The design and performance evaluation of an inhomogeneous dielectric flat lens with the effective relative permittivity cylindrically distributed is presented. In order to achieve high-data rate wireless communications for future broadband networks at millimeter-wave frequencies it is essential to dispose of high directive antennas with beamsteering capabilities. In consequence, in this paper we introduce a novel design of an inhomogeneous dielectric flat lens with an effective gradient-index in one axis, while a constant-index is maintained along the other one. With this cylindrical effective parameter distribution, the beam-scanning can be performed in one plane by moving (or selecting) the position of a radiating single element along the gradient-index axis, whereas the beam can be maintained invariant in the other direction, in which the effective parameters are kept constant, despite changing the radiating element position in this particular axis. In this way, the beamscanning can be achieved in the constant-index axis of the lens by means of a different technique (e.g. frequency-scanned array), in order to reduce the switch elements needed, to finally perform the scan in both theta and phi directions of the space.

Peer Reviewed