Scanning Ka-band Vehicular Lens Antennas for Satellite and High Altitude Platform Communications

Conference: European Wireless 2005 - 11th European Wireless Conference 2005 - Next Generation wireless and Mobile Communications and Services
04/10/2006 - 04/13/2005 at Nicosia, Cyprus

Proceedings: European Wireless 2005

Pages: 6Language: englishTyp: PDF

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Authors:
Thornton, John (Department of Electronics, University of York, YO10 5DD, UK)

Abstract:
Satellites and High Altitude Platforms offer wide-area coverage communications. As Ku band becomes filled, future broadband services are looking towards the exploitation of the millimetre-wave bands. Where the ground terminal is placed on a moving vehicle, a scanning antenna is required. The paper briefly reviews candidate solutions and then discusses the advantageous features of spherical lens antennas. A single-shell hemisphere lens is reported which demonstates 0.7 dB scan loss at a scan angle of 75deg from zenith, 40% aperture efficiency and 30 dBi gain at 28 GHz. A modal analysis is then applied to the design of multi-shell structures. A two-shell Rexolite and polyethylene lens offers 76 % theoretical aperture efficiency when used with an idealised feed.