Flexible-Resolution, Arbitrary-Input and Tunable Rotman Lens Spectrum Decomposer (RL-SD)

Abstract: We present an enhanced design -- in terms of resolution flexibility, input port position arbitrariness and frequency-range tunability -- of the planar Rotman lens spectrum decomposer (RL-SD). This enhancement is achieved by manipulating the output port locations through proper sampling of the frequency-position law of the RL-SD, inserting a calibration array compensating for frequency deviation induced by input modification and introducing port switching, respectively. A complete design procedure is provided and two enhanced RL-SD prototypes, with uniform port distribution and uniform frequency resolution, respectively, are numerically and experimentally demonstrated.