2D-Scalable full D-band antenna array for 6G communication and sensing

A modular, 2D-scalable D-band (110–170 GHz) antenna array architecture is presented to meet the stringent performance and cost demands of next-generation communication and sensing systems, requiring higher data rates and finer sensing resolution. The design is based on modular subarrays composed of SIW-fed full D-band aperture-coupled antennas interconnected by a co-optimized, vertically integrated SIW-based corporate feed network. This architecture preserves a subarray width below \\(\\lambda _0/2\\) , enabling dense tiling and 2D scalability, while supporting frequency-stable radiation and grating-lobe-free beam steering up to \\(\\pm 40^\\circ \\) across the D-band. The subarray is designed for robust performance in high-density interconnect PCB technology, enabling a low-cost, low-profile solution. This approach is validated by implementing and characterizing a \\(1.86\\lambda _0 \\times 0.49\\lambda _0\\) 4 \\(\\times \\) 1 subarray and a \\(1.86\\lambda _0 \\times 1.96\\lambda _0\\) 4 \\(\\times \\) 4 corporate fed array, each with a total thickness below 1 mm. The 4 \\(\\times \\) 1 design achieves a 43% impedance bandwidth and 11.6 dBi peak gain; the 4 \\(\\times \\) 4 array achieves 36% bandwidth and 16.7 dBi gain and both exhibit co-/cross-polarization ratios exceeding 15 dB. These results show that the proposed architecture is well-suited for scalable, wideband D-band arrays in next-generation communication and sensing scenarios.