Effects of an IC Chip on an Antenna-IC Transition at 100 GHz

This paper investigates the challenges and limitations an IC chip places for modeling a mm-wave antenna system. A compact differential antenna-IC transition suitable for antenna array applications at 100 GHz is presented. Challenges related to including the chip in the antenna design process are evaluated by analyzing the transition through EM simulations. The importance of the correct excitation method in the simulations is discussed, and different excitation port types and their locations are compared. Additionally, the effects of differently modeled IC chips, for example a simple silicon slab or partially metallic chip, are studied. Finally, recommendations for the combined antenna and IC chip simulations are given.