signal for driving the corresponding antenna, the RF beam forming interface circuit also adapted to perform at least one of phase-shifting and attenuating a received RF signal from the corresponding antenna according to a receive beam forming command, and a waveguide network formed in a network substrate adjacent the second surface, wherein the waveguide network is adapted to provide the RF signal to and to receive the received RF signal from each RF beam forming interface circuit.
17 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An antenna array, comprising:
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a semiconductor substrate having a first surface and an opposing second surface;
a plurality of heavily-doped contact regions extending from the first surface to the second surface;
a plurality of antennas formed on an insulating layer adjacent the first surface, each antenna being coupled to corresponding ones of the contact regions by vias;
driving circuitry formed on the second surface of the substrate, wherein the driving circuitry is configured such that each antenna corresponds to an RF beam forming interface circuit adapted to perform at least one of phase-shifting and attenuating an RF signal according to a transmit beam forming command to form an RF driving signal for driving the corresponding antenna, the RF beam forming interface circuit also adapted to perform at least one of phase-shifting and attenuating a received RF signal from the corresponding antenna according to a receive beam forming command, and a waveguide network formed in a network substrate adjacent the second surface, wherein the waveguide network is adapted to provide the RF signal to and to receive the received RF signal from each RF beam forming interface circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An antenna array, comprising:
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a semiconductor substrate having a first surface and an opposing second surface;
a plurality of heavily-doped contact regions extending from the first surface to the second surface;
a plurality of antennas formed on an insulating layer adjacent the first surface, each antenna being coupled to corresponding ones of the contact regions by vias;
driving circuitry formed on the second surface of the substrate, wherein the driving circuitry is configured such that each antenna corresponds to a phase-locked loop and mixer, each phase-locked loop operable to receive a phase-adjusted version of a reference clock and provide an oscillator output signal that is synchronous with the phase-adjusted version of the reference clock, wherein if the phase-locked loop is configured for transmission, the oscillator output signal is upconverted in the circuit'"'"'s mixer and the upconverted signal transmitted by the corresponding antenna, and wherein if the phase-locked loop is configured for reception, a received signal from the corresponding antenna is downconverted in the mixer responsive to the oscillator output signal; and
a waveguide network formed in a network substrate adjacent the second surface, wherein the waveguide network is adapted to provide the phase-adjusted versions of the reference clock to the phase-locked loops. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification