TY - CONF A1 - Heunisch, Andreas A1 - Schulz, Bärbel A1 - Rabe, Torsten T1 - LTCC antenna array with integrated liquid crystal phase shifter for satellite communication N2 - Low Temperature Cofired Ceramic (LTCC) is used as a substrate material for microelectronic devices in satellite communication. Its dielectric properties and excellent variability allows a good compactness and a high level of integration. An LTCC antenna array for microwave signals operating at 30 GHz is presented. All components such as radio frequency distribution network, four waveguide phase shifters and horn antennas are integrated in one ceramic module. The phase shifters are implemented as high volume cavities in the LTCC. A tailored mixture of liquid crystal can be stored inside the cavities. By applying an electric field, the anisotropic LC-molecules are aligned. The field is provided through a biasing network with four electrodes and screen printed resistive layers with resistance values in the MΩ/□ range. The alignment and with it the phase shifting is nearly seamless. The antenna module is manufactured in multilayer technology and consists of more than 40 layers. Lamination is carried out by thermocompression in two steps. A water based adhesive is used in the second. The cofiring is done in a sintering press. Temperature and pressure profile are chosen carefully, considering the high volume of the laminate and the buried cavities inside the module. After sintering, the horn antennas are milled into the front side of the ceramic body, which is about 5 mm in height. T2 - CICMT 2012 - 8th International conference on ceramic interconnect & ceramic microsystems technologies CY - Erfurt, Germany DA - 16.04.2012 KW - LTCC multilayer KW - Liquid crystals KW - Cavities KW - Pressure assisted sintering PY - 2012 SP - 000097 EP - 000102 (Session TP 1 / TP 15) AN - OPUS4-27404 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -