A Wideband Wide-Angle Beam-Steering System for Millimeter-wave Applications

Abstract

This paper presents the performance of an optimized wideband beam-steering antenna system for mm-wave applications. The antenna is passive and can provide continuous two-dimensional beam scanning up to $\pm \mathbf{40}^{\mathbf{o}}$ away from broadside direction in elevation and any direction in azimuth. It uses a pair of near-field dielectric phase transformers, inspired from optical prisms, introducing a pre-determined phase gradient to the incoming wave front from a source antenna, and redirecting the radiated beam to specified direction with in a conical region with an apex angle of 80°. A prototype of the antenna system along with the mounting structure has been fabricated and tested.