Dielectric Lens Antennas for Wireless Broadband Communications

Dielectric lens antennas are proposed for wireless broadband communication systems in the mm-wave range. Two lens antenna configurations for base station applications are presented and evaluated in terms of radiation characteristics, feeding system, input reflection loss, bandwidth and fabrication tolerances. The system requirements to provide optimum power distribution over the cell and good control of the cell boundaries are achieved. These lens antennas are designed for circular symmetric cell coverage and use a circular waveguide as the feed targeting typical applications at 60 GHz and 40 GHz range. The same concept is applicable for non- symmetrical cells with other feeds. Simulations are performed using Geometrical and Physical Optics codes as well as Finite Elements codes. Theoretical results are verified by measurements, showing good agreement.