Improved steering of an antenna beam
The antenna arrangement with a dielectric lens device and a movable first electrically conducting layer addresses the alignment challenges of high-gain antennas by enabling beam steering and polarization adjustment, thereby improving link reliability and capacity.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/SE2023/051041
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-10-20
- Publication Date
- 2025-04-24
AI Technical Summary
High-gain antennas, such as reflector antennas, face challenges in alignment due to their narrow beamwidth, requiring labor-intensive manual adjustments for alignment and polarization matching, and lack steerable options above 100 GHz.
An antenna arrangement featuring a dielectric lens device and a movable first electrically conducting layer with a first aperture, allowing for beam steering and polarization adjustment without moving other parts, thereby enabling efficient alignment and improved link reliability.
The solution allows for accurate polarization matching and beam steering, compensating for misalignment, improving link reliability, and enabling larger reflector antennas for increased link gain and capacity, while maintaining a compact form factor.
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Figure SE2023051041_24042025_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] TITLE
[0002] Improved steering of an antenna beam
[0003] TECHNICAL FIELD
[0004] The present disclosure relates to an antenna arrangement comprising an antenna port, a waveguide port and a reconfigurable waveguide arrangement connecting the antenna port and the waveguide port.
[0005] BACKGROUND
[0006] Microwave links are an essential part of many telecom networks, being considered as a good option thanks to advantages such as fast time to market, low cost of installment, large capacities, and reliability.
[0007] High gain antennas are essential components for achieving a high link gain, which is important for reliable and robust high capacity communication over relatively long distances where gains up to 50 d Bi or even more are required.
[0008] Furthermore, high frequencies are important for backhaul where large bandwidth and high capacity are essential for wireless to be viable as a communication technology. When moving to higher frequencies, in particular E-band (60 GHz to 90 GHz), W-band (75 to 110 GHz) and D-band (110 GHz to 170 GHz), or even higher, high gain antennas can have a relatively small form factor. For example, a D-band antenna of 40 dBi can have an aperture of approximately 10 cm. This makes it possible to build compact radios that inconspicuously blend in the environment, while keeping the wind load down, where also the mass that needs to be transported up into the mast is relatively low.
[0009] Up to approximately 100 GHz (W-band, D-band and E-band), a reflector antenna is a good choice for fixed service and are a proven technology both in commercial deployments as pre-commercial demonstrations. These antennas provide pencil-beam antennas for point to point links having high gain, good efficiency, low cost, and low sidelobe characteristic.
[0010] The challenge with high gain antennas, such as reflector antennas, is that as the beam becomes very narrow it is challenging to align the antenna, which means that the antenna must be manually or automatically pointed towards another antenna at a far-end node.
[0011] A regular reflector antenna needs to be manually pointed towards the receiver, and the polarization needs to be aligned as well, which is labor-intensive task.
[0012] Some reflector antennas have beam steering capabilities, for example double reflectors and tiltable hat-feed reflectors where beam-steering is achieved by moving a feeder antenna. Tiltable hat-feed reflectors use a waveguide joint to change the position of the feed antenna of a reflector, where the waveguide joint requires accurate manufacturing to realize. Moveable feeds of different types are also known, and have similar problems. Reflector antennas with steering capabilities can only steer a few degrees, have complex and hence expensive and large feed systems and are relatively lossy. Automatic adjustment of polarization is not possible, this needs to be done manually by moving an ortho-mode transducer (OMT.) There are no steerable reflectors known above 100 GHz, the manufacturing tolerances make it very challenging to realize these systems. Dual reflector systems where the smaller reflector is moved to achieve steering are relatively bulky and their size is made even larger due to the difficultly of integrating the motor to move the small reflector. The aperture also needs to become bigger due to shadowing of the sub-reflector.
[0013] Furthermore, when beam-steering is achieved by moving a feeder antenna, it is difficult to keep the interface to the rest of the system, such as the radio, stationary since it is important to avoid bending of cables or waveguides at mm- Wave frequencies to ensure reliability and keeping time to failure low.
[0014] It is therefore desired to provide improved means for alignment of antennas, in particular high-gain antennas such as for example reflector antennas.
[0015] SUMMARY
[0016] The object of the present disclosure is to provide improved means for alignment of antennas, in particular high-gain antennas or pencil-beam antennas such as for example reflector antennas.
