Application of a metasurface lens
An antenna includes a radiating structure to radiate electromagnetic waves having a phase along a radiating path extending in an axial direction, and a lens disposed in the radiating path and configured to pass the electromagnetic waves therethrough. The lens includes at least one lamina having a first surface, a second surface, a center axis that is aligned with the axial direction, a lamina thickness between the first surface and the second surface in a direction parallel to the axial direction, and an axial region extending about the center axis. Conductive scattering elements are arranged on the first surface, the second surface or both the first surface and the second surface. The conductive scattering elements are configured to change a first phase of the electromagnetic waves passing through the plurality of conductive scattering elements with respect to a second phase of the electromagnetic waves passing through the axial region.
1 . An antenna comprising:
at least one radiating structure configured to radiate electromagnetic waves along a radiating path extending in an axial direction; and
a lens disposed in the radiating path and configured to pass the electromagnetic waves therethrough, the lens including:
at least one lamina having a first surface, a second surface, a center axis that is aligned with the axial direction, a lamina thickness between the first surface and the second surface in a direction parallel to the axial direction, and an axial region extending about the center axis; and
a plurality of conductive scattering elements arranged on the first surface, the second surface or both the first surface and the second surface,
wherein an aperture extends through the axial region of the lens, the aperture comprising an area without any conductive scattering elements where the material of the at least one lamina is omitted, and
wherein the at least one radiating structure is exposed through the aperture.
2 . The antenna according to claim 1 , wherein an amount of back-scattered energy reflected by the axial region is less than an amount of back-scattered energy reflected by a non-axial region of the at least one lamina comprising the plurality of conductive scattering elements.
3 . The antenna according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of conductive scattering elements include at least one of planar conductive scattering elements shaped as unfilled polygons, planar conductive scattering elements shaped as filed polygons, planar conductive scattering elements shaped as circular closed lines, and planar conductive scattering elements shaped as filled circles.
4 . The antenna according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of conductive scattering elements have a profile of one or a combination of concentric circles, ellipses, and polygons.
5 . The antenna according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of conductive scattering elements are arranged in rows extending in a radial direction with respect to the axial direction.
6 . The antenna according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of conductive scattering elements are disposed in a rectilinear arrangement that forms a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns.
7 . The antenna according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one lamina includes at least one of a planar lamina or a curved lamina.
8 . The antenna according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one lamina includes a plurality of laminas arranged in series next to one another along the axial direction, the plurality of laminas including:
a first lamina including a first plurality of conductive scattering elements having a first arrangement, a first shape, and a first size; and
a second lamina including a first plurality of conductive scattering elements having a second arrangement, a second shape, and a second size,
wherein at least one of the second arrangement, the second shape, and the second size is different from the first arrangement, the first shape, and the first size, respectively.
9 . The antenna according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one radiating structure operates at a frequency greater than or equal to 0.5 Gigahertz and less than or equal to 100 GHz.
10 . The antenna according to claim 1 , wherein a size of the aperture substantially matches a size of a radiating surface of the at least one radiating structure.
11 . The antenna according to claim 1 , wherein at least one lamina comprises a plurality of laminas arranged in series next to one another along the axial direction, wherein the lamina in the plurality of lamina have major surfaces that extend in parallel planes, where a first conductive scattering element that is on a first of the plurality of lamina overlaps a second conductive scattering element that is on a second of the plurality of lamina in the axial direction.
12 . The antenna according to claim 1 , wherein the conductive scattering elements on the first surface extend radially from a central point and are arranged in a plurality of concentric circular rings.
13 . The antenna according to claim 12 , wherein the plurality of concentric circular rings comprise at least three circular rings of conductive scattering elements.
14 . The antenna of claim 13 , wherein respective sizes of the conductive scattering elements within each circular ring are the same, while sizes of the conductive scattering elements in different circular rings are different.
15 . A metasurface lens comprising:
at least one lamina configured to pass electromagnetic waves traveling along a radiating path that extends along an axial direction of at least one radiating structure, the at least one lamina including:
a first surface spaced apart from a second surface in a direction parallel to the axial direction to define a lamina thickness;
an axial region extending radially from a center axis of the at least one lamina and configured to align with the radiating structure along the axial direction; and
a plurality of conductive scattering elements arranged on one or both of the first surface and the second surface,
wherein an aperture extends through the axial region of the lens, the aperture comprising an area without any conductive scattering elements where the material of the at least one lamina is omitted, and
wherein the radiating structure is exposed through the aperture.
16 . A method of manufacturing an antenna comprising:
positioning a lens of the antenna in a radiating path that extends in an axial direction, wherein at least one radiating structure of the antenna is configured to radiate electromagnetic waves along the radiating path, and wherein the lens is configured to pass the electromagnetic waves therethrough, the lens including:
at least one lamina having a first surface, a second surface, a center axis that is aligned with the axial direction, a lamina thickness between the first surface and the second surface in a direction parallel to the axial direction, and an axial region extending about the center axis; and
a plurality of conductive scattering elements arranged on the first surface, the second surface or both the first surface and the second surface,
wherein an aperture extends through the axial region, the aperture comprising an area without any conductive scattering elements where the material of the at least one lamina is omitted, and
wherein the at least one radiating structure is exposed through the aperture.