Heating patterns generated by phase modulation of a hexagonal arrayof interstitial antennas

In this paper, we investigate an array of six interstitial microwave antennas used for hyperthermia cancer treatment. The purpose is to generate both uniform and controlled nonuniform heating patterns in biological tissue by phase modulating the signals applied to each antenna. The array consists of six antennas positioned on the corners of a hexagon. The distance between two diagonal antennas is 4 cm. The distributions of absorbed power per unit mass within the array are computed, and then converted into temperature distributions through a thermal conduction simulation. The SAR and temperature patterns are presented in both the lateral plane (perpendicular to the antennas) and the axial plane (parallel with the antennas). By proper phase modulation of microwave signals applied to each antenna, a uniform heating pattern can be produced within the entire array volume. Also, a peripheral heating pattern may be generated around the array; again, by using the proper phase modulation. The modulation schemes for generating both types of heating patterns are discussed.     

Spatial polarimetric time-frequency distributions for direction-of-arrival estimations

Time-frequency distributions (TFDs) are traditionally applied to a single antenna receiver with a single polarization. Recently, spatial time-frequency distributions (STFDs) have been developed for receivers with multiple single-polarized antennas and successfully applied for direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation of nonstationary signals. In this paper, we consider dual-polarized antenna arrays and extend the STFD to utilize the source polarization properties. The spatial polarimetric time-frequency distributions (SPTFDs) are introduced as a platform for processing polarized nonstationary signals, which are received by an array of dual-polarized double-feed antennas. This paper deals with narrow-band far-field point sources that lie in the plane of the receiver array. The source signals are decomposed into two orthogonal polarization components, such as vertical and horizontal. The ability to incorporate signal polarization empowers the STFDs with an additional degree of freedom, leading to improved signal and noise subspace estimates for direction finding. The polarimetric time-frequency MUSIC (PTF-MUSIC) method for DOA estimation based on the SPTFD platform is developed and shown to outperform the time-frequency, polarimetric, and conventional MUSIC techniques, when applied separately.     

Circular array of outward sloping monopoles for vehicular diversityantennas

A circular array of outward-sloping monopoles is analyzed as a diversity antenna for vehicle rooftop mounting. The monopoles are assumed to approximate minimum scattering antennas, have sinusoidal current distributions, and reside on an infinite, perfectly conducting ground plane. The envelopes of the received signals are considered Rayleigh distributed. The advantage of the array configuration is that the feedpoint spacing can be made almost arbitrarily small, even for a large number of branches. A three-element array with element lengths of 0.6 wavelengths and feedpoint spacing 0.1 wavelengths operating at 463 MHz was field-tested and the results are in good agreement with the analysis     

The calculated and measured temperature distribution of a phasedinterstitial antenna array [invasive applicators]

The power deposition pattern of four antennas, positioned on the corners of a 2-cm square array with different driving phases, is computed under the assumption of negligible coupling between the antennas. The spatial SAR (specific absorption rate) distribution is calculated by modeling each interstitial applicator as an insulated, asymmetric dipole. For comparison with the heating patterns measured by a thermal video system, the calculated SAR distributions are converted into temperature patterns through an electric network simulation of the heating in artificial muscle tissue. At each nodal point of a grid in the thermal system, the absorbed microwave power (or SAR times density), thermal resistivity, heat capacitance, and temperature are simulated, respectively, as current source, electrical resistance, electrical capacitance and potential. Therefore, solving the equivalent electric network on a computerized simulation routine (SPICE) yields the temperature distribution. In both the axial and transverse planes, the resulting temperature distributions from the antenna array, with various driving phases, agree very well with the measured temperature patterns     

