Lens Antenna Design Tool Based on Generalized Superformula

Abstract

In this work, the design of a novel class of 3D dielectric lens antennas through the use of a lab-made electromagnetic tool is presented. The lens antenna is modeled using a generalized superformula allowing additional degree of freedom which can be exploited to obtain complex lens shapes with flat surface regions, steep sides, a non-rotational symmetry, or a modulated and aspherical surface profile. Thanks to the free parameters characterizing this formula, the lens geometry can be adjusted in a simple and analytical way. The electromagnetic tool is based on the geometrical optics and tube tracing approximations as well as the physical optics approach. In this way, the multiple wave reflections within the lens region as well as the far field outside the lens can be calculated. Moreover, an efficient synthesis procedure based on swarm intelligence has been developed and integrated in the numerical code. Thanks to this design tool it is possible to identify the lens parameters yielding the optimal antenna characteristic and a desired radiation patterns with low computational burden.