Fresnel Lens Antenna with smooth phase compensation in the 220 - 330 GHz band using highly cost-effective manufacturing process

In this work is presented the performance of a Fresnel Lens Antenna (FLA) in the 220-330 GHz band for future wireless communication systems with high-data-rate. The lens of the system is manufactured using an innovative and highly low-cost process, based on a thermally pressed foam material. This process permits the manufacturing of fully dielectric, inhomogeneous lenses made from a single material, allowing smooth phase compensation the wavefront distortion introduced by a primary feed, in this case a standard horn antenna, realized with electric discharge machining. The horn antenna is first designed then experimentally validated, demonstrating excellent agreement between simulation and measurements in terms of radiation patterns and gain. A Fresnel Lens is then fabricated, confirming the effectiveness of the pressed foam approach over the entire operating band. The prototype, featuring a 30 mm diameter, achieves a narrow beam-width of 2° beam-width and a peak gain of 32 dBi, and is implemented using three stacked sub-lenses.