Grants and Contributions:

Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year. (2017-2018 to 2022-2023)

The traffic generated from mobile data in 2010 was double that for voice calls, but in 2015, mobile data was over 25 times that for voice calls. Moreover, the monthly usage of the smartphone data traffic is expected to grow from 2 to 18 GB between 2015 and 2021. Thus, a significant consumer demand for high data rate 5G wireless systems will be of demand in the near future. To warranty the broad use of the 5G, the related product pricing has to be low. Thus, mm-wave wireless systems are needed. However, there are plenty of technological factors and mechanical challenges in designing mm-wave modules, such as smaller sizes, increased system density, packaging and crosstalk suppression and lower power loss dissipation.

Recently, the low loss ridge gap waveguide (RGW) has been developed to explore and exploit the millimeter wave frequency with the potential to reach up to THz. The RGW provides several advantages such as wideband (at least 1:2 band), no electrical contacts, low material loss, self-packaged, and low dispersion characteristics. It is realizable in various forms with several technologies. It can be made from only metal, or from printed circuit, as well as millimeter microwave integrated circuit (MMIC), which would be a must for THz applications. The proof of concept regarding RGW has been proven in several forms. Therefore, the goal of the proposed research program is using the RGW for the future applications that are in need for millimeter wave frequencies up to potentially THz. For example, the future 5G aims to 3-7Gbps data transmission, which makes the expected operating frequencies to be in the Ka-band or V-band. In addition, massive multi-input, multi-output (massive MIMO) that promises that accommodate more users at high data rates while consuming less power. Not to mention, the wireless virtual reality applications that will be the reality of the future, which requires a tremendous amount of data that is expected to be 14 Gbps. Such amount of data transmission will need an operating bandwidth of 14GHz. This will push the required operating frequency band to the G-band or sub-THz band or the 140 GHz (0.14 THz). One of the bottlenecks of these applications is the guiding structure for these signals within the hardware. The RGW technology is proposed for these commercial future mm-wave applications.

The proposed program will contribute in training the highly qualified personnel needed for these future technologies. Also, at these frequencies, there will be a need to design new efficient microwave components and high directive antennas. Therefore, these components will be designed and tested as well as high gain antennas. It should be stated that the new technology has to be affordable. Therefore, the designs will consider the ease of manufacturability. The finding from this program will be publicly available through the dissemination of the results in conference presentations and Journal publications.