[0017] This object is obtained by means of an antenna arrangement comprising an antenna port and a dielectric lens device. The antenna arrangement comprises a first electrically conducting layer that comprises a first aperture and is separated from the dielectric lens device by a shortest distance dmalong a vertical extension such that a cavity is formed between the first electrically conducting layer and the dielectric lens device, such that a leaky-wave feed is provided. The antenna port is electrically connected to the first aperture, and the first electrically conducting layer mainly lies in a plane that is perpendicular to the vertical extension and is movable in that plane.
[0018] By adjusting the location or orientation the first aperture, an antenna feed beam that is radiated via the lens device can be steered, or the polarization can be adjusted, while all other parts remain static. Since the polarization can be adjusted by simply rotating the first electrically conducting layer with the first aperture, a very accurate polarization match between transmitter and receiver can be obtained.
[0019] Additionally, all typical advantages of a steerable reflector antenna are also obtained, such as for example:
[0020] - Enabling compensation of initial misalignment, misalignment that comes over time and misalignment due to mast sway.
[0021] - Improving link reliability.
[0022] - Allowing for relaxed deployment requirements
[0023] - Allowing for larger reflector antennas, which increases the link gain, which enables longer distances and / or higher capacities and / or higher availability. Preferably, the antenna port is electrically connected to the first aperture via a non-galvanic electrical connection. This allows a free movement of the first electrically conducting layer.
[0024] According to some aspects, the shortest distance dmis a half wavelength for a frequency in one intended frequency band of operation. This is a suitable distance for providing an efficient leaky-wave feed.
[0025] According to some aspects, the antenna arrangement comprises a second aperture that is adapted to electrically connect the antenna port to the first aperture. The second aperture may be comprised in other structures such as for example a flexible waveguide or a dielectric guiding structure.
[0026] According to some aspects, the antenna arrangement comprises a second electrically conducting layer that comprises the antenna port and the second aperture, where the first electrically conducting layer is positioned between the dielectric lens device and the second electrically conducting layer along the vertical extension. In this manner, there is a stable electrical connection between the antenna port and the first aperture.
[0027] According to some aspects, the second electrically conducting layer is separated from the first electrically conducting layer and comprises a first leakage-suppressing structure that for example comprises a first plurality of ridges extending mainly along the vertical extension towards the second ground plane. In this manner, leakage of the electromagnetic field between the electrically conducting layers is suppressed.
[0028] According to some aspects, the first electrically conducting layer comprises a second leakage-suppressing structure. In this manner, leakage of the electromagnetic field through the cavity is suppressed, suppressing modes that cause undesired cross polarization.
[0029] According to some aspects, the second leakage-suppressing structure comprises a second plurality of ridges extending along the vertical extension towards the dielectric lens device, the ridges being separated from the dielectric lens device by the shortest distance dmsuch that the cavity is formed between the second plurality of ridges and the dielectric lens device.
[0030] According to some aspects, at least one leakage-suppressing structure comprises at least one of electromagnetic bandgap structures such as glide symmetric holes, frequency selective surfaces, high-impedance surfaces and dielectric pillars. This means that leakage-suppressing structure can be formed in many ways, and even be combined.
[0031] According to some aspects, the first aperture has a shape that mainly is rectangular, circular, square, slot-shaped or cross-shaped. The first aperture can thus be shaped in many forms such that desired characteristics are obtained. According to some aspects, the first aperture comprises a structure that is adapted to govern the electromagnetic coupling between the antenna port and the cavity. For example, the structure is in the form of a single layer or multilayer structure that comprises a metallic planar structure. Such a metallic planar structure can for example comprise a line, a patch or a polarizing screen. The structure can thus be in many forms and perform different functions.
[0032] According to some aspects, the antenna port is constituted by at least one of a waveguide conductor part, a microstrip conductor part, a stripline conductor part, and a coaxial conductor part. The antenna port can thus be in any suitable form that suits the conditions of the part or parts that are intended to be connected to the antenna port.
[0033] According to some aspects, the dielectric lens device comprises a plurality of separate parts. In this manner, the dielectric lens device can be manufactured in different variants by combining different parts. A damaged dielectric lens device can also be repaired by only replacing the damaged part. Furthermore, parts with different dielectric properties can be put together to achieve a dielectric lens device with desired combined dielectric properties.
