Vivaldi Antenna Array in a Triangular Lattice with Dielectric Dome for Enhanced Beam Steering Capabilities

We present a combination of a multi-layer dielectric radome and a Vivaldi antenna array. The Vivaldi antenna element features dual-polarization and it can be arranged in a triangular lattice, which reduces the required number of elements. A coaxial structure is added as element feed for a better integration with the electronics. However, the array losses approximately 4 dB when scanning at 60 degrees. To overcome this, a multi-layer dielectric radome is designed. This design is done using a ray-tracing model based on geometrical optics. The final lens is able to increase the gain in the scanning range from 35 to 60 degrees. Both the array antenna and the dielectric lens are designed to be built using additive manufacturing.