Compact Design of a 24 GHz Extended Scan Range Rotman Lens Antenna

A compact realization of the method developed to increase the scan range of a 24 GHz phased array system based on Rotman lens as beamformer is presented and numerically validated. The two main operations composing the extended scan range method, named Complete Beam Shifting and Beam Mirroring are discussed and applied to the case of a Rotman lens initially designed for a maximum scan range of ±30°, resulting in a final maximum field of view ±60°. A reduced dimensions solution has been designed for a practical implementation of the novel method, including a suitable solution for realizing the Complete Beam Shifting and Beam Mirroring with a single phase shifter topology, introducing also a switchable version that fulfills the operational requirements.

[1]  F. Vipiana,et al.  Phase Management for Extended Scan Range Antenna Arrays Based on Rotman Lens , 2018 .

[2]  W. Rotman,et al.  Wide-angle microwave lens for line source applications , 1963 .

[3]  A.F. Peterson,et al.  Rotman lens design issues , 2005, 2005 IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society International Symposium.

[4]  Sang-Gyu Kim,et al.  Piezoelectric transducer controlled multiple beam phased array using microstrip Rotman lens , 2005, IEEE Microwave and Wireless Components Letters.

[5]  A. Kouki,et al.  60 GHz Low Phase Error Rotman Lens Combined With Wideband Microstrip Antenna Array Using LTCC Technology , 2016, IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation.

[6]  O. Litschke,et al.  Innovative Rotman lens setup for extended scan range array antennas , 2017, 2017 IEEE-APS Topical Conference on Antennas and Propagation in Wireless Communications (APWC).

[7]  R. Sauleau,et al.  SIW multilayer Rotman lens antenna in the 24-GHz band , 2015, 2015 European Radar Conference (EuRAD).

[8]  P. C. Sharma,et al.  Design and analysis of Rotman type lens using hyperbolic focal arc for wide angle scanning , 1999, 1999 Asia Pacific Microwave Conference. APMC'99. Microwaves Enter the 21st Century. Conference Proceedings (Cat. No.99TH8473).

[9]  Ozlem Kilic,et al.  Compact multi-layer microstrip Rotman lens design using coupling slots to support millimetre wave devices , 2018 .

[10]  Neil Mitchell,et al.  Electronically scanned Rotman lens antenna with liquid crystal phase shifters , 2013 .

[11]  N. Fonseca.  A Focal Curve Design Method for Rotman Lenses With Wider Angular Scanning Range , 2017, IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters.