Analysis of reflectors fed by reconfigurable array lenses

Abstract

Array lenses are growing in popularity for their ability to potentially create reconfigurable beam patterns. Of particular interest is their possible application to satellite communications as they can provide reconfigurable high-gain beam forming at a low cost. This paper analyzes a high-gain compound aperture consisting of a parabolic reflector and a 6 × 6 reconfigurable array lens. Applying conjugate field matching, the optimal element phases are found and used to configure simulated array lens models for generating the reflector illumination. Simulating the reflector using physical optics, it is found that high-gain pencil beams can be formed and scanned up to 8 • away from the reflector axis. A compound system is constructed using a prototype reconfigurable array lens and a parabolic reflector, and beam scanning from −5 • to +5 • off-boresight is experimentally demonstrated.

Compact beam‐reconfigurable feed for large aperture antennas

“…Single horn antennas are the most frequently used feed systems. A few techniques have been proposed in the literature for beam-reconfiguration of single horns: Chiao et al [10] propose mechanical displacement of the horn walls; Kocia and Hum [11] offers the idea of using a tunable lens array in front of a horn; Wang et al [12] and Pan et al [13] use two and five layers of tunable frequency selective surfaces in proximity of horn for pattern reconfiguration in one and two main planes, respectively.…”