A radio wave lens includes a first surface, a second surface, and an optical axis passing through the first surface and the second surface. The first surface has concave portions or convex portions provided concentrically or symmetrically with respect to the optical axis in plan view, and a depth of each of the concave portions or a height of each of the convex portions is set according to a distance from the optical axis.

A radio system includes a feed network, an edge wavelength switching system (EWSS), a photodetector, and a broadband lens-based antenna subsystem. The feed network aggregates a plurality of unmodulated optical carriers and modulated optical carriers for delivery to an optical link. The EWSS receives the plurality of unmodulated optical carriers and modulated optical carriers from the optical link, and selects a first unmodulated carrier and a first modulated carrier as a first selected optical carrier pair. The photodetector receives the first selected carrier pair from the EWSS and generates a first electrical signal from an optical beat of the first unmodulated carrier with the first modulated carrier. The broadband lens-based antenna subsystem receives the first electrical signal from the photodetector, propagates the received first electrical signal through a lens body, and outputs a first directional wireless beam signal containing signal data from the first modulated carrier.

A beamforming network includes a three-dimensional discrete lens with front and back apertures, each comprising a plurality of discrete elements. Each discrete element of the back aperture is homologous to a respective discrete element of the front aperture. The discrete lens further comprises a plurality of transmission lines connecting respective pairs of homologous discrete elements. The beamforming network can further include a feed array that illuminates the back aperture when the lens is working in transmission, and/or receives signals from the back aperture, when the lens is working in reception. A ratio of a size of the back aperture and a size of the front aperture defines a zooming factor whose value is different from unity, so that angles of emergence of beams of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the front aperture are either tilted towards or away from a center axis compared to angles of incidence on the back aperture.

A beamforming network includes a three-dimensional discrete lens with front and back apertures, each comprising a plurality of discrete elements. Each discrete element of the back aperture is homologous to a respective discrete element of the front aperture. The discrete lens further comprises a plurality of transmission lines connecting respective pairs of homologous discrete elements. The beamforming network can further include a feed array that illuminates the back aperture when the lens is working in transmission, and/or receives signals from the back aperture, when the lens is working in reception. A ratio of a size of the back aperture and a size of the front aperture defines a zooming factor whose value is different from unity, so that angles of emergence of beams of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the front aperture are either tilted towards or away from a center axis compared to angles of incidence on the back aperture.

A front end of a radar system is provided with a first front end apparatus and a second front end apparatus. A first transmit planar component and a first receive planar component in the first front end apparatus are arranged to be perpendicular to one another. A second transmit planar component and a second receive planar component in the second front end apparatus are arranged to be perpendicular to one another. A linear array of antennas is located along a second end of each planar component. Polarization of a first set of waves transmitted from the linear array of antennas of the first transmit planar component and polarization of a second set of waves transmitted from the linear array of antennas of the second transmit planar component are perpendicular to one another.

A front end of a radar system is provided with a first front end apparatus and a second front end apparatus. A first transmit planar component and a first receive planar component in the first front end apparatus are arranged to be perpendicular to one another. A second transmit planar component and a second receive planar component in the second front end apparatus are arranged to be perpendicular to one another. A linear array of antennas is located along a second end of each planar component. Polarization of a first set of waves transmitted from the linear array of antennas of the first transmit planar component and polarization of a second set of waves transmitted from the linear array of antennas of the second transmit planar component are perpendicular to one another.

Microwave radar systems using compact form factor devices are described. Examples of such devices include a folded beamformer. The beamformer includes: a linear array of microwave antennas; a principal plane including: a Rotman lens; a first set of coplanar microwave waveguides; and a second set of coplanar microwave waveguides; and a series of one or more first planes parallel to the principal, each first plane including the first set of waveguides. Each plane of the beamformer includes one or more sets of miter bends, each set of miter bends configured to redirect waveguides of the first or second set. The beamformer can be configured for use in a radar system, either as a receiver (RX) beamformer, a transmitter (TX) beamformer, or as a combined transceiver (TRX) beamformer. The radar system can also include a second beamformer for receiving and transmitting using two separate beamformers.

Microwave radar systems using compact form factor devices are described. Examples of such devices include a folded beamformer. The beamformer includes: a linear array of microwave antennas; a principal plane including: a Rotman lens; a first set of coplanar microwave waveguides; and a second set of coplanar microwave waveguides; and a series of one or more first planes parallel to the principal, each first plane including the first set of waveguides. Each plane of the beamformer includes one or more sets of miter bends, each set of miter bends configured to redirect waveguides of the first or second set. The beamformer can be configured for use in a radar system, either as a receiver (RX) beamformer, a transmitter (TX) beamformer, or as a combined transceiver (TRX) beamformer. The radar system can also include a second beamformer for receiving and transmitting using two separate beamformers.

An antenna system for beam direction adjustment and shared use of radio-frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) units includes an array antenna module including feed antenna units for producing at least one input signal, RFIC units respectively electrically connected to the feed antenna units through switching units and less in number than the feed antenna units, a control module for controlling, based on at least one antenna configuration message, some of the switching units to be switched on and the rest thereof to be switched off, and a microwave lens module for forming at least one beam in a particular direction. A feed antenna unit electrically connected to the switched-on switching unit is in a working state, and can receive a signal from the RFIC units and radiate a corresponding input signal to the microwave lens module. The antenna system greatly reduces the number of RFIC units, thereby lowering the overall cost.

An antenna system for beam direction adjustment and shared use of radio-frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) units includes an array antenna module including feed antenna units for producing at least one input signal, RFIC units respectively electrically connected to the feed antenna units through switching units and less in number than the feed antenna units, a control module for controlling, based on at least one antenna configuration message, some of the switching units to be switched on and the rest thereof to be switched off, and a microwave lens module for forming at least one beam in a particular direction. A feed antenna unit electrically connected to the switched-on switching unit is in a working state, and can receive a signal from the RFIC units and radiate a corresponding input signal to the microwave lens module. The antenna system greatly reduces the number of RFIC units, thereby lowering the overall cost.