Fresnel phase lenses for 5G applications
AssigneeCorning Incorporated
InventorsNicholas Francis Borrelli, Joseph Francis Schroeder, III
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A Fresnel phase lens for a 5G antenna is described herein. The Fresnel phase lens includes a glass-ceramic material having a first major surface and a second major surface. The first major surface and the second major surface define a thickness therebetween, and the first major surface defines a plane. The glass-ceramic material includes a first plurality rings having first ring surfaces in the plane and a second plurality of rings having second ring surfaces at a first depth into the thickness and below the plane. The glass ceramic material is transparent to electromagnetic radiation having a frequency of from 20 GHz to 100 GHz.
Claims20
A Fresnel phase lens for a 5G antenna, comprising:
- a glass-ceramic material having a first major surface and a second major surface, the first major surface and the second major surface defining a thickness therebetween;
- wherein the first major surface defines a plane;
- wherein the glass-ceramic material comprises a first plurality rings having first ring surfaces in the plane and a second plurality of rings having second ring surfaces at a first depth into the thickness and below the plane;
- and
- wherein the glass-ceramic material comprises ceramic grains having a size of less than 1 micrometer and is transparent to electromagnetic radiation having a frequency of from 20 GHz to 100 GHz.
An antenna unit, comprising:
- an antenna array comprising a plurality of antennas, the antenna array defining a first plane;
- and
- a Fresnel phase lens comprising a glass-ceramic material with a ceramic grain size of less than 1 micrometer and that is transparent to electromagnetic radiation having a frequency from 20 GHz to 100 GHz, the Fresnel phase lens having a first major surface and a second major surface, the first major surface and the second major surface defining a thickness therebetween, wherein the Fresnel phase lens defines a second plane and wherein the Fresnel phase lens is spaced apart from the antenna array such that the second plane is substantially parallel to the first plane of the antenna array;
- wherein the Fresnel phase lens comprises a first plurality rings having first ring surfaces at least partially defining the first major surface and a second plurality of rings having second ring surfaces at a first depth into the thickness and below the first major surface;
- and
- wherein the first plurality of rings and the second plurality of rings collimate the electromagnetic radiation incident on the Fresnel phase lens that is transmitted to or emitted from the antenna array.
A method, comprising:
- providing a glass-ceramic material with a ceramic grain size of less than 1 micrometer and that is transparent to electromagnetic radiation having a frequency of 20 GHz to 100 GHz, the glass-ceramic material comprising a first major surface and a second major surface, the first major surface being opposite to the second major surface and the first major surface and the second major surface defining a thickness therebetween;
- and
- removing material from the first major surface of the glass-ceramic material so as to define a Fresnel phase lens including a first plurality of rings and a second plurality of rings, wherein the first plurality of rings have first ring surfaces at the first major surface and the second plurality of rings have second rings surfaces at a first depth below the first major surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.