Millimeter-wave Low Sidelobe Time Modulated Linear Arrays with Uniform Amplitude Excitations

The study of millimeter-wave low sidelobe linear arrays with time modulation technique is presented in this paper. Special emphasis is on the realization of low sidelobes with uniform amplitude excitations, which are easier for the practical implementation. Two types of time modulated linear arrays with uniform amplitude excitations, namely, the variable aperture size (VAS) linear arrays with optimized time sequences and the linear arrays with optimized random time sequences were studied. The optimized time sequences are obtained via the differential evolution (DE) algorithm and the genetic algorithm (GA). Many factors that affect the array performance are discussed.     

基于波导缝隙阵列的新型太赫兹频率扫描天线

为缩短太赫兹系统成像时间,该文提出将频率扫描天线应用于太赫兹成像系统中,并设计了一种基于波导缝隙阵列的太赫兹频率扫描天线。该文采用泰勒综合法降低副瓣电平,通过软件仿真结合功率传输法设计最优的缝隙分布。太赫兹波导缝隙阵列天线具有加工简单、成本低的优势,通过太赫兹准光测试系统对天线性能进行测试,实测天线扫描角度可达40°,增益约为15 dB,副瓣电平抑制优于–20 dB。测试结果表明太赫兹波导缝隙天线具有扫描角度大和副瓣低的优良特性,在太赫兹成像和目标探测等领域有巨大的应用价值。      

Synthesis of Optimal Sum and Difference Patterns from Time Modulated Hexagonal Planar Arrays

An efficient array synthesis technique is developed for the design of optimal monopulse antennas in time modulated planar arrays with triangular lattices and hexagonal boundaries. Major emphasis is laid on the realization of low sidelobe array patterns from uniform amplitude excitations, and the inherent sideband radiations in time modulated arrays are suppressed to a sufficient low level. The synthesis technique implements the differential evolution strategy (DES) as the optimization tool, and a fast computation method based on 2D Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) is employed to speed up the optimization. Numerical results show that with the aid of the time modulation technique, the sum, difference, and double-difference patterns are obtainable from an array with fixed uniform amplitude excitations, thus demonstrating the effectiveness and validity of the proposed technique.     

基于遗传算法和模拟退火的不等间距稀布阵的设计

副瓣电平在天线阵列的设计中是很重要的指标,已经有很多方法进行这方面的改进。该文在稀布阵概念的基础上,引入了距离微扰,提出不等间距稀布阵的模型,来进一步改善天线阵的副瓣电平,并且利用遗传算法和模拟退火对这种不等间距稀布阵进行了综合设计。给出了200元线阵和4020面阵的优化结果,从仿真结果可以看到天线副瓣电平得到了改善。     

Planar 64 element millimetre wave antenna

A simple 64 element planar array antenna, with H-plane sidelobes below -35 dB at larger angles than 19° from boresight and a gain above 30.4 dBi, is presented for the band 37.0-39.5 GHz. The radiating elements are fed in parallel by a waveguide feed network. The H-plane sidelobe level is reduced by using a combination of arrays, the zero in the element radiation pattern, and amplitude tapering     

The Pareto Optimization of Ultrawideband Polyfractal Arrays

The application of global optimization techniques, such as genetic algorithms, to antenna array layouts can provide versatile design methodologies for highly directive, thinned, frequency agile, and shaped-beam antenna systems. However, these methodologies have their limitations when applied to more demanding design scenarios. Global optimizations are not well equipped to handle the large number of parameters used to describe large- antenna arrays. To overcome this difficulty, a new class of arrays was recently introduced called polyfractal arrays that possess properties well suited for the optimization of large- arrays. Polyfractal arrays are uniformly excited with an underlying self-similar geometrical structure that leads to aperiodic element layouts. This paper expands on polyfractal array design methodologies by applying a robust Pareto optimization technique with the goal of reducing the peak sidelobe levels at several frequencies specified over a wide bandwidth. A recursive beamforming algorithm and an autopolyploidy based mutation native to polyfractal geometries are used to dramatically accelerate the genetic algorithm optimization process. This paper also demonstrates that the properties of polyfractal arrays can be exploited to create designs that possess no grating lobes and relatively low sidelobe levels over ultrawide bandwidths. The best example discussed in this paper maintains a dB peak sidelobe level with no grating lobes from a , to more than a minimum spacing between elements, which corresponds to at least a 40:1 bandwidth for the array.     

