X-band discrete lens array for a satellite communication ground station antenna

This paper addresses the design, characterization and applications of a discrete lens antenna array (DLA). The DLA is a multibeam spatially-fed antenna array and is designed for ground stations for satellite communications as a lower-cost alternative to a phased array. The antenna beam scans from -40 degrees to +40 degrees by switching between feeds corresponding to different beams, thus tracking a satellite. The DLA is implemented as a multilayer printed circuit board with 97 unit cells, resulting in a beamwidth of 18 degrees. The received polarization is circular, while the spatial feed is linearly polarized.