60 GHz microstrip reflectarray on a benzocyclobutene dielectric substrate

Benzocyclobutene (BCB) polymer is proposed in this study as an innovative and versatile substrate material for millimetre-wave reflectarrays. The excellent material features in terms of low loss, low dielectric constant and strong dielectric stability against frequency and temperature are highlighted. The design, realisation and test of a 60 GHz reflectarray with 21 × 21 variable-sized patches giving a focused boresight beam pattern are fully described. The BCB thickness is chosen on the basis of a parametric analysis performed on the unit cell to optimise the performances in terms of dielectric losses and radiation bandwidth. The in-house fabrication process able to assemble multi-layered BCB substrates is described in detail. Experimental results on the radiation pattern and the boresight gain are used to validate both the synthesis and the manufacturing process.

Benzocyclobutene (BCB) polymer is proposed in this study as an innovative and versatile substrate material for millimetre-wave reflectarrays. The excellent material features in terms of low loss, low dielectric constant and strong dielectric stability against frequency and temperature are highlighted. The design, realisation and test of a 60 GHz reflectarray with 21 x 21 variable-sized patches giving a focused boresight beam pattern are fully described. The BCB thickness is chosen on the basis of a parametric analysis performed on the unit cell to optimise the performances in terms of dielectric losses and radiation bandwidth. The in-house fabrication process able to assemble multi-layered BCB substrates is described in detail. Experimental results on the radiation pattern and the boresight gain are used to validate both the synthesis and the manufacturing process.