Provided herein is a radio detection and ranging (RADAR) level gauging apparatus which is capable of reducing a side lobe, which is a factor that interferes with other devices, and of which a size is allowed to be miniaturized.

Provided is an antenna structure. The structure includes a dielectric lens, an antenna substrate on the dielectric lens, and antenna electrodes on the antenna substrate. Here, each of the antenna electrodes may include a wire electrode and an empty plane having a triangular shape defined by the wire electrode.

An antenna that comprises a dielectric body and a feed arrangement. The dielectric body includes a first portion operable as a dielectric lens and a second portion operable as a dielectric resonator. The feed arrangement is operably coupled with the dielectric body for operating the antenna as a dielectric lens antenna and a dielectric resonator antenna.

An antenna that comprises a dielectric body and a feed arrangement. The dielectric body includes a first portion operable as a dielectric lens and a second portion operable as a dielectric resonator. The feed arrangement is operably coupled with the dielectric body for operating the antenna as a dielectric lens antenna and a dielectric resonator antenna.

Inhomogeneous dielectric lenses for electromagnetic waves can be produced by a process such as 3D printing to have controllable dielectric values. Dielectric values can be produced by a varying density of air voids within, for example, a dielectric matrix to obtain an effective overall density. Approaches in accordance with various embodiments can obtain uniform, isotropic dielectric properties without resonant behavior by the use of aperiodic distributions of nonuniformly-sized air voids. Target air fraction and distribution of air voids can be specified by a target dielectric constant through dielectric mixing rules, such as Maxwell-Garnet mixing rules, and a requirement for locally uniform distributions of air voids, while varying the density of the air voids across the overall structure to produce a desired gradient of dielectric properties.

Inhomogeneous dielectric lenses for electromagnetic waves can be produced by a process such as 3D printing to have controllable dielectric values. Dielectric values can be produced by a varying density of air voids within, for example, a dielectric matrix to obtain an effective overall density. Approaches in accordance with various embodiments can obtain uniform, isotropic dielectric properties without resonant behavior by the use of aperiodic distributions of nonuniformly-sized air voids. Target air fraction and distribution of air voids can be specified by a target dielectric constant through dielectric mixing rules, such as Maxwell-Garnet mixing rules, and a requirement for locally uniform distributions of air voids, while varying the density of the air voids across the overall structure to produce a desired gradient of dielectric properties.

A system for augmenting 360-degree aspect monostatic radar cross section of an aircraft. The system may comprise a pair of pods mountable on opposing wing tips of an aircraft and each having a pod housing with an elongate body tapering forwardly to a nose and rearwardly to a tail. Each pod may comprise a forward SDL disposed within the nose, a rear SDL disposed within the tail, and a pair of mid-body SDLs disposed within a mid-section of the pod housing. The SDLs may be arranged within the pods to reflect radiation and provide coverage around the aircraft over a region of about 360 azimuth degrees. Each SDL may comprise radar absorbing material located on an interior reflective surface, and portions of the elongate bodies may be constructed of radome material. The SDLs may be Luneburg lens having diameters of at least approximately 8-inches.

A system for augmenting 360-degree aspect monostatic radar cross section of an aircraft. The system may comprise a pair of pods mountable on opposing wing tips of an aircraft and each having a pod housing with an elongate body tapering forwardly to a nose and rearwardly to a tail. Each pod may comprise a forward SDL disposed within the nose, a rear SDL disposed within the tail, and a pair of mid-body SDLs disposed within a mid-section of the pod housing. The SDLs may be arranged within the pods to reflect radiation and provide coverage around the aircraft over a region of about 360 azimuth degrees. Each SDL may comprise radar absorbing material located on an interior reflective surface, and portions of the elongate bodies may be constructed of radome material. The SDLs may be Luneburg lens having diameters of at least approximately 8-inches.

The invention discloses a fabrication method of the artificial dielectric lens, which comprises the following steps: Print ceramic slurry on a base material to generate a printed pattern, heat it up to cure the printed pattern into a ceramic dry film, and form a composite plate together with the base material. Adjust the material and/or concentration of ceramic powder in the used ceramic slurry at different positions of the printed pattern correspondingly, so that the dielectric constant of the composite plate after adjustment meets the plane distribution of the preset dielectric constant of the artificial dielectric lens. Center-align a number of composite plates made after adjustment to form a composite body, and the composite body comprises the artificial dielectric lens.

The invention discloses a fabrication method of the artificial dielectric lens, which comprises the following steps: Print ceramic slurry on a base material to generate a printed pattern, heat it up to cure the printed pattern into a ceramic dry film, and form a composite plate together with the base material. Adjust the material and/or concentration of ceramic powder in the used ceramic slurry at different positions of the printed pattern correspondingly, so that the dielectric constant of the composite plate after adjustment meets the plane distribution of the preset dielectric constant of the artificial dielectric lens. Center-align a number of composite plates made after adjustment to form a composite body, and the composite body comprises the artificial dielectric lens.