Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

As the demands of high data rates are increased, millimeter wave communication systems at 60-GHz such as, short-distance radar and wireless local-area networks (LANs) have been getting a lot of attention. The availability of a large block of a nearly universal unlicensed spectrum in this frequency band is an obvious motivation, with 7 GHz available in the U.S. and at least 3-4 GHz in the intersection of the set of all international standards. High bandwidth translates into high throughput, easily supporting Gb/s data wireless communication data rates with low complexity. For test and measurement, the mm-wave components require somewhat specialized laboratory equipment such as wafer probes, probe stations, and wire bonders. We request funds for the acquisition of a wafer probe station that will allow us to make different type of measurements such as; scattering parameters and radiation pattern. The requested equipment (up to 70 GHz) is composed of a wafer Probe Station, a wafer Probes, RF cables (semi-rigid or flexible), microscope, Calibration Standards. All these components are necessary for the mm-wave measurement setup.