18 to 40 GHz 1 x 16-element beam shaping and 1 x 8-element beam steering phased antenna arrays (PAAs) are realized on a single low cost PCB substrate. The system consists of a wideband power divider with amplitude taper for sidelobe suppression, wideband microstrip-to-slotline transition, a low-cost true time piezoelectric transducer (PET)-controlled phase shifter, and wideband Fermi antennas with corrugations along the sides. Coplanar stripline (CPS) is used under a PET-controlled phase shifter, which can generate 50% more phase shift compared to the perturbation on microstrip line. The systems are fabricated using Electro-Fine-Forming (EF2) micro-fabrication technology, which is uniquely developed by Kyushu Hitachi Maxell. Measured VSWR is less than 2 within the designed frequency range for both the beam steering and beam shaping PAAs. The beam shaping PAA has a 12° 3-dB and 18° 10-dB beamwidth broadening range. The sidelobe levels are -27, -23 and -20 dB at 20, 30 and 40 GHz, respectively, without perturbation. The sidelobe levels are -20, -16, and -15 dB at 20, 30 and 40 GHz with maximum perturbation. The beam steering PAA has 35° (-16° to +19°), 36° (-17° to +19°) and 31° (-14° to +17°) beam scanning range measured at 20, 30 and 40 GHz.

An investigation of the receiving properties of a 1-D 13-element and a 2-D 8 x 4-element dual dipole antenna arrays on an elliptical MACOR lens from Q- to V-band is presented next. The far-field radiation patterns are calculated using ray tracing and integration methods and measured in an anechoic chamber. Theoretical and measured results agree well for both the patterns and steering angles. Sensitivity and angular field of views are measured from 38 to 75 GHz and theoretically calculated for comparison. Different lens materials are compared at last.

The analytical and experimental results provide guidance toward the development of new arrays for future use in MIR systems with significantly enhanced performance.