Transmit array as a viable 3D printing option for backhaul applications at V-band

Two designs of high gain dielectric lens for a V-band backhaul antenna, compatible with 3D printing, are compared. The available printing materials still have significant losses, which limit the performance of traditional focusing dielectric lenses, as the dome elliptical lens. Herein, we show that an all-dielectric transmit array can present several mechanical and electrical advantages, especially when high gains are required. We demonstrate that even with a compact transmit array (F/D = 0.67) it is still possible to comply with the usual bandwidth (57–66 GHz) and gain (>30 dBi) requirements for backhaul applications.