Sequential phase feeding algorithm with minimal beam pointing error for centrosymmetric planar array antenna

Phased array antennas using digital phase shifters for beam steering are characterized by beam pointing error. This study proposes a sequential phase feeding algorithm (SPFA) with minimal beam pointing error for a centrosymmetric planar array antenna. The theoretical expression of a beam pointing error caused by phase quantification error is derived. On the basis of the derivation results, the phase shift of each element is sequentially quantified through truncating or carrying to achieve a smaller beam pointing error. The proposed algorithm improves the beam pointing accuracy of the centrosymmetric planar array antenna, and the computational load is acceptable. Simulation results verify the effectiveness of SPFA.     

Ten switched‐beams with 2 × 2 series‐fed 2.4 GHz array antenna and a simple beam‐switching network

This article presents a 2 × 2 series fed 2.4 GHz patch antenna array having multiple beam switching capabilities by using two simple 3 dB/90° couplers to achieve required amplitude and phase excitations for array elements with reduced complexity, cost and size. The beam switching performance with consistent gain and low side lobe levels (SLL) is achieved by exciting the array elements from orthogonally placed thin quarter‐wave (λ_g/4) feeds. The implemented array is capable to generate ten (10) switched‐beams in 2‐D space when series fed elements are excited from respective ports through 3 dB quadrature couplers. The dual polarized characteristics of presented array provide intrinsic interport isolation between perpendicularly placed ports through polarization diversity to achieve independent beam switching capabilities for intended directions. The implemented antenna array on 1.575 mm thick low loss (tan δ = 0.003) NH9450 substrate with ε_r = 4.5 ± 0.10 provides 10 dB return loss impedance bandwidth of more than 50 MHz. The measured beam switching loss is around 0.8 dB for beams switched at θ = ±20°, Ф = 0°, 90°, and 45° with average peak gain of 9.5 dBi and SLL ≤ ?10 dB in all cases. The novelty of this work is the capability of generating ten dual polarized switched‐beams by using only two 3 dB/90° couplers as beam controllers.     

Design and evaluation of a vertically integrated passive two‐dimensional beam switching antenna array at 60 GHz

A millimeter‐wave two‐dimensional (2D) beam switching planar microstrip patch antenna array excited by a 4 × 4 substrate‐integrated waveguide Butler matrix (BM) is presented in this article. The BM architecture is modified to feed the planar array in a vertically integrated multilayer design to minimize parasitic effects due to junction discontinuity and reduce the radio frequency (RF) front‐end footprint. This feed architecture enables the designer to control the phased array inputs to achieve a set of beam directions in four quadrants of radiation space at a desired elevation angle. For verification of beam switching via over‐the‐air measurements at 60 GHz, a bench‐top anechoic chamber with proper transmitter and receiver antenna positioners was designed and fabricated using in‐house laboratory resources. 2D beam steering was confirmed in the intended four quadrants of radiation space at ?₀ = 50°, 140°, 220°, and 300° and θ₀ = 30° ± 5°, meeting the design specifications with a very good margin. Each switched beam demonstrated between 5 and 6 dBi gain at 60 GHz, which is within 1 dB deviation from the simulated results.     

相位激励赋形多波束形成算法分析及仿真实现

数字波束形成是天线技术与数字信号处理技术结合的产物,是智能天线实现空分多址的关键技术.采用相位激励赋形多波束形成技术,给出了智能天线数字多波束形成的优化算法,利用该算法对均匀圆环阵天线各单元权值进行计算,仿真实现了均匀圆环阵天线多波束方向图,在不同方向上同时得到了多个波束.该算法计算复杂度低,空间隔离度好.阵元呈圆环状分布,具有全向搜索特性,克服了直线阵搜索的缺点.该方法还可用于任意单元构成的不均匀阵列天线,以及波束展宽和扇形波束的形成.     

Hybridized estimations of support vector machine free parameters C and γ using a fuzzy learning strategy for microphone array-based speaker recognition in a Kinect sensor-deployed environment

The support vector machine (SVM) is a popular classification model for speaker verification. However, although SVM is suitable for classifying speakers, the uncertain values of the free parameters C and γ of the SVM model have been a challenging technique problem. An improper value set provided for the free parameter pair (C, γ) can cause dissatisfactory performance in the recognition accuracy of speaker verification. Moreover, the sound source localization information of the collected acoustic data has a large effect on the recognition performance of SVM speaker verification. In response, this study developed a sound source localization-driven fuzzy scheme to help determine the optimal value set of (C, γ) for the establishment of an SVM model. Specifically, this scheme adopts the estimated information of time difference of arrival (TDOA) derived from the Kinect microphone array (containing both the angle and distance information of the acoustic data of the speaker), to optimally calculate the value set of the SVM free parameters C and γ. It was demonstrated that speaker verification using the SVM with a properly estimated parameter pair (C, γ) is more accurate than that with only an arbitrarily given value set for the parameter pair (C, γ) on recognition rate.

     

A novel 3D frequency domain SAGE algorithm with applications to parameter estimation in mmWave massive MIMO indoor channels

In order to reduce the cost and power consumption of radio frequency (RF) chains in a millimeterwave (mmWave) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system, hybrid analog/digital beamforming (HBF) can be utilized to reduce the number of RF chains. The HBF consists of an analog beamforming (ABF) stage and a digital beamforming (DBF) stage. The ABF is always realized by using phase shifters and the DBF is done in a low-dimensional digital domain. However, phase shifters have several drawbacks, such as high power consumption and inconsistency of insertion loss. In this paper, we propose an energy-efficient HBF structure to handle these problems, which utilizes the Butler phase shifting matrix in the ABF stage. With the Butlermatrix- based ABF, several fixed beam directions can be obtained, and the best beam directions of different Butler matrices can be chosen by using exhaustive search. To reduce the high complexity of exhaustive search, we further provide a low complexity HBF algorithm. Simulations under the conditions of perfect channel state information (CSI) and estimated CSI verify the effectiveness of our proposed Butler-matrix-based HBF structure and related algorithms.

     

Disturbance Compensation Based Discrete-time Sliding Mode Control with a Reference Trajectory Generator

A novel disturbance compensation based sliding mode reaching law with a reference trajectory generator is presented in this work. Unlike existing similar researches, a reference trajectory generator is added to the reaching law to obtain the target evolution of the switching function. Meanwhile, a high order disturbance estimator is utilized to achieve accurate disturbance rejection. Additionally, by using the nonlinear functions, the controller parameters can be adaptively adjusted in a wise manner. The main merit of the presented method is that it is capable of ensuring a much smaller ultimate bound of the switching function, i.e., O(Tⁿ⁺¹) order accuracy and n is a positive integer, better system robustness, and improved control accuracy. Moreover, system dynamics, including the system states, are theoretically analyzed. The performance improvement of the presented method is verified through a real simulation study.

     

Compact circularly polarized beam‐switching wireless power transfer system for ambient energy harvesting applications

In this work, we propose a circularly polarized (CP) beam‐switching wireless power transfer system for ambient energy harvesting applications operating at 2.4 GHz. Beam‐switching is achieved using a low profile, electrically small CP antenna array with four elements and a novel miniaturized 4× 4 butler matrix. The CP antenna is designed with an e‐shaped slot and four antennas. The CP antenna measures 0.32 λ₀× 0.32 λ₀× 0.006 λ₀ at 2.4 GHz. The antenna has a gain of 3 dBic and an axial ratio less than 3‐dB at 2.4 GHz. A linear antenna array consisting of four elements is designed with the CP antenna element with an inter‐element distance of 0.29 λ₀ . A 4× 4 butler matrix with miniaturized couplers and crossovers are used to feed the four antenna array elements. Based on the input port of excitation, the main beam of the antenna array is demonstrated to be switched to four directions: ?5°, 65°, ?55°, and 20°. A CP rectenna is used to demonstrate the wireless power transfer capability of the combination of the butler matrix and the CP‐antenna array. The rectenna consists of a Teo‐shaped CP antenna and a rectifier. The open circuit voltage at the output of the rectenna is found to peak value of 30 mV at ?3°, 61°, ?53°, and 17°. Thus a complete system for CP wireless power transfer including the power transmission system as well as the RF energy harvesting sensor is designed and experimentally verified.     

Frequency‐dependent behavioral‐model‐based nonlinear analysis and design of a low‐profile transmit active phased array antenna

Design and behavioral‐model‐based nonlinear analysis of a 3‐GHz active‐phased array antenna (APAA) are presented. Four nonlinear power amplifiers are employed in the output ports of the feeding network (FN) and analyzed based on a 5‐order polynomial model with frequency‐dependent coefficients. The FN is based on 4‐port new Gysel power dividers and combiners arranged in such a way to feed the array with Gaussian‐like amplitude and in‐phase distributions. Beam steering capability is obtained in 2 directions by a new technique including a phase shifter and an amplitude controller (AC). The features result in a low‐profile APAA whose design and fabrication complexity and cost are reduced. Single and 2‐tone power tests are performed to develop analytical expressions in nonlinear region for array factor as a function of the model, FN and the phase and ACs. A similar system with frequency‐independent model is also analyzed for comparison in terms of scan loss, beamwidth, side‐lobe level, beam position, and gain. A microstrip array antenna including the power amplifiers, pre‐amplifiers, AC, delay‐line‐based phase shifters and Gysels is fabricated and measured. The simulation results at the single and dual tones and the intermodulation products are presented which have a good agreement with the measurements.     

Reconfigurable multibeam feed network for 38 GHz application

A feed network based on substrate integrated waveguide for 38 GHz application is proposed in this article. The network consists of a 90° hybrid, a 180° hybrid, a power divider, and a switchable phase shifter. There are two input ports in the reconfigurable multibeam feed network (RMBFN) and a set of symmetrical radiation pattern will be excited by the two input ports. In addition, the other symmetrical patterns will be obtained by adjusting the different states of the switchable phase shifter. The simulated results show that the S₁₁ and S₂₂ are found to be better than ?13 dB over 37‐40 GHz. Meanwhile, the amplitude of the three output ports is about ?6.6 ± 1 dB, and the phase difference is ±60 ± 10° or ±120 ± 10°. When the proposed RMBFN feeds for an antenna array, four different beams with the main beam pointing to the ±22 ± 3° and ±43 ± 3° are obtained.     

切换拓扑一阶积分器网络量化趋同控制

针对数字信道中传输的是经过量化和编码后的数据,研究了切换拓扑情况下连续时间一阶积分器网络中的量化趋同问题.通过均匀量化器,每个智能体将量化后的状态传输给邻居,并利用所得信息设计协议,实现量化趋同.在所提出的量化趋同协议下,所有状态将在有限时间内进入包含状态均值的量化层中.特别地,对于通信拓扑是时不变的情况,给出了实现量化趋同所需时间的上界.仿真结果验证了所提出算法的有效性.     

A quantized water cycle optimization algorithm for antenna array synthesis by using digital phase shifters

In this article, a quantized water cycle algorithm (QWCA) is used for the antenna array pattern synthesis with low side‐lobe levels (SLLs) and nulls at desired directions by using four‐bit digital phase shifters. In addition to the standard features as a metaheuristic algorithm, QWCA has an internal quantization mechanism and a precalculated array factor method. The latter provides an accelerated procedure to QWCA under favour of the digitized values that can be stored in a three‐dimensional array. This acceleration is based on the reality that the accessing data in the memory need less time than the usage of the mathematical functions throughout the optimization process. The internal quantization mechanism of QWCA is utilized to achieve digital values matching to the discrete values of the phase shifter instead of the simple rounding up/down routines after optimization. The numerical results showed that QWCA can obtain very good SLLs and null depth levels (NDLs) on the synthesized pattern. Moreover, the results are achieved in remarkably short optimization times. SLL and NDL values obtained by QWCA are also compared with the available literature values. The comparisons reveal that QWCA is able to produce better results than the other compared alternatives. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE 25:21–29, 2015.     

Photogrammetric processing of high-resolution airborne and satellite linear array stereo images for mapping applications

This article introduces a mathematical model for photogrammetric processing of linear array stereo images acquired by high-resolution satellite imaging systems such as IKONOS. The experimental result of the generation of simulated IKONOS stereo images based on photogrammetric principles, IKONOS imaging geometry and a set of georeferenced aerial images is presented. An accuracy analysis of ground points derived from the simulated IKONOS stereo images is performed. The impact of the number of GCPs (ground control points), distribution of GCPs, and image measurement errors on the ground point accuracy is investigated. It is concluded that an accuracy of ground coordinates from 2 m to 3 m is attainable with GCPs, and 5 m to 12 m without GCPs. Two data sets of HRSC (high resolution stereo camera) and MOMS (modular opto-electronic multispectral stereo-scanner)-2P are also utilized to test the model and system. The presented data processing method is a key to the generation of mapping products such as digital terrain models (DEM) and digitial shorelines from high-resolution satellite images.     

An efficient algorithm for identifying objects using robot probes

When robot finger probes are used to recognize objects,m-1 probes are necessary and sufficient to identify an object with a fixed orientation and position among a set ofm convex planarn-sided objects. An algorithm is presented to preprocess a set of objects for efficient probing, together with a probing scheme and algorithms to delete objects from or to insert objects into the set.     