[0034] According to some aspects, the antenna feed arrangement further comprises a motor device that is connected to the first electrically conducting layer. Due to the small dimensions of the first electrically conducting layer, low cost actuators like piezo electric motors and the like can be used, which allows for long life time and enables high accuracy beamsteering.
[0035] Moreover, this object is also obtained by means of reflector antennas and methods associated with the above advantages.
[0036] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0037] The present disclosure will now be described more in detail with reference to the appended drawings, where:
[0038] Figure 1 shows a schematic view of point to point radio link arrangements;
[0039] Figure 2 shows a schematic side view of an antenna arrangement according to the present disclosure;
[0040] Figure 3 shows a schematic cut-open side view of a first example of an antenna arrangement according to the present disclosure;
[0041] Figure 4 shows a schematic cut-open side view of a second example of an antenna arrangement according to the present disclosure;
[0042] Figure 5 shows a first example of details of a structure comprised in the first aperture;
[0043] Figure 6 shows a second example of details of a structure comprised in the first aperture; Figure 7 shows a schematic cut-open side view of a first example of a reflector antenna according to the present disclosure;
[0044] Figure 8 shows a schematic cut-open side view of a first example of a reflector antenna according to the present disclosure with a re-directed antenna beam;
[0045] Figure 9 shows a schematic cut-open side view of a second example of a reflector antenna according to the present disclosure;
[0046] Figure 10 shows a schematic cut-open side view of a third example of a reflector antenna according to the present disclosure; and
[0047] Figure 11 illustrates methods according to the present disclosure.
[0048] DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0049] Aspects of the present disclosure will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. The different devices, computer programs and methods disclosed herein can, however, be realized in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the aspects set forth herein. Like numbers in the drawings refer to like elements throughout.
[0050] The terminology used herein is for describing aspects of the disclosure only and is not intended to limit the invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
[0051] With reference to Figure 1 , there is a point to point radio link arrangement 100 comprising a first link node 101A and a second link node 101 B which are arranged to communicate with each other via a communication link 106. The first link node 101 A comprises a first transceiver (TRX) arrangement 103A and a first radio link antenna 102A, being adapted for a first main beam 104A, and the second link node 101 B comprises a second TRX 103B and a second radio link antenna 102B, being adapted for a second main beam 104B. The TRXs 103A, 103B can according to some aspects be regarded as radio units.
[0052] With reference to Figure 2 and Figure 3 that shows a detailed example of Figure 2, there is an antenna arrangement 200 comprising an antenna port 201 and a dielectric lens device 203, where the antenna arrangement 200 comprises a first electrically conducting layer 204 that comprises a first aperture 205 and is separated from the dielectric lens device 203 by a shortest distance dmalong a vertical extension v such that a cavity 206 is formed between the first electrically conducting layer 204 and the dielectric lens device 203, such that a leaky-wave feed is provided, where the antenna port 201 is electrically connected to the first aperture 205. According to some aspects, the feed arrangement 200 has a lens topology of the type fish-eyed lens with a leaky wave feed. Such a dielectric lens antenna feed has high aperture efficiency, low losses and a more compact feed structure than a lens-horn antenna. Other examples could be spherical, Fresnel lens plano-convex or even cylindrical if circular symmetry is not required. Whereas the horn antenna or lens horn antenna needs tapering to reach a large enough aperture, the leaky-wave feed is realized in a compact manner by having the cavity 206 formed between a semi-infinite dielectric, i.e., the bottom of the lens device 203 and the first electrically conducting layer 204 that for example can constitute a ground plane. This cavity 206 is excited by the first aperture 205 in and it forms a resonant Fabry-Perot- like cavity that supports the propagation of TM1 / TE1 leaky-wave modes that radiate into the dielectric of the lens device 203 with a directive pattern, which illuminates only the upper part of the lens device 203 to generate a directive beam around broadside in the semi-infinite dielectric. As shown in Figure 2 and indicated in Figures 3 and 4, according to some aspects, the lens device 203 comprises an extended base part 203'. This is of course only an example, and in the rest of the drawings the lens device 203 is illustrated without the extended base part.
[0053] According to the present disclosure, the first electrically conducting layer 204 mainly lies in a plane P that is perpendicular to the vertical extension v and is movable in that plane P. The first electrically conducting layer 204 is according to some aspects freely movable in the plane P and can thus for example rotate in the plane P.
