An UWB Hyperbolic Lens-Integrated Dual-Polarized Quad-Ridged Horn Antenna for UAV-Based In-Situ Characterization

In this paper, an ultra-wideband (UWB) dielectric lens-integrated quad-ridged horn antenna (QRHA) is proposed to achieve narrow beamwidth in both E and H planes throughout the frequency of operation. For instance, at 3 GHz, the beamwidth is reduced by around 50% by integrating the proposed dielectric lens. The proposed QRHA has a compact size of
$190\times 160$
mm
²
compared to other QRHA's presented in the literature. It has 2-decades of operational bandwidth from 1–20 GHz and has a unique feeding design that helps in eliminating unwanted pattern-degradation at higher frequencies. For ease of integration and stability concerns, the aperture opening of the QRHA has been calculated such that the lens can be integrated exactly on the aperture of the QRHA with a focal point that coincides with the phase center of the QRHA.