Development of millimeter-wave planar antennas using low-loss materials

As the importance of advanced millimeter-wave diagnostics increases, the fabrication of high-performance devices and components becomes essential. In this paper, we describe the development of millimeter-wave planar antennas using low-loss fluorine substrates. The problems to be solved in this study are the low degree of adhesion between copper foil and the fluorine substrate and the accuracy of device pattern using conventional fabrication techniques. In order to solve these problems, a new surface treatment of fluorine films and a fabrication method using electro-fine-forming (EF2) are proposed. In order to confirm the performance of the treated films, microstrip lines (MSLs) and planar patch antennas with a low sidelobe level in the E-plane are designed and fabricated on conventional fluorine substrates and grafted poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) films. (author)