[0054] The first electrically conducting layer 204 thus contains the first aperture 206 that can be moved laterally and / or rotated. By adjusting the location or orientation the first aperture 206, an antenna feed beam 403 that is radiated via the lens device 203 can be steered, or the polarization can be adjusted, while all other parts remain static. Since the polarization can be adjusted by simply rotating the first electrically conducting layer 204 with the first aperture 206, a very accurate polarization match between transmitter and receiver can be obtained.
[0055] Additionally, all typical advantages of a steerable reflector antenna are also obtained, such as for example:
[0056] - Enabling compensation of initial misalignment, misalignment that comes over time and misalignment due to mast sway.
[0057] - Improving link reliability.
[0058] - Allowing for relaxed deployment requirements
[0059] - Allowing for larger reflector antennas, which increases the link gain, which enables longer distances and / or higher capacities and / or higher availability.
[0060] According to some aspects, the shortest distance dmis a half wavelength for a frequency in one intended frequency band of operation. This is a suitable distance for providing an efficient leaky-wave feed.
[0061] According to some aspects, the antenna arrangement 200 comprises a second aperture 215 that is adapted to electrically connect the antenna port 201 to the first aperture 205. The second aperture 215 may for example be comprised in a flexible waveguide or a dielectric guiding structure that is connected to the antenna port 201. Another example will be described below.
[0062] According to some aspects, as shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3 that illustrate a first example, the antenna arrangement 200 comprises a second electrically conducting layer 202 that comprises the antenna port 201 and the second aperture 215, where the first electrically conducting layer 204 is positioned between the dielectric lens device 203 and the second electrically conducting layer 202 along the vertical extension v. In this manner, there is a stable electrical connection between the antenna port 201 and the first aperture 205.
[0063] According to some aspects, the second electrically conducting layer 202 is separated from the first electrically conducting layer 204 and comprises a first leakage-suppressing structure 207. In this manner, leakage of the electromagnetic field between the electrically conducting layers 202, 204 is suppressed.
[0064] According to some aspects, the first leakage-suppressing structure 207 comprises a first plurality of ridges 208 extending mainly along the vertical extension v towards the second ground plane 204.
[0065] According to some aspects, as shown in Figure 4 illustrating a second example, the first electrically conducting layer 204 comprises a second leakage-suppressing structure 212. In this manner, leakage of the electromagnetic field through the cavity 206 is suppressed, suppressing modes that cause undesired cross polarization.
[0066] According to some aspects, the second leakage-suppressing structure 212 comprises a second plurality of ridges 213 extending along the vertical extension v towards the dielectric lens device 203, the ridges 213 being separated from the dielectric lens device 203 by the shortest distance dmsuch that the cavity 206 is formed between the second plurality of ridges 213 and the dielectric lens device 203.
[0067] At least one plurality of ridges 208, 213 may for example be arranged in a rectangular grid or as concentric circles around the corresponding aperture 205, 215.
[0068] According to some aspects, at least one leakage-suppressing structure 207, 212 comprises at least one of electromagnetic bandgap structures such as glide symmetric holes, frequency selective surfaces, high-impedance surfaces and dielectric pillars. This means that leakage-suppressing structure can be formed in many ways, and even be combined.
[0069] According to some aspects, the antenna arrangement 200 further comprises a motor device 220 that is connected to the first electrically conducting layer 204. Due to the small dimensions of the first electrically conducting layer 204, low cost actuators like piezo electric motors and the like can be used, which allows for long life time and enables high accuracy beam-steering. According to some aspects, the first aperture 205 has a shape that mainly is rectangular, circular, square, slot-shaped or cross-shaped. The first aperture 205 can thus be shaped in many forms such that desired characteristics are obtained.
[0070] According to some aspects, the first aperture 205 comprises a structure 209 that is adapted to govern the electromagnetic coupling between the antenna port 201 and the cavity 206. This for example enables using polarizing screens in the first aperture 205, where such polarizing screens are adapted to adjust the polarization of the electromagnetic field that is transferred by means of the antenna arrangement 200.
[0071] According to some further aspects, with reference also to Figure 5 that shows a first example of details of structure comprised in the first aperture, the structure 209a, 209b is in the form of a single layer or multi-layer structure that comprises a metallic planar structure 210, 211.