SAR Patterns from an Interstitial Microwave Antenna-Array Hyperthermia System

In recent years, a number of groups have been investigating the use of interstitial microwave antenna-array hyperthermia (IMAAH) systems for the treatment of superficial and deep-seated tumors. A critical parameter in any hyperthermia system is the SAR (specific absorption rate) pattern, which gives information about the energy absorption in the tumor and surrounding tissue. In this paper, we compare the theoretical and measured values of the SAR distribution for an array of four 915-MHz antennas implanted on the corners of a 2-cm square array. The overall length of the antennas was assumed to be 7 cm theoretically and was either 6 or 7 cm for the measurements. In general, there was good agreement between the theoretical predictions and the experimental results. In particular, both theory and experiment demonstrated that the maximum SAR occurred in the junction plane of the antenna array and at the center of the square array. Similarly, both showed that the Iongitudinal extent of the heating pattern is about 5 cm for a single antenna, but closer to 3 cm for an array where the Iongitudinal extent is defined by the length in the longitudinal direction where the SAR is greater than 50 percent of the maximum. The experiments showed that the SAR patterns were quite reproducible, and that the use of double stub tuners to minimize the reflected power for each antenna resulted in poorer SAR patterns due to phase variations created by the tuners. However, the use of an attenuator with each antenna to equalize the maximum SAR from each antenna did improve the SAR distributions slightly.     

Oscillating-beam smart antenna arrays and multicarrier systems: achieving transmit diversity, frequency diversity, and directionality

We introduce a novel merger of smart antenna arrays and multicarrier code-division multiple-access (MC-CDMA) systems. Here, each group of Q carriers in the MC-CDMA system is applied to its own M-element smart antenna at the base station (BS). The smart antennas are separated by a distance that ensures that signals generated by each smart antenna are independent. Applying proper time-varying phases to array elements of each smart antenna array, the beam pattern is carefully controlled to generate a mainlobe at the position of the intended user and small oscillations in the beam pattern. This beam-pattern oscillation creates a time-varying channel with a controllable coherence time and a time diversity benefit at the receiver. Employing MC-CDMA with the proposed antenna array at the BS, we achieve: 1) directionality, which supports space-division multiple access (SDMA); 2) a time diversity gain; 3) increased capacity and performance via MC-CDMA's ability to support both CDMA and frequency diversity benefits. Hence, merging MC-CDMA and BS antenna arrays in an innovative fashion, we achieve high performance at the mobile via joint frequency-time diversity, and high network capacity via joint space-code division multiple access.     

基于近场测试的相控阵天线自动化校准 与阵面监测方法

相控阵天线装配好之后,由于各组成部件机械加工误差、装配误差、部件老化更换和环境温度改变等因素,各 单元通道的初始幅相产生差异,因此必须对天线的所有系统进行校准。本文针对小型化相控阵平台,通过硬连接将相控 阵天线的波控系统与测试设备相结合,提出一种简便的自动化近场逐点校准方法。同时,本文还提出一种简单的外监测 方法。当相控阵天线工作期间,可对阵面的幅相分布进行监测。可在相控阵天线工作期间,对近场幅相校准数据进行修 正,达到阵面自身校准的目的。经对一个16阵元的相控阵天线进行实验测量可知,该自动化校准与阵面自身校准方法可 以准确、快捷测试出天线阵面的幅相分布。非常适合一维、二维相控阵天线,尤其是小型化相控阵天线的幅相校准与监 测。     

Performance of a modified feedback loop adaptive array with TVROsatellite signals

Performance of an experimental adaptive antenna array system is evaluated using television receive-only (TVRO) satellite signals. The experimental system is a sidelobe canceller with two auxiliary channels. Modified feedback loops are used to enhance the suppression of weak interfering signals. The modified feedback loops used two spatially separated antennas, each with an individual amplifier for each auxiliary channel. Thus, the experimental system uses five antenna elements. Instead of using five separate antennas, a reflector antenna with multiple feeds is used to receive signals from various TVRO satellites. The details of the earth station are given. It is shown that the experimental system can null up to two signals originating from interfering TVRO satellites while receiving the signals from a desired TVRO satellite     

Measurement of direction-of-arrival of coherent signals using five-port reflectometers and quasi-Yagi antennas

The measurement results of detection-of-arrival (DoA) of coherent signals using five-port reflectometers and quasi Yagi antennas are presented. The receiver operating at 2.4GHz consists of eight five-port reflectometers and a uniform linear array (ULA) of eight 2.4GHz quasi-Yagi antennas. The DoA is estimated by measuring the phase difference of signals pitched by the antenna array and by using the MUSIC algorithm associated with Spatial Smoothing Pre-processing (SSP). The phase difference is determined using the five-port technique. The measurement results show that the DoA of coherent signals are well estimated with a maximum error of 2/spl deg/. In addition, we also show that it is capable of estimating the time delay and direction of arrival simultaneously using the five-port technique.     

