A Novel Methodology to Feed Phased Array Antennas

A new methodology to design beam-forming networks (BFN) to feed antenna arrays is introduced. Using this methodology is feasible to reduce the complexity of the associate control of a phased array, since, an N by N antenna array could be controlled to steer the beam using four phase shifters instead of the N² conventionally used. A prototype was designed, built and measured as proof of concept. The prototype consists on 3 by 3 Quasi-Yagi antennas fed by four input-ports. The measurements show that the main beam of an antenna array fed by this BFN can be steered to any desired direction.     

Edge-fed patch antennas with reduced spurious radiation

In this paper, a technique to reduce the spurious feed radiation from edge-fed patch antennas by using a dual thickness substrate is presented. A thin microwave substrate is employed for the feed network, and then a transition is made to a thick substrate for the patch antenna element. The new feeding procedure allows the feed network and antenna elements to be optimized independently. Measured results on a single element prototype exhibit a reduction in the level of cross-polarized fields and decreased pattern distortion whilst preserving a reasonable impedance bandwidth. The technique is also proven to be beneficial in an array environment, as an extensive transmission line feed network is required. We present the theoretical and experimental results of a 1 /spl times/ 8 edge-fed patch array that utilizes the dual thickness substrate configuration. Significant improvement in the radiation patterns and gain are observed for the new array compared to a standard edge-fed patch array.     

BER performance of CMA adaptive array for high-speed GMSK mobilecommunication-a description of measurements in central Tokyo

This paper describes the performance of an adaptive array as a countermeasure to multipath fading for a 256 kbps Gaussian-filtered minimum shift keying (GMSK) mobile communication system operating in the 1.5 GHz band. An adaptive array having four antenna elements is implemented using the digital beam forming concept. The constant modulus algorithm (CMA) is employed for the adaptation process to ease the implementation. Measurements in central Tokyo of the bit error rate (BER) performance and an array pattern arising in the multipath environment are presented. Analysis of the array pattern confirms that the array succeeds in directing nulls to the delayed signals. BER performance shows an improvement in E_b/N₀, compared with that of a single antenna system, of 17.5 to 22 dB at a BER of 1.0×10^-2 in a frequency-selective fading channel     

一种超宽带双极化阵列天线的设计

为满足超宽带无线通信应用需求,研究了一种超宽带双极化强耦合阵列天线. 阵元由两对相连印刷偶极子正交构成,结合Marchand巴伦与Wilkinson功分器构建的馈电网络,实现了平衡馈电、阻抗变换和带内共模谐振抑制等技术. 实验与仿真结果表明,该阵列天线可实现阻抗带宽1.5～4.0 GHz,E面波束扫描范围±60°,H面波束扫描范围±50°,并且天线结构简单,适合双极化宽角扫描相控阵天线系统的应用.     

A new design of horizontally polarizedand dual-polarized uniplanar conical beam antennas for HIPERLAN

It is shown that a conical beam 5.2-GHz antenna suitable for HIPERLAN application, but working in horizontal polarization, can be realized as a group of microstrip patch radiators in a ring formation. Layouts with three and four patches are described, and radiation patterns are found to agree well with predictions from a simple array model. The three-patch form is smaller and gives a closer approximation to an azimuth-independent pattern. Patterns are very similar to those achieved in vertical polarization with previously reported disk antenna realizations, giving peak radiation at about 50/spl deg/ elevation. Two methods of impedance matching are found to give satisfactory results. A dual-polarized conical-beam microstrip antenna, with a strictly uniplanar conductor pattern, is also presented and realized as an array of three square patches whose corners meet a central feed point. For the second polarization, the antenna functions as a series fed array. Fairly good conical beam patterns have been obtained, though only moderate polarization purity appears to be obtainable from three-element arrays.     

Pattern synthesis of the offset reflector antenna system with lesscomplicated phased array feed

The performance degradation of an offset reflector antenna with off-axis scanning feed and distorted reflector surface can be improved by using a phased array feed. Generally, both analog attenuators and phase shifters are used in phased array feed. Yet, it seems to make the feed system very complicated. In this paper, a phase-only gradient search (POGS) algorithm is developed to optimize the performance of offset reflector antenna systems using phased array feed that is equipped with phase shifters only. This technique not only can greatly simplify the complexity of phased array feed, but also can provide the reflector antenna with better antenna gain and sidelobe level control capability. Simulation and experimental results are presented to illustrate the excellent performance of offset reflector, with limited beam scanning capability, can be obtained by using this less complicated phased array feed     

A novel array antenna for MSAT applications

The issue of reducing the cost of phased array vehicle antennas through the use of a lens feeding arrangement instead of phase shifters at each element is addressed. In particular, the economic viability of a mobile satellite system (MSAT) is largely dependent on the efficient use of the allocated scarce spectrum and orbit as well as the satellite power. The type of vehicle antenna used will play a critical role in achieving this efficiency. A standard design approach for an electronically steered array uses phase shifters at each element to provide beam steering. A method for reducing the required number of phase shifters by using an R-KR lens feed network is outlined. The authors briefly discuss the phase shifter approach to beam steering, examine various lens feed techniques, and describe the R-KR lens approach. The lens feed network architecture is examined, a computer model for simulation of the array is presented, and the results of analysis of a suggested design for the MSAT application are given. In addition, satellite acquisition and tracking considerations are investigated     

