Dual Metasurface Lenses for Wider Phased Array Scan Angles
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing phased antenna arrays face challenges in extending scan range due to grating lobes and high cost/power consumption, with thick dielectric radomes causing reflection loss and directivity degradation.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a phased antenna array with dual metasurface lenses, a converging and a diverging lens, positioned to increase the scan range while maintaining a low-profile and reducing directivity degradation, using subwavelength structures on the lenses to manipulate electromagnetic waves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the antenna elements are spaced by more than half a wavelength to simplify hardware, then the device complexity is reduced, but the scan range is limited due to grating lobes
Solution Approach 1:
A dielectric lens is introduced as an intermediary component between the antenna elements and free space. This lens manipulates the electromagnetic wave propagation to extend the scan range beyond the conventional limit while maintaining the simplified hardware configuration with element spacing greater than half a wavelength. The lens acts as a mediator that corrects the grating lobe issues without requiring complex hardware changes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If thick dielectric radomes are used to increase scan range, then the scan range is extended, but reflection loss increases leading to gain and directivity degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the dielectric lens parameters including refractive index, thickness, and curvature to minimize reflection losses while maintaining scan range extension. By carefully controlling these parameters, the lens achieves low reflection coefficients at the air-dielectric interface, thereby reducing gain and directivity degradation while still extending the scan range.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a complete transceiver is required behind each antenna for full-range scanning, then the scan range is maximized, but cost and power dissipation increase exponentially
Solution Approach 1:
The dielectric lens serves as a passive intermediary that enables scan range extension without requiring active transceiver components at each antenna element. This passive approach dramatically reduces power dissipation while achieving the desired scanning capability through electromagnetic wave manipulation rather than active signal processing at each element.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device effectively doubles the scan range with minimal directivity degradation, achieving a 3 dB loss or less, and is cost-effective with low reflection losses, suitable for integration with various antenna arrays.
Implementation Method 1
a converging lens for adjusting the beam generated by the phased antenna array to output a first adjusted beam
Implementation Method 2
a diverging lens for adjusting the first adjusted beam to output a second adjusted beam having a second beam angle
Implementation Method 3
The converging lens may comprise a first metasurface having formed thereon first subwavelength structures for manipulating electromagnetic waves of the beam generated by the phased antenna array
Data Source
AI summary
A phased antenna array is operable to generate a radio-frequency beam having a first beam angle. A converging lens adjusts the beam generated by the phased antenna array to output a first adjusted beam. A diverging lens adjusts the first adjusted beam to output a second adjusted beam having a second beam angle. The converging lens and the diverging lens are positioned relative to the phased antenna array such that the second beam angle is greater than the first beam angle, such that a scan range of the phased antenna array is increased.