[0072] According to some further aspects, with reference also to Figure 6 that shows a second example of details of structure comprised in the first aperture, the metallic planar structure 209a, 209b comprises a line 214, a patch 210 or a polarizing screen 211 , where such a patch or a polarizing screen for example can be rectangular, oval or circular. The structure can thus be in many forms and perform different functions.
[0073] According to some aspects, the antenna port 201 is constituted by at least one of a waveguide conductor part, a microstrip conductor part, a stripline conductor part, and a coaxial conductor part. According to some further aspects, the antenna port 201 is formed in at least one of metal, metallized printed circuit board, PCB, and Low Temperature Co-Fired Ceramic, LTCC. The antenna port can thus be in any suitable form that suits the conditions of the part or parts that are intended to be connected to the antenna port 201 .
[0074] According to some aspects, the dielectric lens device 203 comprises a plurality of separate parts. In this manner the dielectric lens device 203 can be manufactured in different variants by combining different parts. A damaged dielectric lens device 203 can also be repaired by only replacing the damaged part. Furthermore, parts with different dielectric properties can be put together to achieve a dielectric lens device 203 with desired combined dielectric properties.
[0075] With reference also to Figure 7-10, the present disclosure also relates to a reflector antenna 400, 600, 700 comprising at least one antenna arrangement 200 as described herein, here functioning as an antenna feed arrangement 200, and a main reflector 401 , 601 , 701 that is adapted to be directly or indirectly fed by the antenna feed arrangement 200.
[0076] According to some aspects, the reflector antenna 400 further comprises at least one sub-reflector 402. As illustrated in Figure 7, the reflector antenna 400 comprises a main reflector 401 and a sub-reflector 402 that is illuminated by means of an antenna arrangement 200 as described herein, here functioning as an antenna feed arrangement 200. The antenna feed arrangement 200 produces a feed beam 403 that first is reflected in the sub-reflector 402 and then in the main reflector 401 to form a main beam 404. In Figure 8, the first electrically conducting layer 204 has been moved 405 such that the feed beam 403 and the main beam 404 are re-directed by an angle <p. Here the angle rp is the same for both beams 403, 404, but this is not necessary, the feed beam 403 and the main beam 404 may be redirected by different angles. This depends on the configuration of the reflectors 401 , 402. The lens device is here shown as protruding via an aperture (not shown) in the main reflector 401 , other configurations are of course possible.
[0077] As illustrated in Figure 9, the reflector antenna 600 comprises a main reflector 601 that is directly illuminated by means of an antenna arrangement 200 as described herein, here functioning as an antenna feed arrangement 200. The antenna feed arrangement 200 produces a feed beam 603 that is reflected in the main reflector 601 to form a main beam 604, where the beams 603, 604 can be re-directed 605 by moving 606 the first electrically conducting layer 204 as described herein.
[0078] By applying this approach, very high gain, that for example is needed for fixed service, can be obtained while having a low weight reflector antenna with compact form factor. Size and weight are similar to regular reflectors used today. Bulky, heavy lens devices are avoided while taking advantage of the steering ability of the leaky-wave feed.
[0079] This present disclosure also allows for straightforward integration with radio units when an offset fed reflector is used.
[0080] As illustrated in Figure 10, according to some aspects, the main reflector 701 is an offset fed reflector that is fed by at least two spatially separated antenna arrangements 200a, 200b, here functioning as antenna feed arrangements 200a, 200b. In this example there is a first antenna feed arrangement 200a and a second antenna feed arrangement 200b. Each antenna feed arrangement 200a, 200b illuminates the main reflector 701 and produces a corresponding feed beam 703a, 703b that is reflected in the main reflector 701 to form corresponding main beams 704a, 704b. The beams 703a, 703b; 704a, 704b can be re-directed 705a, 705b by moving 706a, 706b the first electrically conducting layers 204a, 204b as described herein.
[0081] Such a combination of multiple steerable feed arrangement 200a, 200b used with one single reflector 701 is suitable for a point-to-multipoint system. The beams 703a, 703b; 704a, 704b can be steered in an azimuth and an elevation plane.
[0082] Generally, due to the wideband nature of the dielectric lens device, the properties of the reflector antenna are set by the leaky-wave feed. Having multiple lenses with different feed arrangements 200a, 200b simplifies the RF feeding network. Different feeds can have different polarization and frequency characteristics. This can remove the need for a diplexer and / or orthogonal model transducer.
