Communication Using Antennas Fabricated in Silicon

Abstract

The feasibility of integrating compact antennas and required circuits for implementing wireless interconnections in foundry digital CMOS technologies has been demonstrated. A 3-mm long zigzag dipole antenna on a 20- /10-cm substrate should have efficiency up to approximately 25% at 24 GHz and cost 1–2 cents. These antennas can be used to implement a radio for 100-kb/s communication up to about 10 m. By lowering the opera- tion frequency to 5.8 GHz and using a monopole structure, which occupies approximately 30% more area, the communication range can be increased by three times or more. This technology, as well as in a true single-chip radio, can be used for intra- and inter-chip data communication, intra- and inter-chip clock distribution, beacons, radars, RFID tags, and contactless high-frequency testing.