[0001] This relates generally to a loop antenna and, more particularly, to a loop antenna for use in the terahertz frequency range.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Loop antennas have been used in a wide variety of applications over the years, but, for high frequency applications (i.e., terahertz radiation) and for monolithically integrated antennas, there can be a variety of barriers to the use of loops antennas. For example, there can be loses associated with packaging material between the antenna and transmission media.

Another example is losses due to parasitic radiation and interface from trances in printed circuit boards or PCBs. Therefore, there is a need for an improved system. Some examples of conventional systems are: U.S. Patent No. 7,545,329; and J. Grzyb, D. Liu, U. Pfeiffer, and B. Gaucher, "Wideband cavity-backed folded dipole superstate antenna for 60 GHz

applications," Proceedings of the 2006 IEEE AP-S International Symposium and UNSC/URSI and AMEREM Meetings, pp. 3939-3942, Albuquerque, New Mexico, July 9-14, 2006.

SUMMARY

[0003] An example embodiment provides an apparatus. The apparatus comprises a substrate having a first feed terminal, a second feed terminal, and a ground terminal; a first metallization layer disposed over the substrate, wherein the first metallization layer includes: a first window region; a first conductive region disposed over and in electrical contact with the first feed terminal, wherein first conductive region is substantially circular, and wherein the first conductive region is located within the first window region; a second conductive region disposed over and in electrical contact with the second feed terminal, wherein the second conductive region is substantially circular, and wherein the first conductive region is located within the first window region; and a third conductive region disposed over and in electrical contact with the ground terminal, wherein the third conductive region substantially surrounds the first window region; and a second metallization layer disposed over and in electrical contact with the first, second, and third conductive regions of the first metallization layer, wherein the second metallization layer includes a second window region that is at least partially aligned with the first window region.

[0004] In accordance with an embodiment, the ground terminal further comprises a first ground terminal, and wherein the substrate has a second ground terminal, and wherein the first feed terminal, the second feed terminal, the first ground terminal, and the second ground terminal are substantially aligned.

[0005] In accordance with an embodiment, the first window region is substantially rectangular.

[0006] In accordance with an embodiment, the apparatus further comprises: a first via that extends between the first ground terminal and the third conductive region; a second via that extends between the second ground terminal and the third conductive region; a third via that extends between the first feed terminal and the first conductive region; and a fourth via that extends between the second feed terminal and the second conductive region.

[0007] In accordance with an embodiment, the second metallization layer further comprises: a fourth conductive region that substantially surrounds the second widow conductive region and that is in electrical contact with the third conductive region; a fifth conductive region that bisects the second window region and that is electrical contact with the fourth conductive region; a sixth conductive region that is disposed over the first conductive region, is generally coextensive with the first conductive region, and is in electrical contact with the first and fifth conductive regions; and a seventh conductive region that is disposed over the second conductive region, is generally coextensive with the second conductive region, and is in electrical contact with the second and fifth conductive regions.

[0008] In accordance with an embodiment, the apparatus further comprises: a set of fifth vias that extends between the third and fourth conductive regions; a sixth via that extends between the first and sixth conductive regions; and a seventh via that extends between the second and seventh conductive regions.

[0009] In accordance with an embodiment, the first feed terminal, the second feed terminal, the first ground terminal, and the second ground terminal are bondpads.

[0010] In accordance with an embodiment, an apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises an integrated circuit (IC) having: radio frequency (RF) circuitry; a first bondpad that is coupled to the RF circuitry; a second bondpad that is coupled to the RF circuitry; and a third bondpad that is coupled to the RF circuitry and that is coupled to ground; an antenna package having: a substrate; a fourth bondpad that is located in the substrate and that is in electrical contact with the first bondpad; a fifth bondpad that is located in the substrate and that is in electrical contact with the second bondpad; a sixth bondpad that is located in the substrate and that is in electrical contact with the third bondpad; a first metallization layer disposed over the substrate, wherein the first metallization layer includes: a first window region; a first conductive region disposed over and in electrical contact with the fourth bondpad, wherein first conductive region is substantially circular, and wherein the first conductive region is located within the first window region; a second conductive region disposed over and in electrical contact with the fifth bondpad, wherein the second conductive region is substantially circular, and wherein the first conductive region is located within the first window region; and a third conductive region disposed over and in electrical contact with the sixth bondpad, wherein the third conductive region substantially surrounds the first window region; and a second metallization layer disposed over and in electrical contact with the first, second, and third conductive regions of the first metallization layer, wherein the second metallization layer includes a second window region that is at least partially aligned with the first window region.

[0011] In accordance with an embodiment, antenna package further comprises a seventh bondpad, and wherein the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh bond pads are substantially aligned, and wherein the IC further comprises an eighth bondpad that is coupled to the RF circuitry and that is coupled to ground, and wherein the seventh bondpad is in electrical contact with the eighth bondpad.