Study of the microstrip array

The design considerations of the microstrip array, the analytical expressions of the microstrip antenna (element), the approximate admittance formula of input admittance, and two designed antenna arrays are given. Rather good results have been obtained from the main performance of the designed antenna arrays, such as sidelobe level, VSWR, cross polarization level, and gain etc.     

Synthesis of Low and Equal-Ripple Sidelobe Patterns in Time-Modulated Circular Antenna Arrays

In this paper, the time modulation technique is applied into circular antenna arrays with uniform amplitude excitations for the synthesis of ultra-low sidelobe and equal-ripple radiation patterns. The differential evolution (DE) algorithm is adopted to optimize the excitation phases and the switch-on time intervals of each element of the time-modulated circular array (TMCA). Several low-sidelobe patterns synthesized from TMCAs were compared to those of the conventional circular arrays. Numerical results show that the TMCA can be successfully used for the synthesis of low SLLs even if the amplitude excitations are uniform. Supported in part by the Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No. 60571023, the New Century Excellent Talent Program in China (Grant No. NCET-06-0809), and in part by the 111 project of China (Grant No. B07046).     

Position-modulated phased array-space factor considerations

The space factor of an element position-modulated array is expressed as an Anger function series for a general amplitude distribution. The behavior of the main lobe and the diffraction sidelobes for uniform excitation are presented in the form of universal curves. It is found that the nulls near the main lobe disappear for the modulation index above a critical value. The peak level of the grating plateaus and their shapes are given in terms of approximate expressions and are exactly determined computationally. The nature of the curves suitable for design of such arrays for a given scan range and permissible peak sidelobe level is given. An example shows that a high resolution beam may be obtained with a comparatively smaller number of elements than required by a uniformly illuminated periodic array. An exact-series summation formula for the directivity of nonuniformly spaced antenna arrays of isotropic elements is given. The directivity of the modulated array computed by this formula shows a smooth variation at the ends of the scan range in contrast to the sudden fall in the case of the periodic array.     

一种微带天线阵的研究

本文叙述了一种微带天线阵的设计方法。给出了微带天线(元)分析表达式以及天线阵输入导纳近似公式。设计了两个天线阵。它的副瓣、驻波比、交叉极化、增益等都是较好的。从而验证了本方法的正确性。     

Minimum Sidelobe Levels for Linear Arrays

A method of finding the optimum sidelobe-minimizing weights for an arbitrary linear array is derived that holds for any scan direction, beamwidth, and type of antenna element used. Optimum linear array positions are then determined via the particle swarm optimization method. Hence, the two together can give a global bound on antenna array performance with regards to sidelobe minimization. Results are presented for linear arrays of 2-6 elements for different scan angles, beamwidths and antenna elements.     

Conformal four-beam antenna arrays with reduced sidelobes

Investigations on sidelobe reduction in multibeam conformal antenna arrays are presented. The recently presented concept of sidelobe reduction in planar multibeam antenna arrays in conjunction with the phase compensation technique has been applied for the design of reduced sidelobe multibeam conformal antenna arrays. Six- and eight-element antenna arrays fed by modified Butler matrices have been investigated and minimum radii have been found for which the sidelobe level is comparable to the respective planar multibeam arrays. A novel fully integrated six-element four-beam antenna array has been successfully designed in which sidelobes equal -14 dB for all four beams have been achieved.     