Two dimensional coupled oscillators array with rhombus structure and its application in active antenna array

Beam scanning and forming can be achieved by coupled oscillators array without phase shifter. Active antenna array based on coupled oscillators array has the virtue of low cost, high integration, and high efficiency. Traditional two dimensional coupled oscillators array has been arranged on rectangular lattices, and phase difference of adjacent elements is limited to [-90°, 90°]. Therefore, the beam scanning range is limited to [-30°, 30°] from normal for half wavelength element spacing. A new two dimensional coupled oscillators array with rhombus structure is presented. Phase control method and phase error of the array are also provided. Stability of the array is analyzed, and stable condition is given. When this coupled oscillators array with rhombus structure is used in active antenna array, theoretical results show that phase difference of adjacent elements reach the limit of [-180°, 180°] along the horizontal and vertical directions. Therefore, it has wider beam scanning range than that of a rectangular lattice structure.     

Design of multi‐beam antenna based on Rotman lens

A planar Rotman lens antenna that generates multiple beams is presented over a wide angular range. The proposed multi‐beam antenna consists of a Rotman lens and a ten‐element printed Yagi antenna array. By properly comparing optical aberrations, expressing as the normalized path length errors Δl, the suitable ratio of on‐axis to off‐axis focal length (g = G/F) is acquired so as to minimize phase errors for the array elements. Ten dummy ports are employed to reduce the performance deterioration caused by energy reflection. A prototype with seven input ports was fabricated and measured, covering a wide scanning angle of 60° (–30°, 30°). The measured beam patterns show that the seven beam gains are distributed from 11.9 to 13.6 dBi under operating of 8.15 GHz. Both the simulated and measured results are used to verify the design approach.     

一种基于微粒群算法修正相控阵相位量化误差的方法

针对相控阵天线波束指向受数字移相器量化相位影响而偏离预定指向的问题,从理论上研究了微粒群算法的应用模型,根据随机馈相的基本原理,修正了算法中微粒位置和速度因子的活动范围,计算机仿真的结果验证了该方法可行性和有效性。     

Two‐dimensional beam‐scanning using tapered slot antennas and piezoelectric transducers

A wideband phased array is demonstrated using antipodal exponentially‐tapered slot‐antenna (ATSA) arrays operated by piezoelectric transducer (PET)‐controlled phase shifters. A 4 × 4 ATSA array is designed to scan two‐dimensionally across the entire X‐band. The phase shifters for 2D scanning consist of two sets of multiline phase shifters controlled by the PET for scanning in both planes. The 2D phased array has an antenna gain greater than 8 dBi, including all losses due to the phase shifters and transitions, and shows a wide beam‐scanning capability greater than 30° in both the E‐plane and the H‐plane. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE, 2006.     

有源相控阵天线远场测试系统设计

为解决某型有源相控阵天线辐射特性测试占机时间长、系统不稳定、交付能力不满足生产需求等问题,开展了有源相控阵天线辐射特性校准与测试技术研究。针对被测产品体积小、频段高、天线单元多以及交付数量大的特点,选择了较为合适的远场测试系统的设计方案。测试系统硬件构成复杂,包含微波暗室、接收转台、发射扫描架、测控单元、水冷系统等;测试软件涉及项目多,包含幅度相位校准、方向图测试、指向精度补偿测试、等效全向辐射功率（EIRP）测试、有源增益测试等。重点对微波暗室尺寸设计、高精密转台精度分析、幅度相位校准算法和波束指向误差补偿技术进行了详细论述,完成了该型有源相控阵天线远场测试系统的软、硬件设计。测试系统精度高、动态范围大、运行稳定。该设计方案具有较好的推广价值。     

A compact configuration of semicircular metasurface loaded slot antenna for beam steering application

In this article, a compact beam steering antenna configuration is presented. The proposed structure comprises a semicircular radially gradient metasurface (SCRGM) and a slot antenna. This metasurface (MS) with the dimensions of 3.17λ₀² covers only half of the antenna aperture by placing it at a height of 0.16λ₀ from the slot antenna. The SCRGM is made up of four different semicircular regions, which introduce progressive phase delay to the impinging spherical electromagnetic waves from the slot antenna. The placement of the SCRGM tilts the main beam by 30° away from the normal direction. Furthermore, in‐plane movement (rotation and translation) of the SCRGM facilitates beam steering in the elevation plane (E‐plane) with the total scanning range of 60°. Moreover, in simulation, two SCRGMs are placed at both sides of antenna aperture to independently control the beam directions in both upper and lower hemispheres of the slot antenna. Due to the symmetry of the slot antenna, only one SCRGM is tested during the measurement process and the same outcome is expected for the other MS. Considerably small volume (0.50λ₀³) of the structure revealed compact antenna configuration. Moreover, independent control of the beam directions in both of the hemispheres makes proposed antenna a suitable candidate for various applications.