Design and testing of a feed network for a transparent antenna array

This paper describes the design and testing of a feed network for a transparent flat-plate array antenna. This antenna is the top of a stack of three antennas that must occupy the same volume while pointing in different directions. At many pointing angles, an antenna will create blockage for the antennas underneath. In order to minimize the blockage, the array and its transmission lines must be as transparent as possible to the antennas underneath. The flat-plate array consists of active elements over a frequency-selective surface (FSS) ground plane that is transparent at the frequencies of the antennas below it. The feed lines must also be transparent to the antennas below it. This is achieved by minimizing the total area occupied by the feed lines. Rather than the traditional corporate feed network, a series feed network was designed. Such a network requires that each individual feed point must be fed with a coupler, where the coupling coefficient is adjusted to distribute the same power to each array element. We show the details of the design of the network as well as a set of measurements that show the performance.     

Correlation and channel capacity of MIMO systems employing multimode antennas

A novel way of exploiting higher modes of antennas as diversity branches in multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) systems is introduced. Essentially, antennas employing multiple modes offer characteristics similar to an antenna array, through multiple modes and using only a single element. The physical mechanism that yields different received signals is the fact that each mode has a different radiation pattern. Analytical expressions for the correlation between signals received by different modes are presented for a biconical and a circular microstrip antenna that employs higher order modes. It is found that the correlation is low enough to yield a significant diversity gain. Furthermore, the channel capacity of a MIMO system using a multimode antenna, i.e., an antenna employing multiple modes, is found to be comparable to the capacity of an array. Since only one element is needed, the multimode antenna offers several advantages over traditional arrays, and is an interesting antenna solution for future high capacity MIMO systems.     

通信天线信道容量机电耦合建模及阵元位置灵敏度分析

以相控阵天线为代表的下一代通信基站天线正在向着高频段、高增益、高密度、高指向精度方向发展,机械结构因素对通信系统信道质量的影响与制约越来越明显、机电耦合问题越来越突出.为有效保证复杂环境下5G/6G通信容量目标的实现,本文针对通信基站相控阵天线的机电热耦合问题,建立了融合阵元位置偏移、姿态偏转及温度分布等因素的基站天线信道容量机电耦合模型,可据此快速评估射频器件发热环境下通信指标退化情况;构建了阵列天线电场强度与信道容量对阵元随机位置误差的灵敏度模型,分析比较了不同工作条件下各阵元随机位置误差对通信指标的影响规律.     

岸基远程高频表面波雷达小型宽带天线系统的设计

从高频表面波雷达天线工程的角度出发,基于对数周期天线的设计理论,优化设计了一副小型 宽带发射天线;基于端射阵理论,优化设计了一副小型宽带、具有大前后比的双鞭天线,并以此作为阵列天线的基本单元组成六元均匀线阵。文中分析了收发天线的工作原理,并给出了计算机模拟结果。     

一种低方向性的球形共形全向天线阵列设计

传统的球形共形天线阵列馈电网络复杂,每个天线单元需要单独馈电和控制相位,导致天线阵列效 率较低。文中提出了一种采用口径耦合馈电的单馈球面共形全向天线阵。为球形天线阵列设计了一个1 分30 的馈 电网络且直接集成在了阵列内部。这样可以通过一个端口给所有的天线单元馈电,从而降低了馈电的复杂度,提高 了天线效率。阵列的方向图在x-y 平面上是全向的。x-y 平面的增益变化小于1 dB,x-z 平面的半功率波瓣宽度约为 120°,实现了比传统全向更大的空间覆盖范围。天线的方向图最大增益为1 dBi。     

