A*Star IME develops high performance silicon-based 135 GHz integrative antenna technology for advanced wireless communications

Copyright : Agency for Science, Technology and Research

SCIENTIFIC MEDIA RELEASE

28 August 2012

A*STAR’s IME DEVELOPS HIGH PERFORMANCE SILICON-BASED 135 GHZ
INTEGRATIVE ANTENNA TECHNOLOGY FOR ADVANCED WIRELESS
COMMUNICATIONS

Singapore, 28 Aug 2012 Researchers from A*STAR’s Institute of
Microelectronics (IME) have developed the first compact high
performance silicon-based cavity-backed slot (CBS) antenna that
operates at 135 GHz. The antenna demonstrated 30 times stronger
signal transmission over on-chip antennas at 135 GHz. At just 1.6mm
x 1.2mm, approximately the size of a sesame seed, it is the
smallest silicon-based CBS antenna reported to date for ready
integration with active circuits. IME’s innovation will help
realise a wireless communication system with very small form factor
and almost two-thirds cheaper than a conventional CBS antenna. The
antenna, in combination with other millimetre-wave building blocks,
can support wireless speed of 20 Gbps – more than 200 times
faster than present day Wi-Fi , to allow ultra fast point-to-point
access to rich media content, relevant to online learning and
entertainment.

On the research breakthrough, Dr Hu Sanming, a key researcher from
IME leading the antenna project, said, “The novel use of
polymer filling enables >70% antenna size shrinkage and a record
high gain of 5.68 dBi at 135 GHz. By filling the antenna cavity
with polymer instead of air, we can achieve a flat surface for
subsequent processing by standard technology that is amenable to
mass production.”

“The team has also designed a three-dimensional (3D)
architecture to integrate the antenna with active circuits to form
a fully integrated wireless millimetre-wave system-in-package
solution with high performance, reduced footprint and low
electromagnetic interference,” commented Dr Je Minkyu,
Principal Investigator of the Integrated Circuits and Systems
Laboratory at IME.

Professor Dim-Lee Kwong, Executive Director of IME, said,
“IME’s silicon-based 135 GHz integrative antenna
technology and the proposed 3D architecture have immense commercial
potential as it combines form with function that can be realised
with standard mass production infrastructure. These salient
features make our technology extremely attractive to product
developers who are looking to capture emerging markets in
millimetre-wave applications.”

About the Institute of Microelectronics (IME)

The Institute of Microelectronics (IME) is a research institute of
the Science and Engineering Research Council of the Agency for
Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). Positioned to bridge the
R&D between academia and industry, IME’s mission is to add
value to Singapore’s semiconductor industry by developing strategic
competencies, innovative technologies and intellectual property;
enabling enterprises to be technologically competitive; and
cultivating a technology talent pool to inject new knowledge to the
industry. Its key research areas are in integrated circuits design,
advanced packaging, bioelectronics and medical devices, MEMS,
nanoelectronics, and photonics. For more information, visit IME on
the Internet: http://www.ime.a-star.edu.sg.

About the Agency for Science, Technology and Research
(A*STAR)

The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is the
lead agency for fostering world-class scientific research and
talent for a vibrant knowledge-based and innovation-driven
Singapore. A*STAR oversees 14 biomedical sciences, and physical
sciences and engineering research institutes, and seven consortia
& centre, which are located in Biopolis and Fusionopolis, as
well as their immediate vicinity. A*STAR supports Singapore’s key
economic clusters by providing intellectual, human and industrial
capital to its partners in industry. It also supports extramural
research in the universities, hospitals, research centres, and with
other local and international partners.

Media Contact:

SONG Shin Miin

Institute of Microelectronics

DID: +65 6770 5317

Email: songsm@ime.a-star.edu.sg