A theoretical study of a mulit-element scanning feed system for a parabolic cylinder

This paper is a theoretical investigation of a method of scanning a beam of an antenna consisting of a fixed reflector and an array of elements illuminating the reflector by appropriately controlling the phase and amplitude of the signal radiating from each element. For the purpose of determining the feasibility of such a systems the two-dimensional problem is explored where a specific antenna geometry and an element radiation pattern are assumed. It was found that although the system exhibits similar performance to a system with a single radiating element when radiating a beam on axis, it could be scanned some eight beamwidths off axis without significant deterioration in characteristics. Interestingly, it was discovered that there is a separation (about0.7lambdain this case) between the feed elements where the sidelobes become dramatically high, analogous to grating lobes in a phased array.     

线元天线阵列超短电脉冲传输特性实验研究

用脉冲电源产生亚纳秒高斯电脉冲给线元天线馈电,测试线元天线轴线能量的传输特性;实验结果表明:在相同轴线距离处,线元阵列天线轴线能量与单元天线轴线能量之比正比于天线阵列阵元数的平方;阵列天线轴线能量具有慢衰减传输特性;对线元阵列天线不同行、列作适当馈电延迟,可以实现辐射电磁波束的空间扫描.所有实验结果在误差范围内与理论计算结果符合.     

一种基于5G应用的圆极化微带相控阵天线

本文提出一款应用于5G频段,可实现方位面±40°波束扫描的圆极化微带相控阵天线。该相控阵天线单元是由矩形贴片、上下介质板、缝隙耦合馈电结构、金属反射板构成。利用切比雪夫综合法的一分八不等分功分器实现相控阵天线的馈电形式。测试结果表明,阵列天线的驻波比带宽为3.25 GHz～3.69 GHz,端口隔离度大于25 dB,扫描过程中增益最大为21 dB,增益衰落小于3 dB,最大扫描角处轴比为2.89 dB。该天线具有低剖面、高隔离度、高增益以及良好的波束扫描性能等优点。     

基于遗传算法的基站天线波束赋形设计

天线阵列俯仰面方向图的赋形设计在整个基站天线设计过程中是一项关键的技术。考虑互耦以及反射板影响的实际天线阵列,选择阵列中每个天线单元的馈电幅度和相位作为优化变量,采用遗传优化算法对天线阵列垂直面方向图的下半空间零陷填充和上半空间副瓣抑制等指标进行优化,结果满足要求,具有较强的实用性。     

一种微带缝隙阵列询问天线

介绍了一种单脉冲工作体制的微带缝隙阵列询问天线。设计了一副6 单元的微带缝隙阵列天线,通过选择合适的天线单元、调整馈电网络的幅相特性,使得天线阵列在13%的工作带宽内驻波小于1.6,差方向图获得良好的对称性,差波束零深低于-30dB,且和差波束不存在穿刺现象。显示了其良好的工程应用价值。     

基于SIW 的多波束CTS 阵列天线设计

文中设计了一款基于基片集成波导(SIW)的毫米波高增益多波束连续横向枝节(CTS)阵列天线,它 通过切换馈电端口实现多波束功能。该天线整体结构简单,采用印刷电路板工艺实现。天线主要包含馈电喇叭、平 面波转换结构以及辐射结构三个部分,由三层基板构成。馈源为基于SIW 的馈电喇叭,并在口径处添加匹配结构以 提高其辐射性能;平面波转换结构由SIW 抛物面和渐变耦合槽组成,可将馈电喇叭辐射出的柱面波转换为幅度服从 泰勒分布的平面波进而为CTS 阵列馈电,因此天线具有低副瓣的特性;辐射结构为1×8 的CTS 阵列,通过优化缝隙 宽度以保证每个单元辐射出相等的能量。天线工作在30 GHz,通过切换馈电端口可在±20°范围内实现波束切换,天 线测试结果与仿真结果吻合,验证了设计的合理性。     

An affordable millimeter-wave beam-steerable antenna using interleaved planar subarrays

Design and fabrication aspects of an affordable planar beam steerable antenna array with a simple architecture are considered in this paper. Grouping the elements of a phased array into a number of partially overlapped subarrays and using a single phase shifter for each subarray, generally results in a considerable reduction in array size and manufacturing costs. However, overlapped subarrays require complicated corporate feed networks and array architectures that cannot be easily implemented using planar technologies. In this paper a novel feed network and array architecture for implementing a planar phased array of microstrip antennas is presented that enables the fabrication of low-sidelobe, compact, beam-steerable millimeter-wave arrays and facilitates integration of the RF front-end electronics with the antenna structure. This design uses a combination of series and parallel feeding schemes to achieve the desired array coefficients. The proposed approach is used to design a three-state switched-beam phased array with a scanning width of /spl plusmn/10/spl deg/. This phased array which is composed of 80 microstrip elements, achieves a gain of >20 dB, a sidelobe level of <-19 dB and a 10-dB bandwidth of >6.3% for all states of the beam. The antenna efficiency is measured at 33-36% in X band. It is shown that the proposed feeding scheme is insensitive to the mutual coupling among the elements.     

