Integrated Circularly Polarized Antenna and RF Module Design for Low-Temperature Co-fired Ceramic IoT Terminals

GAO Pengjian; LI Jia; WANG Weibing; ZHOU Kaiyue

doi:10.11999/JEIT240827

Volume 47 Issue 4

Apr. 2025

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GAO Pengjian, LI Jia, WANG Weibing, ZHOU Kaiyue. Integrated Circularly Polarized Antenna and RF Module Design for Low-Temperature Co-fired Ceramic IoT Terminals[J]. Journal of Electronics & Information Technology, 2025, 47(4): 1104-1112. doi: 10.11999/JEIT240827

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GAO Pengjian, LI Jia, WANG Weibing, ZHOU Kaiyue. Integrated Circularly Polarized Antenna and RF Module Design for Low-Temperature Co-fired Ceramic IoT Terminals[J]. Journal of Electronics & Information Technology, 2025, 47(4): 1104-1112. doi: 10.11999/JEIT240827

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Integrated Circularly Polarized Antenna and RF Module Design for Low-Temperature Co-fired Ceramic IoT Terminals

doi: 10.11999/JEIT240827 cstr: 32379.14.JEIT240827

GAO Pengjian^{1, 2},
LI Jia^{1, 2
,
,},
WANG Weibing^{1, 2},
ZHOU Kaiyue¹

1.
Institute of Microelectronics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China
2.
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China

Funds: Chinese Academy of Sciences Strategic Leading Science and Technology Special Project (Class A) (XDA22020100)

Received Date: 2024-09-27
Rev Recd Date: 2025-02-24

Available Online: 2025-03-01

Publish Date: 2025-04-01

Abstract

Abstract

Objective With the ongoing advancement of the Internet of Things (IoT) and the increasing integration of communication devices, there is a growing need for miniaturized, low-profile, and polarized antennas. To meet these needs, Antenna-in-Package (AiP) technology, which integrates the functional modules of the Radio Frequency (RF) system and enables multi-functional design, has emerged as a key development for wireless system miniaturization. Currently, two main antenna packaging technologies are used: Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit (MMIC) and Multi-Chip Module (MCM). MMIC faces limitations due to material and process constraints, making it difficult to integrate a large number of passive components. In contrast, MCM facilitates the integration of multiple IC chips onto a single substrate. It employs Surface-Mount Technology (SMT) for antenna design, using advanced microelectronic assembly and interconnection techniques to combine these components into a complete circuit system. Low-Temperature Co-Fired Ceramic (LTCC) technology is crucial in MCM, offering high-density 3D interconnect capabilities, low loss, high-temperature resistance, and other benefits, which make it widely used in communication applications. Integrated antennas based on LTCC technology offer high integration, compact size, light weight, and broad applicability, making them a focus of global research. While microstrip patch antennas are suitable for low-profile, circular polarization, a key challenge is using LTCC technology to widen the bandwidth of these antennas and integrate them with transceiver modules. This paper explores the development of a compact, wideband planar circularly polarized antenna using LTCC technology, integrated with a transceiver chip to form a miniaturized transceiver module. This innovation extends the use of AiP technology in IoT systems and has significant engineering implications. Methods To meet the increasing demand for low-profile integrated antennas in wireless transceiver systems for the IoT, this paper investigates and presents a circularly polarized integrated antenna based on LTCC technology. The antenna uses a 3D laminated LTCC structure to integrate the 3 dB coupler feed, printed radiating patch, Bluetooth chip, and associated peripheral control circuits. A detailed analysis of the LTCC laminate structure leads to several design enhancements, including structural hollowing, an integrated feed structure, and clearance processing. These improvements effectively expand the antenna bandwidth and significantly increase its gain, while preserving the low-profile circular polarization characteristics. The antenna is then integrated with an RF chip for packaging. Experimental results confirm that the RF transceiver module is compact, supports a long communication range, and meets the specific demands of IoT applications, demonstrating significant engineering potential, reliability, and high practical value. Results and Discussions Based on transmission line theory, this paper proposes a hollow structure in the LTCC laminate process to reduce the effective dielectric constant, significantly expanding the antenna bandwidth. The integration of the 3 dB coupler feed structure, printed radiating patch, Bluetooth chip, and peripheral control circuits allows for seamless integration with the transceiver module. Simulation results show that the antenna’s impedance bandwidth spans from 2.15 to 2.59 GHz, with a return loss of less than –10 dB and an axial ratio below 3 dB. The antenna is fabricated using LTCC technology, with dimensions of 0.37λ₀×0.37λ₀×0.33λ₀ (λ₀ is the free space wavelength at the central frequency). Measured results closely match the simulation data (Figure 8), confirming that the design effectively broadens the bandwidth while maintaining a compact size, thus validating the proposed hollow structure. Finally, the antenna is integrated with the RF circuit substrate to form a complete transceiver system (Figure 11). Test results demonstrate that the circularly polarized antenna offers excellent engineering application potential and high practical value (Tables 3 and 4). Conclusions This paper presents the design of a circularly polarized integrated antenna based on LTCC technology. The device integrates a 3 dB coupler feed structure, printed radiating patch, Bluetooth chip, and peripheral control circuits, with the hollow structure effectively broadening the antenna bandwidth. The fabricated antenna meets the performance requirements for Bluetooth systems, with an axial ratio and return loss that align with system specifications. The antenna’s size is 0.37λ₀×0.37λ₀×0.33λ₀, demonstrating its low-profile characteristics. The hollow structure at the base integrates well with the transceiver chip, enhancing its engineering application potential. Finally, the seamless integration of the antenna with the wireless transceiver chip forms a complete, highly functional module. Measured results confirm its excellent circular polarization and practical characteristics. The proposed design approach provides valuable insights for the future development of integrated AiP solutions.
- Low-Temperature Co-fired Ceramic (LTCC),
- Circularly polarized antenna,
- Low profile,
- IoT applications

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References(19)

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