Compact size pyramidal horn lens antenna for E-band gigabit point-to-point communications

This paper presents the theory, design, fabrication and measurements of high gain compact size horn lens antenna for next generation gigabit point-to-point wireless communications at E-band (71-76GHz and 81-86GHz). A wide flare angle pyramidal horn antenna is integrated with fully flat inhomogeneous low loss (<;2dB) dielectric lens that is covering the horn antenna aperture without additional impedance matching layers. The design formulas of the lens are presented and investigated in details. The lens designed using single dielectric substrate of air filled drilled holes and having 41 unit cells × 41 unit cells, area of 95.12mm × 95.12mm × 6.35mm and fabricated using printed circuit board (PCB) technology. A measured peak gain of 35dB at 72.5GHz is achieved with 3-dB beamwidth between 2.2° → 3.3°, aperture efficiency of 47.6%, SLL<;-21dB, F/B ratio~35.1dB and |S₁₁|<;-10dB.