基于双基线比相测角的收发阵列天线设计

根据双基线比相测角的原理,规划出一条短基线与一条较长基线,经过仿真优化确定出三个接收天线之间的间距,最终设计出一款应用于24 GHz汽车防撞雷达且结构较为紧凑的一发三收的微带阵列天线。采用该收发天线进行测角,既可保证最大无模糊测角的范围,也可提高测角的精度。通过采用基于道尔夫-切比雪夫算法加权的串并联混合馈电网络,使该收发天线实现了高增益、低副瓣的特性。最终,对该一发三收天线进行了实物加工。根据实测结果可知:在中心频率24. 125 GHz处,该10×4 元发射天线与10×2 元接收天线的增益分别为23. 1 dB与19. 3 dB,方位面副瓣电平均小于-20 dB,并且方位面3 dB波束宽度均为8. 4°,满足设计需求。     

Control of the SAR Pattern Within an Interstitial Microwave Array through Variation of Antenna Driving Phase

The interstitial microwave antenna-array hyperthermia (IMAAH) system produces a pattern of specific absorption rate (SAR) that is nonuniform within a 2-cm square array driven in phase at 915 MHz. Theory and experiment show that the point of phase coherence (maximum SAR) can be shifted to a point where the SAR is small by changing the antenna driving phases. Rapid shifting makes the time-average SAR more uniform in the direction perpendicular to the antennas. In 95 percent of the antenna junction plane, the time-average SAR is constant within 10 percent.     

Efficient detection in uniform linear and planar arrays MIMO systems under spatial correlated channels

In this paper, the efficiency of various multiple‐input multiple‐output (MIMO) detectors was analyzed from the perspective of highly correlated channels, where MIMO systems have a lack of performance, besides in some cases, an increasing complexity. Considering this hard but a useful scenario, various MIMO detection schemes were accurately evaluated concerning complexity and bit error rate performance. Specifically, successive interference cancellation, lattice reduction, and the combination of them were associated with conventional linear MIMO detection techniques. To demonstrate effectiveness, a wide range of the number of antennas and modulation formats have been considered aiming to verify the potential of such MIMO detection techniques according to their performance‐complexity trade‐off. We have also studied the correlation effect when both transmit and receiver sides are equipped with uniform linear array and uniform planar array antenna configurations. The performance of different detectors is carefully compared when both antenna array configurations are deployed considering a different number of antennas and modulation order, especially under near‐massive MIMO condition. We have also discussed the relationship between the array factor and the bit error rate performance of both antenna array structures.     

窗函数在相控阵天线平面近场测量中的应用

有限扫描面截断是影响天线平面近场测量精度的主要误差源之一，尤其是对于波束扫描的相控阵天线的平面近场测量更是如此。为了减小相控阵天线平面近场测量中的有限扫描面截断误差，介绍了余弦窗函数并将其应用到相控阵天线平面近场测量中。计算机模拟结果表明，通过对近场进行加余弦窗的数据处理能够有效地减小有限扫描面截断误差。提出了对近场数据进行加余弦窗处理的适用条件。     

Direction of arrival estimation for more correlated sources than active sensors

In this paper, a new direction of arrival (DOA) estimation method for more correlated sources than active receiving antennas is proposed. The trick to solve this problem using only second-order statistics is to consider a periodic scanning of an underlying uniform array, where a single scanning period contains several time slots and in different time slots different sets of antennas are activated leading to a dynamic non-uniform array with possibly less active antennas than sources in each time slot. We collect the spatial correlation matrices of the active antenna arrays for all time slots and are able to present them as a linear function of the spatial correlation matrix of the underlying array. We provide a necessary and sufficient condition for this system of equations to be full column-rank, which allows for a least squares (LS) reconstruction of the spatial correlation matrix of the underlying array. Some practical greedy algorithms are presented to design dynamic arrays satisfying this condition. In a second step, we use the resulting spatial correlation matrix of the underlying array to estimate the DOAs of the possibly correlated sources by spatial smoothing and MUSIC. Alternatively, we can express this matrix as a linear function of the correlation matrix of the sources (incoming signals) at a grid of investigated angles, and solve this system of equations using either LS or sparsity-regularized LS (possibly assisted by additional constraints), depending on the grid resolution compared to the number of antennas of the underlying array.