US 11,909,115 B2 · 3-D focus-steering lens antenna

Abstract

The present invention relates to a novel lens antenna with a 3D near-field focus-steering capability that operates at gigahertz and terahertz frequencies. The novel antenna includes a pair of discrete dielectric lenses fed by a stationary horn source. In-plane synchronous counter-rotation and co-rotation of the lens pair steers its near-field focus radially and azimuthally, respectively, while linear translation of the upper lens moves the focal point longitudinally. The steering focus beam enables fast imaging. In imaging applications, the radiated beam from the novel lens antenna focused in the target area can reduce undesired interference from neighboring structures and increase the system dynamic range and signal-to-noise ratio.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A three-dimensional near-field focus-steering antenna for GHz or THz frequencies comprising:

first and second rotatable discrete dielectric metalenses, each metalens including arrays of subwavelength dielectric projections, the discrete dielectric metalenses being counter-rotatable and co-rotatable to change a radial and azimuthal focal position, respectively, the first and second discrete dielectric metalenses being arranged along a z-axis;
a feed source emitting radiation incident on the first discrete dielectric metalens;
a z-axis translator configured to change the relative inter-lens position of the first and second discrete dielectric metalenses to move a position of a focused beam along the z-axis;
the position of the focused beam being scannable within a three-dimensional cylindrical space.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

3-D focus-steering lens antenna

Life of this patent

3-D focus-steering lens antenna

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19