Mm-Wave Beam Steering Antenna With Reduced Hardware Complexity Using Lens Antenna Subarrays

A millimeter (mm)-wave beam steering antenna consisting of L lens antenna subarrays (LASs) is introduced. Each LAS hosts an M-element feed antenna array at its focal plane. The desired feed antenna of each LAS is excited through a single-pole multiple-throw (SPMT) switching network. The pole of each SPMT is connected to a mm-wave phase shifter (PS). The SPMT and PS states can be utilized jointly to steer the radiation pattern. For a given aperture size, the LAS size (i.e., L) can be adjusted to make a tradeoff between the total number of PSs (L) and switch throws (M). This can reduce the PS-related hardware complexities. The concept is demonstrated through a 38 GHz antenna consisting of L = 4 LAS. Each LAS is capable of hosting an M = 5 element aperture-coupled patch antenna array. The antenna prototype uses a single-patch antenna per LAS with mechanical movement to demonstrate the concept without the SP5T networks. The antenna performs with 8.5% |S11| <; -10 dB bandwidth, 15.7 dBi gain, 5.2° H-plane half-power beamwidth, and 75° field of view.