LENS ANTENNA

Basics of Lens Antenna

• It is an antenna which consists of an electromagnetic lens with feed
• It converges spherical wave front into planar wave front and planar wave front to
focus at feed
• It is typically thicker , heavier and more difficult to construct
• It has one advantage over reflector antenna, blockage does not happen
Principle of Lens Antenna
Types of Lens Antenna
A. Conducting type E Type
B. Dielectric Type

Advantages of Lens Antenna

• No blockage due to feed and feed support
• More EM can be received with respect to parabolic reflector
• Low noise
• Higher Gain when compared to Reflector antenna
Disadvantages of Lens Antenna
• Lens are heavy
• Complex to construct
• Costlier as compared to Reflector

Applications of Lens Antenna

• For narrow beam width
• Microwave transmission

Zoned Lens Antenna

a) Non-metallic dielectric type (Polystyrene or Lucite) of lens:
Polystyrene (dielectric constant k= 2.5, permeability μ= 1.6) and polyethylene (k= 2.2, μ= 1.5)
are important materials for dielectric lens construction. The non metallic dielectric lens antenna may
be designed by the ray analysis methods of geometrical optics as dielectric lens is identical to
optical lenses

Fig. Rays path in Plano concave lens

 
OP+PP' =OS+SQ' = OS +SQ+QQ'
But PP' = QQ'
OP=OS+SQ
We know that, velocity =
For equal time condition, Time =
Time taken to reach P from O is,

OP = (c is the velocity of wave in air, r- displacement)

 
Similarly, OS = and SQ = (v is the velocity of wave in lens medium)
 
Therefore,

= + or r = L+( ) X ( here r = refractive index)

r=L+μX ( here X = OQ – OS)

r = L + μ (r cos θ – L) cos θ = OQ = OP cos θ

 
r = L + μr cosθ – μL OQ = r cosθ OS = L 

r(1 – μ cosθ) = L (1 – μ) X = r cosθ – L 

r= 

μ = = ; μ > 1 

R = L (μ – 1) provided θ is small
 
The asymptote of the hyperbola is at an angle θ w.r.t axis and can be obtained by tending to ∞

( μ cos θ - 1) = = = 0
( μ cos θ - 1) = 0 
μ cos θ = 1
Cos θ =

  Drawback: It is difficult to get uniform illumination from a lens antenna/. This is overcome by designing the
lens antenna of zone or stepped dielectric 
t=
μ = 1.5
t=

t=2
 
A metal plate lens makes use of waveguide theory which states that the guide wavelength is related to the
free space wavelength  
 1 1 2 1 2

= guide wavelength
λg
2
= () ( )
λ
+
2a
→(1)

= free space wavelength 

A structure consisting of many such parallel plates with spacing ‘a’ can be regarded as a uniform medium
with an equivalent or effective index of refraction μ given by the ratio of velocities as,

 
μ= =
 
Equation 1 can be written as, 
2
=(2- (2
  
= )2 ⇒4  

=μ
Hence μ = )2 ⇒5
It is clear that the refractive index is always less than unity. Clearly the value of ‘a’ must not be less than
its critical value

 
 
)2 = 0
1=
a=
a = wider internal diameter of the rectangular waveguide or spacing of plates
 
• The phase velocity of the wave in the guide is given by, v = this velocity is always greater than c. Let

us consider a wave propagated between two infinite parallel planes spaced at a distance ‘a’ apart and

having its electric vector parallel to the plates.

• This may be regarded as a part of a rectangular waveguide carrying a H 10 wave with its dimension ‘b’

infinitely large. The equation for v gives the equation for the guide wavelength which is dependent

only on the dimension ‘a’ 

• Hence a metal plate lens antenna can be designed based on this principle i.e. a lens may be constructed

from parallel metal plates. The dielectric lens corrects phases by slowing down a wave front whereas

the metal plate lens operates by speeding up the wave front

 Fig. E plane metal plate lens
Fig. E plane metal plate antenna
 
The lens plate on the axis of the lens is shown in the figure. The shape of the plate can be determined by
the principle of equality of electrical path length according to fermat’s principle. 

