Mm-Wave Beam Steering Antenna With Reduced Hardware Complexity Using Lens Antenna Subarrays

Abstract

A millimeter (mm)-wave beam steering antenna consisting of ${\boldsymbol{L}}$ lens antenna subarrays (LASs) is introduced. Each LAS hosts an M - element feed antenna array at its focal plane. The desired feed antenna of each LAS is excited through a single-pole multiple-throw (SP M T) switching network. The pole of each SP M T is connected to a mm-wave phase shifter (PS). The SP M T and PS states can be utilized jointly to steer the radiation pattern. For a given aperture size, the LAS size (i.e., ${\boldsymbol{L}})$ can be adjusted to make a tradeoff between the total number of PSs $({\boldsymbol{L}})$ and switch throws $({\boldsymbol{M}})$ . This can reduce the PS-related hardware complexities. The concept is demonstrated through a 38 GHz antenna consisting of ${\boldsymbol{L }}= \text{4}\;{\text{ LAS}}$ . Each LAS is capable of hosting an ${\boldsymbol{M }}= 5$ element aperture-coupled patch antenna array. The antenna prototype uses a single-patch antenna per LAS with mechanical movement to demonstrate the concept without the SP5T networks. The antenna performs with 8.5% $| {{{\boldsymbol{S}}_{11}}} | bandwidth, 15.7 dBi gain, 5.2° H -plane half-power beamwidth, and 75° field of view.