Dielectric lens, dielectric lens device, design method of dielectric lens, manufacturing method and transceiving equipment of dielectric lens

• US 7,355,560 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2006
• Issued: 04/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co Limited
• Original Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co Limited
• Inventors: Nagai, Tomohiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancuso; Huedung
• Application Number:
  US11/385,658
• Publication Number:
  US 20060202909A1
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 343/910, 343/911.R, 359/728, 359/726, 359/718
• US Class Current: 343/911.00R
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/08 formed of solid dielectric material

Abstract

A design process first determines a desired aperture distribution, then converts the electric power conservation law, Snell'"'"'s law on the rear face side of a dielectric lens, and the formula representing light-path-length constraint, into simultaneous equations, and computes the shapes of the surface and rear face of the dielectric lens depending on the azimuthal angle θ of a primary ray from the focal point of the dielectric lens to the rear face of the dielectric lens, and then reduces the light path length in the formula showing light-path-length constraint by an integral multiple of the wavelength when the coordinates on the surface of the dielectric lens reach a predetermined restriction thickness position. A dielectric lens is designed by sequentially changing the lazimuthal angle θ from its initial value, and also repeating the second and third steps. Thus, downsizing and quantification is realized by zoning while keeping antenna properties at the time of constituting a dielectric lens antenna in a good condition.

Claims

1. A design method of a dielectric lens having a front face on the radiator side of the dielectric lens and a rear face on the non-radiator side of the dielectric lens comprising:

(a) determining a desired aperture distribution;

(b) converting Snell'"'"'s law at the rear face, electric power conservation law, and the formula representing light-path-length constraint, into simultaneous equations, and computing the shapes of the front face and rear face surfaces at the azimuthal angle θ

of a primary ray from the focal point of the dielectric lens to the rear face of the dielectric lens; and

(c) reducing the light path length in said formula showing light-path-length constraint by an integral multiple of the wavelength in the air when the coordinates on the surface of the dielectric lens reach a predetermined restriction thickness position;

repeating (b) and (c) at least once;

wherein said azimuthal angle θ

of a primary ray is changed from its initial value.

2. The design method of a dielectric lens according to claim 1, further comprising

correcting the inclination angle of the stepped face occurring on the front side surface by reducing said light path length only by the integral multiple of the wavelength such that said stepped face inclines toward the focal direction rather than the thickness direction of the dielectric lens, and then repeating (b) and (c) until said azimuthal angle θ

reaches a final value.

3. The design method of a dielectric lens according to claim 2, wherein the angle which said stepped face forms as to the primary ray of electromagnetic waves which enters into an arbitrary position of the rear face of the dielectric lens from said focal point, is refracted and progresses within the dielectric lens, is within the limits of ±

20°

.

4. The design method of a dielectric lens according to claim 3, wherein the initial value of said azimuthal angle θ

is the angle which the primary ray forms from said focal point to the surrounding end positions of the dielectric lens, and the final value of said azimuthal angle θ

is the angle which the primary ray forms from said focal point to the optical axis of the dielectric lens.

5. The design method of a dielectric lens according to claim 1, wherein the initial value of said azimuthal angle θ

is the angle which the primary ray forms from said focal point to the surrounding end positions of the dielectric lens, and the final value of said azimuthal angle θ

is the angle which the primary ray forms from said focal point to the optical axis of the dielectric lens.

6. A manufacturing method of a dielectric lens comprising:

designing the shape of a dielectric lens using the design method of a dielectric lens according to claim 1;

preparing an injection-molding mold; and

injecting resin in said injection-molding mold to create a dielectric lens with the resin.

7. A manufacturing method of a dielectric lens comprising:

designing the shape of a dielectric lens using the design method of a dielectric lens according to claim 3;

preparing an injection-molding mold; and

injecting resin in said injection-molding mold to create a dielectric lens with the resin.

8. A dielectric lens of which the principal portion forms a rotationally symmetrical member with the optical axis as a rotation center, and a front-side surface opposite to a primary radiator comprising:

multiple front-side refraction faces which protrude from the front-side surface; and

a stepped face which connects adjoining front-side refraction faces;

wherein the stepped face forms an angle within the limits of ±

20°

to the primary ray which enters into an arbitrary position of a rear face which faces said primary radiator from a focal point, and progresses within the lens, and a curved face by zoning is provided in the position in said rear face of the primary ray passing through said front-side refraction face.

13. A dielectric lens device comprising:

a dielectric lens according to claim 8; and

a radome on the surface of the dielectric lens having a configuration which fills the recessed portion formed by said front-side refraction face and said stepped face, and wherein the radome has a dielectric constant lower than that of said dielectric lens.

14. The dielectric lens device according to claim 13, wherein when representing the specific inductive capacity of said radome as ε

2, and representing the specific inductive capacity of said dielectric lens as ε

1 respectively, ε

2 . . . (ε

1 ) is satisfied.

15. The dielectric lens device according to claim 14, wherein a face of said radome connects multiple curved faces at a distance from the surface of said dielectric lens by λ

/4+nλ

wherein n is an integer equal to or greater than 0, and λ

is a wavelength.

16. Transceiving equipment comprising:

a dielectric lens according to claim 8; and

a primary radiator.

9. A dielectric lens of which the principal portion forms a rotationally symmetrical member with the optical axis as a rotation center, and a front-side surface opposite to a primary radiator comprising:

multiple front-side refraction faces which protrude from the front-side surface; and

a stepped face which connects adjoining front-side refraction faces;

wherein the stepped face forms within the limits of ±

20°

to the primary ray which enters into an arbitrary position of a rear face which faces said primary radiator from a focal point, and progresses within the lens, and a curved face by zoning is provided in the position in said rear face of the primary ray passing through said front-side refraction face, and wherein the curved face by zoning between said front-side refraction face and said rear face is a curved face obtained by Snell'"'"'s law regarding the rear face, light-path-length conditions, and the electric power conservation law which provides a desired aperture distribution.

10. A dielectric lens device comprising:

a dielectric lens according to claim 9; and

a radome on the surface of the dielectric lens having a configuration which fills the recessed portion formed by said front-side refraction face and said stepped face, and wherein the radome has a dielectric constant lower than that of said dielectric lens.

11. The dielectric lens device according to claim 10, wherein when representing the specific inductive capacity of said radome as ε

2, and representing the specific inductive capacity of said dielectric lens as ε

1 respectively, ε

2 . . . (ε

1 ) is satisfied.

12. The dielectric lens device according to claim 11, wherein a face of said radome connects multiple curved faces at a distance from the surface of said dielectric lens by λ

/4+nλ

wherein n is an integer equal to or greater than 0, and λ

is a wavelength.

17. Transceiving equipment comprising:

a dielectric lens according to claim 9; and

a primary radiator.

18. Transceiving equipment comprising:

a dielectric lens device according to claim 10; and

a primary radiator.

19. Transceiving equipment comprising:

a dielectric lens device according to claim 11; and

a primary radiator.

20. Transceiving equipment comprising:

a dielectric lens device according to claim 12; and

a primary radiator.