An electromagnetic-field method modeling of a radial line planar antenna with coupling probes

This communications describes an electromagnetic model of a radial line planar antenna consisting of a radial guide with one central probe and many peripheral probes arranged in concentric circles feeding an array of antenna elements such as patches or wire curls. The model takes into account interactions between the coupling probes while assuming isolation of radiating elements. Based on this model, computer programs are developed to determine equivalent circuit parameters of the feed network and the radiation pattern of the radial line planar antenna. Comparisons are made between the present model and the two-probe model developed earlier by other researchers.     

抗干扰天线及天线阵列研究

本文对抗干扰天线及天线阵列进行了研究,提出了一种小型化的微带贴片天线,并使用该天线单元进行组阵。文中提出的立体天线阵列的主天线单元实现了宽波束和在低仰角方向上增益的改善,能够满足工程应用的需要。     

Effect of feed array configuration on the Field-of-View of radio telescope antenna

Phased Array Feed (PAF) is a small two-dimensional phased array antenna, playing a role as the multi-beam feed for the reflector antenna. The prominent capability of large continuous Field-of-View (FoV) coverage and fast survey speed makes PAF the promising feed for radio telescopes. In this paper, the effect of feed array of PAF on the gain fluctuations over FoV is analyzed on a simplified model of the Five-hundred-meter Spherical Aperture radio Telescope (FAST), including illumination pattern edge taper, element spacing, element arrangement and element amount. And the differences between rectangular and hexagonal array arrangements are compared. The relationship between the FoV and array configuration are concluded at last.     

Reflector radiation pattern from planar near-field measurements of array feed

High gain shaped beam antennas for satellite frequency reuse applications are almost exclusively obtained by the use of complex multielement feed arrays to provide pattern control in conjunction with offset reflectors to remove blockage effects. In the design of complex multielement feed arrays for offset reflectors, the element excitations are usually synthesized using the isolated element properties. Proper performance of the array often requires that these theoretical excitations be modified to account for the effects on the feed elements due to the array environment. Near-field planar probing of the fields of the feed array have been found to provide an efficient and accurate method of predicting the secondary performances, including cross polarization and axial ratio. The nearfield measurement technique, moreover, provides an extremely effective method of determining the element performance and for determining the required compensation for desired antenna performance.     

Design of a 74-MHz antenna for radio astronomy

Describes the design and construction of an 8000 m² 74-MHz phased array dedicated to measurement of the solar-wind velocity using the interplanetary scintillation (IPS) technique, and a simple and novel autocalibration system that measures and connects phase and amplitude errors to a level of 1° and 0.2 dB rms. In the IPS technique, intensity fluctuations of compact radio sources caused by plasma turbulence in the solar wind are observed with multiple antennas. The time lag between the antennas is estimated using a cross-correlation analysis. The primary requirement of such a system is sensitivity so that one may observe a large number of compact sources. A secondary requirement is high beam efficiency so that one may observe near the Sun. The scan angle was limited to allow the largest possible array element and thus the simplest feed system. The feed was designed to have independent phase and amplitude control of each element. Although this is not strictly necessary it permits the use of the feed as a phase switched interferometer with which any element can be correlated against any other group of elements. This provides a simple and accurate calibration of the entire array. The antenna was completely prefabricated, the site preparation was minimal, and the installation was quick and accurate. The system is remotely operated. The control information, system diagnostics, and data are transmitted over a leased telephone line. The entire system is powered by storage batteries charged by solar cells. In addition to IFS it has been used extensively for pulsar observations which have similar requirements     

Spatial spectral estimation using multiple beam antennas

The processing simplifications which result in using a multiple beam antenna (MBA) as a spatial sensor for performing spectral estimation are considered. Sources are presumed to be located over a two-dimensional field of view characterized by the two angular coordinatesthetaandphi. The MBA configuration consists of an aperture (usually either a reflector or lens) illuminated by a collection of feeds located in its focal plane (see Fig. 1), followed by a switch network for selecting the outputs of any desired feed port. Using the MBA as the spatial sensor for performing spectral estimation, as contrasted to the array antenna configuration, has a distinct advantage: for a given collection of source wavefronts incident on the aperture, a crude estimate of each source position is obtained simply by monitoring the power output of each feed port. This is to be contrasted to the array configuration, where the average output power of each element port is the same, so long as the wavefronts incident on the aperture emanate from uncorrelated sources. As shall be developed further, this initial crude estimate of source location can be used to develop refined estimates using processing algorithms which significantly reduce processing requirements when compared to those required using a comparable array when the number of anticipated sources existing over the field of view (FOV) is large. Finally, since the spectral estimate of the source location is essentially an "open-loop" estimate, involving a priori measured quantities such as the antenna port radiation patterns, we consider the effects of measurement errors on the estimate. The results are normalized so as to be generally applicable to both the array antenna configuration as well as for the MBA.