Two-Dimensional Beam Steering Using a Stacked Modulated Geodesic Luneburg Lens Array Antenna for 5G and Beyond

Abstract

Antennas for future communication systems are required to be highly directive and steerable to compensate for the high path loss in the millimeter-wave band. In this work, we propose a linear array of modulated geodesic Luneburg lens (the so-called water drop lens) antennas operating at 56-62 GHz. The lens array antenna features two-dimensional beam scanning with low structural complexity. The lenses are fully metallic and implemented in parallel plate waveguides, meaning that they are highly efficient. Each lens is fed with 13 rectangular waveguides surrounded by glide-symmetric holes to suppress leakage. The lenses provide 110 degree beam coverage in the H-plane with scan losses below 1 dB. In order to scan in the E-plane, we use a feeding network based on a 1:4 power divider and three phase shifters. In this configuration, the array can scan 60 degrees in the E-plane, albeit with higher scanning losses than in the Hplane. The lens array is manufactured and a good agreement between simulated and experimental results is obtained.

Geodesic Half-Maxwell Fish-Eye-Lens Antenna

“…Its volumetric design has the advantage to enable beam scanning in both azimuth and elevation directions. This may be implemented with the proposed design using a stacked lens configuration as described in [39].…”

V-Band Monolithic Additive-Manufactured Geodesic Lens Array Antenna

“…Thirteen waveguide feeds are added to produce independent beams with a scanning range of 120º. The waveguide feeds have two stepped transitions that reduce the transversal size of the waveguide, as proposed in [13], although, in this case, they all keep a length of 14.2 mm. At the opposite side of the feeds, an exponential flare is added to match the impedance of the parallel plate waveguide with free space.…”

“…When these lenses are rotationally symmetric, extreme scanning angles, up to ±75º in one plane, have been reported in the literature [5]. More recently, to scan in two planes, geodesic lens arrays were proposed in [13]. The final design reported in [13] operates in the V-band and has four elements that were manufactured in five identical metallic plates using CNC milling.…”

“…More recently, to scan in two planes, geodesic lens arrays were proposed in [13]. The final design reported in [13] operates in the V-band and has four elements that were manufactured in five identical metallic plates using CNC milling. To mitigate the undesired leakage between the plates, glide-symmetric holes were used.…”

6G energy‐efficient systems based on arrays combined with dielectric lenses

“…The combination of lenses with array antennas can benefit from simplifying feeding networks as well as increasing the gain and improving the angular coverage. In [14], geodesic lens antennas were vertically stacked in a linear array to allow for two-dimensional beam steering while simplifying the feeding network. The complexity when implementing feeding networks can also be reduced using sparse arrays.…”