Analysis and Design of $E$-Plane Scanning Grid Arrays

A quasi-optical beam steering multilayer lens with scanning in E -plane is analyzed. A full-wave mathematical model is developed to predict the scanning characteristics of the lens. The model is used to optimize the performance of a three-bit beam steering lens. It is demonstrated that the calculated conversion coefficients for the optimized lens are better than -2.1 dB in the frequency band from 27.5 to 32.5 GHz for transmission elevation angles up to 28°. A two-bit lens that corrects the phase front at the aperture of a short .E-plane sectoral horn has been designed, fabricated and tested to verify the model. Measured radiation pattern of the E -plane sectoral horn with correcting lens agrees well with the predictions based on the model.