Monolithic millimeter-wave IMPATT oscillator and active antenna

Abstract

A monolithic IMPATT fabrication technique was developed to integrate active devices and radiating elements on the same surface of a semi-insulating GaAs substrate. Since the IMPATT diode resonator also acted as the radiating element, the oscillator was automatically matched to the antenna properties, eliminating antenna feed mismatch losses. Devices operating at 43.3 GHz produced 26 mW CW output power with 7.1% conversion efficiency. The oscillation frequency and the radiation patterns were determined by the properties of the on-chip circuitry. This monolithic oscillator was also coupled to waveguide using several configurations. Low-cost oscillator fabrication was demonstrated; linear arrays of such radiating elements were produced and radiation patterns were determined as a function of interelement spacings and element numbers.