[0012] In accordance with an embodiment, the apparatus further comprises: a first via that extends between the sixth bondpad and the third conductive region; a second via that extends between the seventh bondpad and the third conductive region; a third via that extends between the fourth bondpad and the first conductive region; and a fourth via that extends between the fifth bondpad and the second conductive region.

[0013] In accordance with an embodiment, the second metallization layer further comprises: a fourth conductive region that substantially surrounds the second widow conductive region and that is in electrical contact with the third conductive region; a fifth conductive region that bisects the second window region and that is electrical contact with the fourth conductive region; a sixth conductive region that is disposed over the first conductive region, is generally coextensive with the first conductive region, and is in electrical contact with the first and fifth conductive regions; and a seventh conductive region that is disposed over the second conductive region, is generally coextensive with the second conductive region, and is in electrical contact with the second and fifth conductive regions.

[0014] In accordance with an embodiment, the apparatus further comprises: a set of fifth vias that extends between the third and fourth conductive regions; a sixth via that extends between the first and sixth conductive regions; and a seventh via that extends between the second and seventh conductive regions.

[0015] In accordance with an embodiment, an apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises an integrated circuit (IC) having: a plurality of RF transceivers; a plurality of sets of bondpads, wherein each set of bondpads is associated with at least one of the RF transceivers, and wherein each set of bondpads includes: a first bondpad that is coupled to its associated RF transceiver; a second bondpad that is coupled to its associated RF transceiver; a third bondpad that is coupled to its associated RF transceiver and that is coupled to ground; and a fourth bondpad that is coupled to its associated RF transceiver and that is coupled to ground; an antenna package having: a substrate; an array of antenna, wherein each antenna is associated with at least of the RF transceivers, and wherein each antenna includes: a fifth bondpad that is located in the substrate and that is in electrical contact with its associated first bondpad; a sixth bondpad that is located in the substrate and that is in electrical contact with its associated second bondpad; a seventh bondpad that is located in the substrate and that is in electrical contact with its associated third bondpad; an eighth bondpad that is located in the substrate and that is in electrical contact with its associated third bondpad, wherein the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eight bondpads are substantially aligned; a first metallization layer disposed over the substrate, wherein the first metallization layer includes: a first window region; a first conductive region disposed over and in electrical contact with the fifth bondpad, wherein first conductive region is substantially circular, and wherein the first conductive region is located within the first window region; a second conductive region disposed over and in electrical contact with the sixth bondpad, wherein the second conductive region is substantially circular, and wherein the first conductive region is located within the first window region; and a third conductive region disposed over and in electrical contact with the seventh and eighth bondpads, wherein the third conductive region substantially surrounds the first window region; and a second metallization layer disposed over and in electrical contact with the first, second, and third conductive regions of the first metallization layer, wherein the second metallization layer includes a second window region that is at least partially aligned with the first window region; and a high impedance surface (HIS) disposed on the substrate and substantially surrounding the array of antennas.

[0016] In accordance with an embodiment, the apparatus further comprises: a first via that extends between the seventh bondpad and the third conductive region; a second via that extends between the eighth bondpad and the third conductive region; a third via that extends between the fifth bondpad and the first conductive region; and a fourth via that extends between the sixth bondpad and the second conductive region.

[0017] In accordance with an embodiment, the second metallization layer further comprises: a fourth conductive region that substantially surrounds the second widow conductive region and that is in electrical contact with the third conductive region; a fifth conductive region that bisects the second window region and that is electrical contact with the fourth conductive region; a sixth conductive region that is disposed over the first conductive region, is generally coextensive with the first conductive region, and is in electrical contact with the first and fifth conductive regions; and a seventh conductive region that is disposed over the second conductive region, is generally coextensive with the second conductive region, and is in electrical contact with the second and fifth conductive regions.

[0018] In accordance with an embodiment, the apparatus further comprises: a set of fifth vias that extends between the third and fourth conductive regions; a sixth via that extends between the first and sixth conductive regions; and a seventh via that extends between the second and seventh conductive regions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Example embodiments are described with reference to accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0020] FIG. 1 is a system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the antenna package of FIG. 1;

[0022] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the substrate for an antenna of FIG. 2;

[0023] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 along section line I-I;

[0024] FIG. 5 is a plan view of a metallization layer for the antenna of FIG. 2; [0025] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 5 along section line II-II;

[0026] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 5 along section line III-III;

[0027] FIG. 8 is a plan view of a metallization layer for the antenna of FIG. 2;

[0028] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 8 along section line IV-IV; and

[0029] FIG. 10 is a diagram depicting an example of the radiation pattern for the antenna of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0030] FIG. 1 shows an example of a system 100 in accordance with an embodiment.

