volume | PIER Journals

2013-02-01

Enhancing the Directivity of Phased Array Antennas Using Lens-Arrays

Abbas Abbaspour-Tamijani,

Dr. Abbas Abbaspour-Tamijani

Arizona State University

USA

Homepage

Lisha Zhang,

Dr. Lisha Zhang

School of Electrical, Computer, and Energy Engineering

Arizona State University

USA

Homepage

Helen K. Pan

Dr. Helen K. Pan

Intel Corporation

USA

Homepage

Progress In Electromagnetics Research M, Vol. 29, 41-64, 2013

doi:10.2528/PIERM12062702

Abstract

Small phased-array antennas can be combined with dielectric lenses or planar lens-arrays to form directive beam-steering system. The use of the lens increases the size of the radiating aperture and enhances the directivity of the phased array, but it also reduces its scan field of view. However, the effect can be controlled by properly designing the phase delay profile across the lens. This paper presents the formulation and methodology for designing modified lenses that can allow the desired scan angle. The utility and limitations of the proposed approach will be illustrated by considering several design examples. Simulations suggest that a directivity enhancement of > 2 dB and wide scan field of view (up to 45° off boresight) can be obtained for compact radiation systems employing small lenses and short separations between the lens and phased array. Larger directivity improvements in the range of tens of dB's are possible in systems with limited scanning capability by employing large lenses and greater phased array-lens separation. Ease of implementation and the ability of the proposed topology to adapt to the system requirements make this topology an interesting candidate for various millimeter-wave radio applications.

Citation

Copy Export

Abbas Abbaspour-Tamijani, Lisha Zhang, and Helen K. Pan, "Enhancing the Directivity of Phased Array Antennas Using Lens-Arrays," Progress In Electromagnetics Research M, Vol. 29, 41-64, 2013.
doi:10.2528/PIERM12062702

References

1. Koh, K.-J., J. W. May, and G. M. Rebeiz, "A millimeter-wave (40-34 GHz) 16-element phased-array transmitter in 0.18-μm SiGe BiCMOS technology," IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference Digest of Technical Papers (ISSCC), Vol. 44, 1498-1509, May 2009.
doi:10.1109/JSSC.2009.2017971

2. Chan, W. L. and J. R. Long, "A 60-GHz band 2 x 2 phased-array transmitter in 65-nm CMOS," IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference Digest of Technical Papers (ISSCC), Vol. 45, 2682-2695, Dec. 2010.
doi:10.1109/JSSC.2010.2077170

3. Cohen, E., C. Jakobson, S. Ravid, and D. Ritter, "A thirty two element phased-array transceiver at 60 GHz with RF-IF conversion block in 90nm flip chip CMOS process," IEEE Radio Frequency Integrated Circuits Symposium (RFIC), 457-460, 2010.

4. Reynolds, S., et al. "A 16-element phased-array receiver IC for 60-GHz communications in SiGe BiCMOS," IEEE Radio Frequency Integrated Circuits Symposium (RFIC), 461-464, 2010.

5. Valdes-Garcia, A., et al. "A SiGe BiCMOS 16-element phased-array transmitter for 60 GHz communications," IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference Digest of Technical Papers (ISSCC), 218-219, 2010.

6. Mailloux, R. J., L. Zahn, A. Martinez, and G. Forbes, "Grating lobe control in limited scan arrays," IEEE Trans. on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 27, No. 1, 79-85, Jan. 1979.
doi:10.1109/TAP.1979.1142034

7. Fante, R. L., "System study of overlapped subarrayed scanning antennas," IEEE Trans. on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 28, 668-679, Sep. 1980.
doi:10.1109/TAP.1980.1142391

8. Abbaspour-Tamijani, A. and K. Sarabandi, "An affordable millimeter-wave beam-steerable antenna using interleaved planar subarrays," IEEE Trans. on Microwave Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 51, 2193-2202, Sep. 2003.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2003.816331

9. Abbaspour-Tamijani, A., L. Zhang, and H. K. Pan, "Lens-enhanced phased array antenna system for high directivity beam-steering," IEEE International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation (APSURSI), 3275-3278, 2011.
doi:10.1109/APS.2011.5997234

10. Popovic, D. and Z. Popovic, "Multi-beam antennas with polarization and angle diversity," IEEE Trans. on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 50, 651-657, May 2002.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2002.1011231

11. Abbaspour-Tamijani, A, K. Sarabandi, and G. M. Rebeiz, "A millimeter-wave bandpass filter-lens array," IET Microwaves, Antennas & Propagation, Vol. 1, 388-395, Apr. 2007.
doi:10.1049/iet-map:20050295

12. Cheng, C. C. and A. Abbaspour-Tamijani, "Low-loss lens-array for wide-scan millimeter-wave beam-steering," IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society International Symposium, 4393-4396, Honolulu, HI, Jun. 2007.

13. Abbaspour-Tamijani, A. and G. M. Rebeiz, "Low-loss bandpass antenna-filter-antenna arrays for applications in quasi-optical systems," European Microwave Conference, Digest of Papers,, 1027-1030, Paris, France, 2005.