K波段低副瓣波导缝隙驻波阵设计

本文设计了一种 K 频段低副瓣波导缝隙驻波阵天线,给出了实现低副瓣的方法。设计副瓣电平为-27dB,缝隙幅度分布按-30dB 泰勒分布计算,结合高频仿真软件 Ansoft HFSS 对各缝隙归一化导纳进行计算,建立仿真模型并优化天线各参数。依据设计结果加工实物并测试其方向图及增益。测试结果表明,该天线在工作频带内波束宽度约 3°,副瓣电平小于-27dB,工作频带内增益大于 30.8dB,仿真结果与实测结果相符,设计满足指标要求。     

位置误差和相位误差对模块化阵列天线的影响

对于采用自定位设计的模块化阵列天线,推导了沿小x、y、z三个方向的单元位置误差和子阵位置误差的取值范围与天线副瓣累积概率的关系,以及相位误差的取值范围与天线副瓣累积概率的关系,表明了扫描角的变化对副瓣累积概率的影响.通过实例说明,在同样的位置误差下,具有不同排列方式的阵面的天线副瓣概率值是不同的.     

一种波导窄边裂缝天线缝隙倾角的改进方法

为减小波导窄边裂缝天线缝隙间互耦对天线性能的影响, 实现低副瓣的设计, 提出了一种倾角波动分布的设计方法.天线电流分布选用泰勒分布, 利用HFSS软件确定缝隙倾角初值, 在此基础上得到波动分布的倾斜角度, 并通过遗传算法对缝隙倾角进行优化.使用Matlab与HFSS软件联合仿真, 省略了建模、设置参数等大量操作, 提高了设计效率.基于此, 设计了一款长度为1.2 m的X波段波导窄边裂缝天线, 仿真发现副瓣电平比传统设计方法低2.17 dB, 加工了天线实物并进行了测试, 天线实测增益和副瓣电平分别为20.9 dBi和-28.7 dB, 验证了方法的有效性.     

一种高增益缝隙定向天线设计

为实现高增益低旁瓣的定向天线,设计了一种采用介质基片集成波导实现缝隙天线阵,并在辐射缝隙两边增加扼流槽,与传统的介质基片集成波导相比,大幅增加了带宽。最后实现了一介质基片集成波导天线阵,其带宽增加了8%,实际测试表明该天线具有高增益,低旁瓣,达到了设计要求。     

一种空气同轴馈电的X波段低副瓣阵列天线

设计了一种应用于雷达系统中的低成本低副瓣阵列天线, 该天线阵包含256个辐射单元, 由四个64单元的子阵组成, 采用波导合成网络进行功率合成.天线单元采用空气同轴馈电的角锥喇叭, 空气同轴馈线内外导体呈方型结构, 其终端为短路馈电方式, 实现了内导体的自支撑设计和较低的传输损耗, 并依据综合幅度分布采用若干数量的不等功分器进行低副瓣设计.测试结果表明, 小于2的驻波带宽为0.5 GHz, 相对带宽为7.5%.另外, 中心频率的增益为30 dB, 增益大于29.5 dB的带宽为0.2 GHz, E面和H面的旁瓣电平为28.5 dB和29 dB.     

波导窄边缝隙阵列天线的分析与设计

波导窄边缝隙阵列天线由于效率高、功率容量大、稳定性好及副瓣电平低等特性,在雷达体制上使用广泛。对于单一波导窄边缝的隙线阵,根据设计指标,首先分析其理论模型并给定理想的设计参数,再利用Ansoft公司的HFSS软件的参数扫描及优化功能,通过局部调整设计参数就可以方便地得到缝隙的谐振结构。利用这种设计方法可以快速得出所需要的低副瓣窄边波导缝隙阵列天线。     

Whitening of sidelobe powers by pattern switching in radar array antenna

Presented here is a concept for nearly eliminating bias errors in reflectivity and velocity estimates due to power received through antenna sidelobes of pulse Doppler radars. The antenna pattern is switched from pulse to paise among specially designed patterns, with near identical main lobes, but with sidelobes having randomly distributed phases and amplitudes. The sidelobe signal then becomes incoherent without affecting the coherency of the main lobe signal. The whitened sidelobe signal does not bias the mean velocity estimate computed by Doppler processing, and an unbiased estimate of reflectivity can be computed with the knowledge of the mean whitened power level. Pattern design criteria and a method for the design of optimum patterns are developed for a linear array. The extent of sidelobe reduction by way of whitening has been studied in detail for special case of only two patterns switched randomly using a pseudonoise sequence. Pattern switching realizes an effectively low sidelobe pattern without sacrifice of main lobe resolution. A possible extension to two-dimensional arrays is suggested.