Proximity Effects of Plastic Laptop Covers on Radiation Characteristics of 60-GHz Antennas

• Published in: IEEE antennas and wireless propagation letters 2009, Vol.8, p.763-766
• Main Authors: Amadjikpe, A.L., Choudhury, D., Ponchak, G.E., Bo Pan, Yuan Li, Papapolymerou, J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 60-GHz antennas; Antenna radiation patterns; Antennas; Antennas and propagation; Attenuation; Dielectric materials; Diffraction; Diffraction patterns; electromagnetic diffraction; Frequency; Gain; Laptop; laptop material environment; millimeter wave; Noise levels; Personal digital assistants; Planar arrays; Plastics; Portable computers; Proximity effect; Proximity effect (electricity); radiation characteristics
• ISSN: 1536-1225; 1548-5757
• DOI: 10.1109/LAWP.2009.2026299

This letter highlights impacts on radiation characteristics of 60-GHz antennas operated in the proximity of plastic laptop covers. A series of experiments are carried out with antennas placed under plastic laptop cover materials. Antenna peak gain attenuation through the plastic cover materials is characterized as a function of frequency, distance between antenna and cover, as well as dielectric properties of the materials. The attenuation is moderate and in the order of 2 to 4.5 dB. Diffraction occurs at the cover edges and results in nulls in the antenna radiation pattern. The direction of the nulls is aligned with the cover edges. A null corresponds to more than a 15-dB drop in the antenna gain and might result in a link failure for 60-GHz point-to-point communications.