OPP' = OQQ'

OP + PP' = OS +SQ'
But SQ' = QS
From triangle OQP ; cos θ =

OQ = r cos θ
  Time taken to travel OQ =
OS =
So, QS = OS – OQ
QS = = SQ
PP' = 2QS = 2
Hence OP + PP' = OS + SQ'

+2 = +

+ =
 
= free space wavelength
= lens wavelength
 
Multiplying the above equation by

L=r+

L=r+μ

L - μ = r – μ(

L ( 1- μ) = r (1- μ cos θ )

B=

Where K= number of zones, the zone on the axis of the lens is counted as the first zone

μ = refractive index at the designed frequency

Uses of lens antennas:

• Unstepped dielectric lens is a wide band antenna as its shape does not depend on the wavelength and

hence it can be used over a wide frequency range. However this is not true for dielectric lens antenna

which is frequency sensitive. Typical bandwidth for unstopped and stepped lens antennas are 12 % and 5

% respectively.

• Both reflectors and lens antennas are commonly used above 1000 MHz. Lens antenna is a microwave

device. So it is preferred to be used usually above 3000 MHz and not below it.
Babinet’s Principle

 
• Energy received without screen

• Perfectly conducting sheet has conductivity

• Complementary sheet has permeability
• Practically not possible but equivalent effect will be observed
 
• Perfectly Conducting Sheet radiates electric field

• Perfectly Conducting Sheet radiates electric field with slot

• Complementary sheet radiates electric field

SLOT ANTENNA
Basics of Slot Antenna
• The slot antenna is simply on opening cut in conductor sheet
• It has long distance communication with respect to dipole
• It gives enhanced impedance with space
• It has higher mechanical stability with respect to dipole antenna
Comparison of Slot Antenna and Dipole Antenna

 
• Slot Antenna --- Perfect conductor to E – field

• Complementary Slot or Dipole Antenna --- Perfect Conductor to

 
Enhanced impedance of Slot Antenna

where = dipole antenna impedance

= 73 + j4.25
= Slot antenna impedance
= free space impedance
= 120 = 377 Ω

• For real part only

Feeding Techniques of Slot Antenna
 Impedance of Slot Antenna
 
Let,
= Electric field of the slot at any point P
= Magnetic field of the slot at any point P
Then the voltage at any terminal xy of the slot is given by the line
integral of over the path as i.e.

𝐶
  1

Where, = infinitesimal vector element of length along the contour or

path
The current at the terminals of the slot is given by,

𝐶
  2
 
Now let a generator be connected to the terminal of the dipole , then, Let

Let are electric and magnetic fields of the dipole at any point P, then the voltage at the dipole is,

𝐶
  2
And the current is,

𝐶
  1
  
lim ∫ 𝐸𝑑 .𝑑𝑙=𝛈0  lim ∫ 𝐻 𝑠 .𝑑𝑙 −−(6)
𝐶 2 →0 𝐶 2 →0
𝐶
  2 𝐶
  2
1  lim
 
lim ∫ 𝐻 𝑑 .𝑑𝑙=¿ ¿
𝐶 →0 𝛈0 𝐶1 →0
∫ 𝐸𝑠 .𝑑𝑠−−(7)
1
𝐶
  1 𝐶
  1

  - Intrinsic impedance of space i.e surrounding medium

Now,

 𝑉 𝑠
𝐼𝑑 𝐼𝑑
= 𝑜𝑟 𝑉 𝑠=𝛈 0 .
𝛈0 2 2

 𝑉 𝑠𝛈0
=
𝐼𝑑 2
 𝛈 0 𝛈 0 𝛈 20
 𝑉 𝑑 𝑉 𝑠
. = . =
𝐼𝑠 𝐼𝑑 2 2 4

𝛈20
 𝑉 𝑠 𝑉 𝑑
. =
𝐼𝑠 𝐼𝑑 4

  𝛈 20
𝑍 𝑠 . 𝑍 𝑑=
4
Micro strip
ANTENNA
Basics of Slot Antenna
• It is metallic patch placed on dielectric material and supported ground plane
• It could be easily fabricated on printed circuit board
• It is most widely used antenna
• Installation is very easy due to low size, weight and cost

Structure of Slot Antenna

Analysis of Micro strip Antenna

 
• Capacity frequency,  
• ω – it control input impedance
• Electric strip at Microstrip,
- input impedance ∝
- Bandwidth ∝ ω
- Radiation pattern
Advantages of Micro strip Antenna
• It could be easily printed on circuit board
• Easy to fabricate
• Small size
• Low cost
• Low weight
• Linear and Circular polarization can be easily achieved

Limitations of Micro strip Antenna Applications of Micro strip Antenna

• Narrow bandwidth • Aircraft
• Gain around (5 to 7 dB) by single patch • Spacecraft
• Radiation into half plane • Satellite
• Low power handling capacity • Missile
• It excites surface wave • Mobile
Designing of Micro strip Antenna

   
Determine width W Find (Extension Length)

Find effective dielectric constant Find Actual Length L