Broadband inhomogeneous lens with conical radiation pattern.

Area of Science:

• Antenna Engineering
• Electromagnetics
• Microwave Technology

Background:

• Traditional antennas often struggle to achieve simultaneous broadside and conical radiation patterns.
• Complex antenna designs can be costly and difficult to fabricate.
• Achieving broadband performance with high gain remains a key challenge in antenna design.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel lens antenna design for simultaneous broadside and conical beam generation.
• To utilize a simple feed structure for efficient pattern generation.
• To validate the antenna's performance through simulation and experimental fabrication.

Main Methods:

• Design of a Ku-band lens antenna using the ray inserting method.
• Utilization of a circular patch ring and RF connector as a two-port feed.
• Simulation using CST microwave studio and fabrication via 3D printing with PETG material.
• Accurate measurement of PETG electromagnetic characteristics in the Ku band.

Main Results:

• The lens antenna successfully generates simultaneous broadside and conical beams.
• The conical radiation pattern exhibits broadband characteristics due to effective source matching.
• Simulations and experiments confirm the antenna's good performance across a wide frequency bandwidth.
• The fabricated antenna demonstrates high gain and broad bandwidth.

Conclusions:

• The proposed lens antenna offers a simple yet effective solution for generating dual radiation patterns.
• The use of 3D printing and PETG material provides a cost-effective fabrication method.
• The antenna's high gain and broad bandwidth make it suitable for various Ku-band applications.