Image guide and microstrip integrated W-band receivers

Two main problems have arisen with respect to the application of a dielectric guide. These problems are related to questions concerning the achievement of low cost fabrication techniques and the easy incorporation of active devices. The present investigation is concerned with these problems. A study is conducted with respect to the feasibility of applying low-cost thick film deposition techniques to produce a ceramic dielectric guide for mm-wave integrated circuit applications. Developments concerning transmission lines are examined, taking into account a dielectric waveguide and the microstrip line. Attention is given to an image line front-end, waveguide to image line transition, a 3 dB proximity coupler, aspects of mixer diode integration, a local oscillator, a microstrip front-end, a balanced mixer, image line and microstrip oscillators, and image line and microstrip front-ends.