[0083] With reference to Figure 11 , the present disclosure also relates to a method for configuring an antenna arrangement 200, suitably the antenna arrangement 200 as described herein. The method comprises providing S100 an antenna port 201 , providing S200 a dielectric lens device 203, providing S300 a first electrically conducting layer204, providing S400 a first aperture 205 in the first electrically conducting layer 204 and electrically connecting S500 the antenna port 201 to the first aperture 205. The method further comprises positioning S600 the first electrically conducting layer 204 such that the first electrically conducting layer 204 is separated from the dielectric lens device 203 by a shortest distance dmalong a vertical extension v such that a cavity 206 is formed between the first electrically conducting layer 204 and the dielectric lens device 203, such that a leaky-wave feed is provided. The first electrically conducting layer 204 mainly lies in a plane P that is perpendicular to the vertical extension v and is movable in that plane P.
[0084] According to some aspects, the method further comprises providing S700 a second aperture 215 that is used for electrically connecting the antenna port 201 to the first aperture 205.
[0085] According to some aspects, the method further comprises providing S800 a second electrically conducting layer 202 that comprises the antenna port 201 and the second aperture 215, where the first electrically conducting layer 204 is positioned between the dielectric lens device 203 and the second electrically conducting layer 202 along the vertical extension v.
[0086] The present disclosure is not limited to the examples described above, but may vary within the scope of the appended claims. For example, at least one of the electrically conducting layers 202, 204 may be formed by a metal sheet or by a non-conductive sheet that is at least partly metalized. At least one of the electrically conducting layers 202, 204 may also be formed as a multi-layer structure that is at least partly metalized, for example comprising an aperture feed in the corresponding aperture 205, 215.
[0087] The connections between the antenna port 201 and the first aperture 205 can be achieved in many ways, as hinted above the second electrically conducting layer 202 is not necessary, where for example a flexible waveguide united face may be used instead. Even a flexible coaxial connector is conceivable.
[0088] As exemplified above, the antenna arrangement 200 described herein can function as an antenna feed arrangement 200, but can also function as a stand-alone antenna arrangement 200. Such an antenna arrangement 200 can also be a part of a larger antenna array that comprises several such antenna arrangements 200.
[0089] It should be understood that expressions as a half wavelength for a frequency in one intended frequency band of operation is not intended to be interpreted as being mathematically exact, but within what is practically obtainable while obtaining the desired electrical characteristics.
[0090] The electrically conducting layers 202, 204 and the dielectric lens device 203 may have different extensions parallel to the plane P. In the Figures, the dielectric lens device 203 and the first electrically conducting layer 204 have a larger extension than the second electrically conducting layer 204. This is of course only an example, other configurations being possible as well as the electrically conducting layers 202, 204 and the dielectric lens device 203 having the same extensions parallel to the plane P. It is important that the second electrically conducting layer 204 and the dielectric lens device 203, 203' extend far enough for providing the leaky-wave feed. Typically, this will be further than the actual lens, therefore the lens device may comprise the extended base part 203'.
[0091] The cavity 206 is according to some aspects theoretically extending between infinite plates formed by the dielectric lens device 203, 203' and the first electrically conducting layer 204.
Claims
CLAIMS1. An antenna arrangement (200) comprising an antenna port (201) and a dielectric lens device (203), where the antenna arrangement (200) comprises a first electrically conducting layer (204) that comprises a first aperture (205) and is separated from the dielectric lens device (203) by a shortest distance (dm) along a vertical extension (v) such that a cavity (206) is formed between the first electrically conducting layer (204) and the dielectric lens device (203), such that a leaky-wave feed is provided, where the antenna port (201) is electrically connected to the first aperture (205), wherein the first electrically conducting layer (204) mainly lies in a plane (P) that is perpendicular to the vertical extension (v) and is movable in that plane (P).
2. The antenna arrangement (200) according to claim 1 , wherein the shortest distance (dm) is a half wavelength for a frequency in one intended frequency band of operation.
3. The antenna arrangement (200) according to any one of the claims 1 or 2, wherein the antenna arrangement (200) comprises a second aperture (215) that is adapted to electrically connect the antenna port (201) to the first aperture (205).
