57-71GHz Antenna Lensing for Wireless Backhaul Applications

GRIN Lenses have seen a significant growth in published research in recent years but with very few realized GRIN applications beyond 40GHz. This paper details the development of a GRIN lens utilizing Gyroid Unit-cells, aimed at the unlicensed 57–71 GHz band, with a particular focus on backhaul applications in the 65–71 GHz range. Developing this technology would be a new realm for GRIN, unlocking new commercial viability. A Luneburg lens with a well-known dielectric profile was simulated (using the actual geometry), manufactured and tested. With a diameter of 50.8 mm, the Luneburg lens achieved a peak gain of 30.2 dBi at 65 GHz. The strong correlation between simulation and experimental results underscores the commercial viability of GRIN lenses for frequencies up to 71 GHz.