Design of a Perforated Flat Luneburg Lens Antenna Array for Wideband Millimeter-Wave Applications

Antenna array integrated with a flat Luneburg lens to form directive beam-steering system in a wideband millimeter-wave frequency range is investigated. The study and design of a perforated gradient index dielectric flat lens antenna for RF repeater application in V- and W- band (45 - 110 GHz) is presented. The flat Luneburg lens is designed to have a focal point away from its surface to enhance the radiation in a particular direction via a beam-switching system. Scanning capability of ±30° in both azimuth and elevation planes over the entire frequency range is demonstrated. Wider scan-beam angles at expense of higher scan losses are achievable by using the same type of lens configuration with different dimensions. Furthermore, these lenses are easy and cost-effective to prototype while maintaining the straightforward integration with antenna feed manifolds.