A Review of the Panel Discussion on Advances in Millimeter-Wave Subsystems

The millimeter-wave subsystems panel, was formed to provide an overall picture of the status of millimeter-wave subsystems as seen by a group of panelists from six of the major international companies. The principal features were to be the application of current technologies to systems requiring large quantities of millimeter-wave subsystems. Members of the panel were selected to represent a cross section of technologies and applications as well as to provide an overview of the current technologies throughout the industry. It was recognized early that a diversified group of experts would bring about a varied number of technologies for construction. Emphasis was placed on current and in-place construction techniques, and how these techniques are used to produce practical multifunction subsystems. Almost as an afterthought, panelists were asked to discuss techniques that are applicable to low-volume as well as high-volume production. This last minute change of format seemed appropriate since the current state of the art for many of the techniques is in the prototype stages, that is, still not in the high-volume stage. During the panel discussion, this factor was brought out even more.