4. The antenna arrangement (200) according to claim 3, wherein the antenna arrangement (200) comprises a second electrically conducting layer (202) that comprises the antenna port (201) and the second aperture (215), where the first electrically conducting layer (204) is positioned between the dielectric lens device (203) and the second electrically conducting layer (202) along the vertical extension (v).
5. The antenna arrangement (200) according to claim 4, wherein the second electrically conducting layer (202) is separated from the first electrically conducting layer (204) and comprises a first leakage-suppressing structure (207).
6. The antenna arrangement (200) according to claim 5, wherein the first leakage-suppressing structure (207) comprises a first plurality of ridges (208) extending mainly along the vertical extension (v) towards the second ground plane (204).
7. The antenna arrangement (200) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the first electrically conducting layer (204) comprises a second leakage-suppressing structure.
8. The antenna arrangement (200) according to claim 7, wherein the second leakage-suppressing structure (212) comprises a second plurality of ridges (213) extending along the vertical extension (v) towards the dielectric lens device (203), the ridges (213) being separated from the dielectric lens device (203) by the shortest distance (dm) such that the cavity (206) is formed between the second plurality of ridges (213) and the dielectric lens device (203).
9. The antenna arrangement (200) according to any one of the claims 7 or 8, wherein at least one leakagesuppressing structure (207, 212) comprises at least one of electromagnetic bandgap structures such as glide symmetric holes, frequency selective surfaces, high-impedance surfaces and dielectric pillars.
10. The antenna arrangement (200) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the first aperture (205) has a shape that mainly is rectangular, circular, square, slot-shaped or cross-shaped.11 . The antenna arrangement (200) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the first aperture (205) comprises a structure (209) that is adapted to govern the electromagnetic coupling between the antenna port (201) and the cavity (205).
12. The antenna arrangement (200) according to claim 11 , wherein the structure (209a, 209b) is in the form of a single layer or multi-layer structure that comprises a metallic planar structure (210, 211).
13. The antenna arrangement (200) according to claim 12, wherein the metallic planar structure (209a, 209b) comprises a line (214), a patch (210) or a polarizing screen (211).
14. The antenna arrangement (200) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the antenna port (201) is constituted by at least one of a waveguide conductor part; a microstrip conductor part; a stripline conductor part; and a coaxial conductor part.
15. The antenna arrangement (200) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the antenna port (201) is formed in at least one of metal, metallized printed circuit board, PCB, and Low Temperature Co-Fired Ceramic, LTCC.
16. The antenna arrangement (200) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the dielectric lens device(203) comprises a plurality of separate parts.
17. The antenna arrangement (200) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the antenna feed arrangement (200) further comprises a motor device (220) that is connected to the first electrically conducting layer(204).
18. A reflector antenna (400, 600, 700) comprising at least one antenna arrangement (200) according to any one of the previous claims and a main reflector (401 , 601 , 701) that is adapted to be directly or indirectly fed by the antenna arrangement (200).
19. The reflector antenna (400) according to claim 18, further comprising at least one sub-reflector (402).
20. The reflector antenna (700) according to claim 18, wherein the main reflector (701) is an offset fed reflector that is fed by at least two spatially separated antenna feed arrangements (200a, 200b).21 . A method for configuring an antenna arrangement (200), the method comprising providing (S100) an antenna port (201); providing (S200) a dielectric lens device (203); providing (S300) a first electrically conducting layer (204); providing (S400) a first aperture (205) in the first electrically conducting layer (204); electrically connecting (S500) the antenna port (201) to the first aperture (205), positioning (S600) the first electrically conducting layer (204) such that the first electrically conducting layer (204) is separated from the dielectric lens device (203) by a shortest distance (dm) along a vertical extension (v) such that a cavity (206) is formed between the first electrically conducting layer (204) and the dielectric lens device (203), such that a leaky-wave feed is provided, where the first electrically conducting layer (204) mainly lies in a plane (P) that is perpendicular to the vertical extension (v) and is movable in that plane (P).
22. The method according to claim 21 , further comprising providing (S700) a second aperture (215) that is used for electrically connecting the antenna port (201) to the first aperture (205).
23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising providing (S800) a second electrically conducting layer (202) that comprises the antenna port (201) and the second aperture (215), where the first electrically conducting layer (204) is positioned between the dielectric lens device (203) and the second electrically conducting layer (202) along the vertical extension (v).
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