3D printing millimeter-wave lens with scanning beams

Abstract

High-gain beam-scanning antennas are very important in millimeter-wave (MMW) and terahertz (THz) applications. Dielectric lens is a good candidate for this purpose because it has no metal or feeding loss. In this work, a discrete dielectric lens with an antireflection layer is studied. A new method is proposed to realize beam-scanning properties in MMW region. The design concept is applicable to other frequency ranges as well. Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology is employed to simplify the manufacturing process, and to reduce the fabrication cost. Experimental results in MMW regions verified the concept of lens design.