Rotman lens design with Wideband DRA array

Abstract

—For rapid Rotman lens design, the symmetry plane is utilized to reduce the structure size by employing the odd and even mode characteristics. Solutions of half the structure for odd and even modes (short and open walls or electrical and magnetic walls, respectively) are much more efficient than the one-time solution for the whole structure. Then, s-parameters from both solutions are processed to obtain the s-parameters of the full lens. To support the wideband and wide scanning range, DRA array is used because of its ability to support these characteristics. Two examples are considered. The first example that employs four cylindrical DRA elements is built and measured to test the concept of terminating the dummy ports by absorbing materials instead of matching loads. This termination tremendously simplifies the structure and reduces the cost by saving the terminating connectors and the matching loads. Here, thin planar absorbing material is used on top of the microstrip lines of the dummy ports. The simulated and measured results are in good agreement. The second example utilizes 8 rectangular DRA array elements and is studied numerically.