Dielectric Lens Antennas

Abstract

Dielectric lens antennas are attracting a renewed interest for millimetre-and submillimetre wave applications where they become compact, especially for configurations with integrated feeds usually referred as integrated lens antennas. Lenses are very flexible and simple to design and fabricate, being a reliable alternative at these frequencies to reflector antennas. Lens target output can range from a simple collimated beam (increasing the feed directivity) to more complex multi-objective specifications.This chapter presents a review of different types of dielectric lens antennas and lens design methods. Representative lens antenna design examples are described in detail, with emphasis on homogeneous integrated lenses. A review of the different lens analysis methods is performed, followed by the discuss ion of relevant lens antenna implementation issues like feeding options, dielectric material characteristics, fabrication methods and a few dedicated measurement techniques. The chapter ends with a detailed presentation of some recent application examples involving dielectric lens antennas.

Inverse Design of Artificial Materials Based Lens Antennas through the Scattering Matrix Method

“…Once Equation 6is solved, the scattered field in the region of space outside scatterers can be finally evaluated through Equation (1).…”

“…Lens antennas whose electromagnetic characteristics vary in space deserve a high interest in the literature because of their potential application to different purposes, starting from the enhancement of antenna performance, to imaging or automotive radar applications [1]. In fact, the peculiar feature of lenses is the manipulation of phase or amplitude (or both), as well as of the primary feed radiation in order to modify the latter according to some initial specification.…”

Transmit array as a viable 3D printing option for backhaul applications at V-band

“…The dome elliptical lens geometry can be defined by knowing it's radius and the material permittivity, according to the design rules presented in [4] . However, as in [3], a spherical air dome concentric with the ellipse focal point is opened.…”

Effect of dielectric materials on integrated lens antenna for millimeter wave applications

“…Various applications in millimeter and sub‐millimeter wave region require high gain and narrow beam antennas. Integrated lens antenna (ILA) is one of the best candidate to full fill requirements of high gain and narrow beamwidth for various applications, including communication, imaging, and radar . The operating principle of dielectric lens is based on refraction of electromagnetic waves.…”

“…In second category, the refractive index of lens can be constant, stepped or non‐uniform . The third category includes lens with variable number of refracted surfaces …”