An Ultrawideband and High-Aperture-Efficiency All-Dielectric Lens Antenna.

A lens antenna (LA) with the characteristics of ultrawide band and high aperture efficiency is proposed in this letter. Moreover, the proposed lens is automatically designed by the genetic algorithm (GA) and finite-different time-domain method, which provides a convenient solution for lens designing. Compared to the feeding ridged horn, the measured gains of the LA are enhanced by 4.4–7.4 dB in the 6–18 GHz band, and the measured aperture efficiencies are also increased by 10%–33% in the band. The maximum aperture efficiency is 92.4% at 6 GHz. Moreover, the 1 dB steady gain band is 13–18 GHz (up to 32.3%). The all-dielectric structure can be easily manufactured using three-dimensional printing technology, which endues the lens with the advantages of low cost, light weight, and easy fabrication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]