Dielectric lens for antenna system
Antenna lens structures, and antenna systems including the lens structures. In one example, an antenna lens apparatus includes a shell made of a first material having a first dielectric constant, the shell defining an interior cavity, and a second material disposed within and at least partially filling the cavity, the second material having a second dielectric constant higher than the first dielectric constant. The shell defines a shape of the lens, and the second material may be a powder.
1. An antenna system comprising:
a horn antenna element;
a low volume, low profile dielectric lens coupled to the horn antenna element, the dielectric lens including a shell made of a first material having a first dielectric constant, the shell defining an interior cavity;
a second material disposed within and at least partially filling the interior cavity, wherein the second material includes a ceramic powder having a second dielectric constant higher than the first dielectric constant;
wherein the first material and the second material in combination provide the low volume, low profile dielectric lens structure;
wherein the first material is any of polycarbonate, a thermoset, rigid translucent plastic produced by cross linking polystyrene with divinylbenzene, or polytetrafluoroethylene;
wherein the dielectric lens includes a tapered region having angled sides such that the tapered region of the dielectric lens can fit at least partially inside an aperture of the horn antenna element; and
a slant angle of the angled sides of the dielectric lens matches a slant angle of walls of the horn antenna element.
2. The antenna system of claim 1 wherein the horn antenna element is rectangular shaped or conical shaped.
3. The antenna system of claim 1 , wherein the dielectric lens has a plano-convex shape.
4. The system apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second material is aluminum oxide or magnesium oxide.
5. The antenna system of claim 1 , wherein the second material consists of the ceramic powder.
6. The antenna system of claim 1 , wherein the ceramic powder is settled without using a resin.
7. The antenna system of claim 1 , wherein the dielectric lens has at least one ridge.
8. The antenna system of claim 1 , wherein the dielectric lens has a height in a range of 1 to 2 inches.
9. The antenna system of claim 1 , wherein the dielectric lens has a radius that is in a range of 3 inches to 6 inches.
10. An antenna system comprising:
a horn antenna;
a low volume, low profile dielectric lens coupled to the horn antenna, the dielectric lens including a shell made of a first material having a first dielectric constant, the shell defining an interior cavity, and wherein a second material including a ceramic powder is disposed within the interior cavity of the shell and has a second dielectric constant that is higher than the first dielectric constant;
wherein the first material and the second material in combination provide the low volume, low profile dielectric lens structure;
wherein the dielectric lens has a plano-convex shape and includes a tapered region having angled sides such that the tapered region of the dielectric lens can fit at least partially inside an aperture of the horn antenna; and
wherein a slant angle of the angled sides of the dielectric lens matches a slant angle of walls of the horn antenna.
11. The antenna system of claim 10 , wherein the horn antenna is a conical-shaped horn.
12. The antenna system of claim 10 wherein the first material is any of a polycarbonate, a thermoset, rigid translucent plastic produced by cross linking polystyrene with divinylbenzene, or polytetrafluoroethylene.
13. The antenna system of claim 10 , wherein the dielectric lens has at least one ridge.
14. The antenna system of claim 10 , wherein the second material is aluminum oxide or magnesium oxide.
15. The antenna system of claim 10 , wherein the second material consists of the ceramic powder.
16. The antenna lens system of claim 10 , wherein the ceramic powder is settled without using a resin.
17. The antenna system of claim 10 , wherein the dielectric lens has a height in a range of 1 to 2 inches.
18. The antenna system of claim 10 , wherein the dielectric lens has a radius that is in a range of 3 inches to 6 inches.