3-D Printed Plug and Play Prototyping for Low-cost Sub-THz Subsystems
File(s)
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Polymer-based additive manufacturing using 3-D printing for upper-millimeter-wave ( ca. 100 to 300 GHz) frequency applications is now emerging. Building on our previous work, with metal-pipe rectangular waveguides and free-space quasi-optical components, this paper brings the two media together at G-band (140 to 220 GHz), by demonstrating a compact multi-channel front-end subsystem. Here, the proof-of-concept demonstrator integrates eight different types of 3-D printed components (30 individual components in total). In addition, the housing for two test platforms and the subsystem are all 3-D printed as single pieces, to support plug and play development; offering effortless component assembly and alignment. We introduce bespoke free-space TRM calibration and measurement schemes with our quasi-optical test platforms. Equal power splitting plays a critical role in our multi-channel application. Here, we introduce a broadband 3-D printed quasi-optical beamsplitter for upper-millimeter-wave applications. Our quantitative and/or qualitative performance evaluations for individual components and the complete integrated subsystem, demonstrate the potential for using consumer-level desktop 3-D printing technologies at such high frequencies. This work opens-up new opportunities for low-cost, rapid prototyping and small-batch production of complete millimeter-wave front-end subsystems.
Date Issued
2022-04-14
Date Acceptance
2022-04-10
Citation
IEEE Access, 2022, 10, pp.41708-41719
ISSN
2169-3536
Publisher
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Start Page
41708
End Page
41719
Journal / Book Title
IEEE Access
Volume
10
Copyright Statement
© 2022 the authors. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. For more information, see https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
License URL
Sponsor
UK Space Agency
Identifier
https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9757188
Grant Number
CT11834
Subjects
08 Information and Computing Sciences
09 Engineering
10 Technology
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2022-04-14