Antenna array with metamaterial lens

• US 8,164,531 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2009
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Lier, Erik
• Primary Examiner(s): MANCUSO, HUEDUNG XUAN CAO
• Application Number:
  US12/467,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20090289863A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 343/753, 343/754, 343/757, 343/911.R, 343/911.L, 343762-763
• US Class Current: 343/753
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/288 Satellite antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/0086 said selective devices having materials with a synthesized negative refractive index, e.g. metamaterials or left-handed materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/065 Zone plate type antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/061 Two dimensional planar arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 23/00 Antennas with active circuits or circuit elements integrated within them or attached to them

Abstract

An antenna array comprises two or more antenna elements. Each of the two or more antenna elements is configured to scan within a field of view. Each of the two or more antenna elements is further configured to transmit or receive a signal. The antenna array also comprises a metamaterial lens coupled to the two or more antenna elements. The metamaterial lens is configured to distribute the signal according to a sinc-like distribution over an aperture of the antenna array.

Claims

1. An antenna array comprising:

two or more antenna elements, each of the two or more antenna elements configured to scan within a field of view, each of the two or more antenna elements further configured to transmit or receive a signal; and

a metamaterial lens coupled to the two or more antenna elements, the metamaterial lens configured to distribute the signal according to a sinc-like distribution over an aperture of the antenna array,

wherein the sinc-like distribution comprises a sin(x)/x linear distribution.

2. The antenna array of claim 1, further comprising two or more amplifiers, each of the two or more amplifiers coupled to a corresponding antenna element of the two or more antenna elements, each of the two or more amplifiers configured to amplify the signal.

3. The antenna array of claim 1, further comprising a feeding structure configured to output the signal, the feeding structure comprising a microstrip circuit, stripline circuit, a coaxial network, or a waveguide network.

4. The antenna array of claim 1, wherein amplitudes of the sinc-like distribution are substantially zero at adjacent antenna element locations.

5. The antenna array of claim 1, wherein the field of view corresponds to a maximum scanning angle of about 25 degrees in any direction for each of the two or more antenna elements.

6. The antenna array of claim 1, wherein a spacing between each of the two or more antenna elements is greater than about two wavelengths.

7. The antenna array of claim 1, wherein the sine-like distribution produces a flat top function radiation pattern, wherein the flat top function radiation pattern is positive within the field of view and substantially zero beyond the field of view.

8. The antenna array of claim 1, wherein the metamaterial lens comprises a metamaterial having a relative dielectric constant of greater than 0.

9. The antenna array of claim 8, wherein the metamaterial comprises dielectric material.

10. The antenna array of claim 9, wherein the metamaterial further comprises metal.

11. The antenna array of claim 1, wherein the metamaterial lens comprises a first metamaterial layer and a second metamaterial layer, wherein the first metamaterial layer comprises a first relative dielectric constant, wherein the second metamaterial layer comprises a second relative dielectric constant, and wherein the first relative dielectric constant is greater than the second relative dielectric constant.

12. The antenna array of claim 1, wherein the two or more antenna elements comprise microstrip patch antenna elements, dielectric resonator antenna elements, dipole antenna elements, or slot antenna elements.

13. An antenna array comprising:

two or more antenna elements, each of the two or more antenna elements configured to scan within a field of view, each of the two or more antenna elements further configured to transmit or receive a signal, wherein a spacing between each of the two or more antenna elements is greater than about two wavelengths; and

a metamaterial lens coupled to the two or more antenna elements, the metamaterial lens configured to distribute the signal according to a sinc-like distribution over an aperture of the antenna array, the metamaterial lens comprising a metamaterial having a relative dielectric constant of greater than 0,

wherein the sinc-like distribution comprises a sin(x)/x linear distribution.