This system 100 generally comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) 102, an antenna package 104, and an integrated circuit (IC) 106. The IC 106 generally includes radio frequency (RF) circuitry. For example, IC 106 can be a terahertz phased array system that includes multiple transceivers. An example of such an IC can be seen in co-pending U.S. Patent Appl. Serial No. 12/878,484, which is entitled "Terahertz Phased Array System," filed on September 9, 2010, and is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes. This IC 106 is then secured to the antenna packages 104 to allow each transceiver (for example) to communicate with an antenna included on the antenna package 104. Typically, bondpads on the IC 106 are secured to bondpads on the antenna package 104 through solder balls 110. The antenna package 104 can then be secured to the PCB 102 (which is typically accomplished through bondpads being secured to one another through solder balls 108). By using this arrangement, cross-talk and loss can be reduced.

[0031] In FIG. 2, an example of the antenna package 104 can be seen in greater detail.

As shown, the antenna packages include a phased array 204 that is substantially surrounded by a high impedance surface (HIS). An example of such an HIS can be seen in U.S. Patent Appl. Serial No. 13/116,885, which is entitled "High Impedance Surface," was filed on May 26, 2011, and is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes. Also, as shown, the phased array 204 includes antennas 206-1 to 206-4, but any number of antennas is possible. This phased array 204 can then be used to steer the beam of radiation.

[0032] Turning to FIGS. 2-9, an example of the structure of each of the antennas 206-1 to

206-4 (hereinafter labeled 206) can be seen. Antenna 206 is generally formed over a substrate 302 and can be (for example) configured to operate at 160GHz. For this example operating frequency, the area occupied by the antenna (as shown in FIGS. 2-9) can be 1120μιη x 1120μιη. Extending through substrate 302 are bondpads 304-1 to 304-4 (which can, for example, be formed of copper). Bondpads 304-1 and 304-4 generally operate as ground terminals, while bondpads 304-2 and 304-3 generally operate as differential feed terminals (i.e., positive and negative) that communicated with RF circuitry (i.e., transceiver) on IC 106. These bondpads 304-1 to 304-4 are generally aligned with one another along a line that bisects the areas occupied by antenna 206. Additionally, vias 306-1 to 306-4 (which can, for example, be formed of tungsten) are formed over bondpads 304-1 to 304-4, respectively.

[0033] A metallization layer 308 (which can, for example, be formed of copper or aluminum) is then formed so as to be disposed over the substrate 302 with an interlayer dielectric (which is transparent to radiation in the frequency of interest, such as terahertz radiation) formed therebetween. As shown, this metallization layer 308 generally includes regions 402, 404, and 406. Region 402 substantially surrounds the window region 408 and is in electrical contact with bondpads 304-1 and 304-4 through vias 306-1 and 306-4, respectively, so as to form a ground plane. Regions 404 and 406 are generally circular regions (which can have a diameter of about 180μιη and be displaced from the edge of the window region 408 by about 40um) that are in electrical contact with bondpads 304-2 and 304-3, respectively, through vias 306-2 and 306-3. Vias 310-1 and 310-2 (which can also, for example, be formed of tungsten) can be formed over regions 404 and 406, respectively, and vias 310-3 to 310-18 (which can also, for example, be formed of tungsten and be separated from one another by about 220μιη) are located on region 402 along its periphery so as to substantially form a "via wall."

[0034] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a metallization layer 312 is disposed over

metallization layer 308 with an interlayer dielectric formed therebetween. Region 205 of metallization layer 312 (which can, for example, be formed of copper or aluminum) substantially surrounds window region 510 and extends to the periphery of the area that the antenna 206 occupies (which can have a width of about 181 μιη). Region 504 extends across window region 510 (and is in electrical contact with region 502) so as to bisect window region 510 and to intersect regions 506 and 508 (i.e., at about 330μιη from region 502). Regions 508 and 506 (which are located within window region 510) are generally coextensive with regions 404 and 406 (i.e., having a diameter of about 180μιη) and are in electrical contact with region 504 and regions 404 and 406. Thus, as shown, the widow region 506 is partially aligned with window region 408. [0035] By using this structure to, for example, generate radiation at 160GHz, the radiation pattern shown in FIG. 10 can be produced. As shown in this example, this is a wide beam with a directivity of 5.36dBi, a gain of 4.18dBi, and an efficiency of 72%. Additionally, because of the arrangement of the system 100, radiation propagates away from PCB 102 so that parasitic radiation and interference from PCB trances and be reduced, and the loop antenna (i.e., antenna 206), which has a quarter wavelength line to the ground to the package substrate 302, has reduced sensitivity to electrostatic discharge or ESD. Moreover, metal layers in both the antenna package 104 and IC 106 can be used to form reflectors and directors to increase antenna gain.

[0036] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that modifications may be made to the described embodiments, and also that many other embodiments are possible, within the scope of the claimed invention.