Ankenbrand M, Panusch D, Utsch D, Banea K, Ehrngruber M, Gold G, Helmreich K, Franke J (2023)
Publication Language: English
Publication Type: Conference contribution, Conference Contribution
Publication year: 2023
Pages Range: 115-120
Conference Proceedings Title: Proceedings of the SMTA Pan Pacific Microelectronics Symposium 2023
Event location: Kauai
In this work, printed electronics and laser processes are utilized to generate radio frequency (RF) structures for the X-band on additively manufactured substrates. The substrates are generated by Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) with various materials. Conductive structures are applied with the processes Piezojet, Nanojet and Laser Direct Structuring (LDS). Piezojet is a drop-on-demand inkjet process that can print a wide range of inks and pastes with viscosities up to 200,000 mPas. Typical line widths are in the range of 300 - 500 μm. Nanojet uses ultra-sonic atomization to create an aerosol from a functional ink. In the nozzle, the aerosol is focused by an additional gas flow, which enables line widths as fine as 20 μm. Both Piezojet and Nanojet require a post-treatment step to dry or sinter the applied inks in order to achieve full conductivity. The LDS process works with a laser-activatable additive that is compounded into the material. Circuit tracks are generated by laser-scanning the layout on the substrate surface. The areas activated in this process are then metallized in an electroless plating process to achieve conducting paths. Moreover, the LDS-laser can also be used to smoothen the 3D-printed substrate surfaces and for sintering and trimming the circuits printed with Piezojet and Nanojet.
In order to evaluate the different process and material combinations, the following coplanar structures are printed on additively manufactured substrates: Transmission line sections, a bandpass and a resonator. A network analyzer is used to measure the scattering parameters of the printed structures. With the measured magnitude and phase together with the geometry of the lines, an estimation for the relative permittivity εr can be obtained. This parameter is later used in the design process of an additively manufactured helix antenna. This antenna type offers a small form factor in combination with high gain and bandwidth, while radiating a signal of circular polarization. Many RF applications like satellite communication or radar imaging rely on circular polarized antennas [1,2]. The helix antenna is manufactured with the above-described processes in a 5-axis motion system.
APA:
Ankenbrand, M., Panusch, D., Utsch, D., Banea, K., Ehrngruber, M., Gold, G.,... Franke, J. (2023). Generation of RF Structures on Additively Manufactured Substrates by Printed Electronics and Laser Structuring. In Proceedings of the SMTA Pan Pacific Microelectronics Symposium 2023 (pp. 115-120). Kauai.
MLA:
Ankenbrand, Markus, et al. "Generation of RF Structures on Additively Manufactured Substrates by Printed Electronics and Laser Structuring." Proceedings of the SMTA Pan Pacific Microelectronics Symposium 2023, Kauai 2023. 115-120.
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