A Ka-Band Active Aperiodic Constrained Lens Antenna for Multibeam Applications: Active discrete lens antennas are promising alternative solutions for multibeam coverage using a single aperture

This article presents the design, manufacturing, and testing of a transmitting active discrete lens antenna demonstrator in the Ka band. These antennas permit generating multibeam coverage using only a single main aperture and exhibit excellent scanning capabilities and a large-frequency bandwidth. Because the beamforming is mainly achieved in the free space, the complexity and cost of the antenna grows marginally with the number of beams and radiating elements. For these characteristics, active discrete lens antennas are a promising alternative to more conventional antenna solutions that are based on phased arrays and reflectors antennas, especially for Ka-band and higher frequencies where the dimensions become smaller.