Abstract
This article reports further progress in developing an active-loaded Rotman lens reflector for radar cross section (RCS) enhancement. Although the Rotman lens has been employed in backscattering applications, its passive performance imposes gain constraints when it comes to RCS improvement. In the novel structure we present, the lens is outfitted with custom-designed low-power reflection amplifiers to enable overall system gain amplification and modulation. An array of printed-Yagi antennas has been added to the lens, and the monostatic RCS pattern of the lens antenna has been measured. The lens antenna exhibits a nearly uniform RCS pattern between -35 and 35 degrees at 5.3 GHz in both active and passive modes. The active lens structure demonstrates a 5.5 dB increase in RCS while loaded with 11 amplifiers with a ≈6.5 dB gain. The active reflector consumes only ≈1.2 mw of power. Due to its high gain, wide angular coverage, and low power consumption, this structure is ideally suited for low-power RCS enhancement applications, such as mm-wave automotive radar sensors.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
