STEERABLE TOROIDAL BIFOCAL LENS-ARRAY ANTENNA IN 57–64 GHZ RANGE

Introduction. Currently, one of the most promising approaches of the 5th generation mobile wireless systems development is the deployment of heterogeneous networks based on existing LTE cellular systems with large and small cells. The main elements of such networks can be small low cost relay stations equipped with highly directional steerable antenna systems to connect small cells with LTE base station serving macrocell. Objective. Existing solutions are either too expensive or not allowing flexible rearrangement of current information transmission lines. The objective of this work is to develop antenna equipment for low cost relay stations based on simple steerable antenna systems of millimetre wavelength (57-64 GHz), which allow beamsteering in both azimuth and elevation planes. Methods and materials. The developed steerable bifocal lens antenna system is a lens of a special shape made of a high molecular weight polyethylene and integrated with a phased array antenna. A key feature of the designed antenna system is a wide-angle beamsteering in the azimuth plane and ability to adjust the beam in the elevation plane. The calculation of the lens profiles was carried out by means of an approximation of geometrical optics in Matlab, and the main technical characteristics of the lens antenna system were obtained by direct electromagnetic modelling in CST Microwave Studio. Results. The prototype of the steerable bifocal lens-array antenna system is developed and its characteristics are studied. The following technical characteristics are achieved in the 57–64 GHz range: beamsteering in the elevation plane is ±3º, beamsteering in the azimuth plane is ±40º, and antenna gain is from 20 to 27.5 dBi for all angles. Conclusion. It was shown that the developed antenna system can be successfully used as receiving and transmission antenna equipment of small relay stations that transmit information in the frequency range of 57-64 GHz over a distance of 100-300 m.