Compact terahertz detector based on lightweight 3D-printed lens packaging

• Published in: Electronics letters 2019-07, Vol.55 (14), p.796-797
• Main Authors: Qiao, Haidong, Liu, Hao, Mou, Jinchao, Liu, Songzhuo, Wang, Bing, Guo, Dalu, Lv, Xin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3D‐printed nylon lens; antenna radiation patterns; antenna‐coupled detector; back‐shorting reflector; compact lightweight terahertz detector; dielectric laminate; dielectric materials; electronics packaging; frequency 210.0 GHz to 230.0 GHz; GaAs; gallium arsenide; III‐V semiconductors; laminates; lenses; lightweight 3D‐printed lens packaging; maximum voltage responsivity; mechanical robustness; Microwave technology; radiation gain enhancement; readout circuit; readout electronics; Schottky diode; Schottky diodes; submillimetre wave antennas; submillimetre wave detectors; submillimetre wave measurement; terahertz wave detectors; three‐dimensional printing
• ISSN: 0013-5194; 1350-911X; 1350-911X
• DOI: 10.1049/el.2019.1446

This Letter presents a compact and lightweight terahertz detector with a 3D-printed lens packaging, exhibiting a high responsivity between 1100 and 2190 V/W from 210 to 230 GHz. The detector is comprised of an antenna-coupled detector, a 3D-printed lens and a read-out circuit. The antenna-coupled detector with a GaAs Schottky diode is printed on a dielectric laminate. To extract the detected signal more efficiently within a smaller footprint, a pair of folded lines with high impedance are designed. Moreover, a 3D-printed nylon lens together with a back-shorting reflector is proposed for radiation gain enhancement and mechanical robustness. A maximum voltage responsivity Rv of 2190 V/W and a minimum noise equivalent power of 2.6 pW/√Hz are achieved at 223 GHz. The measured radiation patterns agree well with the simulated results.