Thinned arrays using genetic algorithms

Large arrays are difficult to thin in order to obtain low sidelobes. Traditional statistical methods of aperiodic array synthesis fall far short of optimum configurations. Traditional optimization methods are not well suited for optimizing a large number of parameters or discrete parameters. This paper presents how to optimally thin an array using genetic algorithms. The genetic algorithm determines which elements are turned off in a periodic array to yield the lowest maximum relative sidelobe level. Simulation results for 200 element linear arrays and 200 element planar arrays are shown. The arrays are thinned to obtain sidelobe levels of less than -20 dB. The linear arrays are also optimized over both scan angle and bandwidth.<>     

Least squares pattern synthesis for conformal arrays

The problem of synthesising low sidelobe beams from conformal arrays consisting of few elements and large radius of curvature is addressed. Experimental results are presented for a 12 element array of linearly polarised elements forming a faceted array with radius of curvature 1.5 m. It is shown that by calculation of an aperture correcting matrix, sidelobe levels of 40 dB can be obtained from the array by application of conventional linear array Taylor weights. Beam steering is achieved by aperture phase tapering while low sidelobe levels are maintained     

空间扫描柱面轴向偶极子阵的低副瓣控制

本文利用约束非线性最优化方法，研究空间扫描柱面轴向偶极子阵的低副瓣综合问题。     

Design of Broadband Planar Arrays Based on the Optimization of Aperiodic Tilings

Antenna arrays based on aperiodic tilings have been shown to exhibit low sidelobe levels and modest bandwidths over which grating lobes are suppressed. In addition, compared to conventional periodic arrays, these arrays are naturally thinned (i.e., mean inter element spacing is greater than ). The generation of these arrays involves placing array elements at the locations of the vertices of an aperiodic tiling. To obtain a realizable design, the entire array is then scaled and truncated to achieve a desired minimum element spacing and aperture size. This paper demonstrates that it is possible to greatly extend the bandwidth of these arrays by incorporating a simple perturbation scheme into the basic array generation process. The implementation of this perturbation scheme is straightforward and it lends itself well to being combined with an optimization technique such as the genetic algorithm. It is successfully used to generate arrays that have large bandwidths (peak sidelobe level dB with no grating lobes) of up to a minimum element spacing of . Moreover, the flexibility of this technique will be further demonstrated by introducing a slight variation of the basic scheme that is capable of generating arrays with extremely wide bandwidths. An example will be presented for an array design that has a bandwidth corresponding to a minimum element spacing of up to .     

Phase-only synthesis of minimum peak sidelobe patterns for linearand planar arrays

Minimization of the maximum sidelobe level for a given array geometry by phase-only adjustment of the element excitations is considered. Optimum phases are obtained by using a numerical search procedure to minimize the expression for the pattern sidelobe level with respect to the element phases. Results for both linear and planar arrays of equispaced elements are presented. The data suggests that optimum sidelobe level is a logarithmic function of array size, and optimum patterns have relative efficiencies that are typically somewhat greater than for comparable-amplitude tapered arrays. An analytic synthesis algorithm is presented for use on very large arrays for which the numerical search technique for the minimization of the sidelobe level is computationally impractical. This method produces patterns with characteristics similar to arrays synthesized using the numerical search method, i.e. relatively uniform angular distribution of energy in the sidelobe region, and generally decreasing maximum sidelobe level as the array size is increased     

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.     

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.     

固态有源相控阵天线多阶振幅量化及副瓣特性的研究

本文研究了多阶振幅量化二维低副瓣固态有源相控阵天线的口径设计方法，结果表明，这种方法能够有效地降低固态有源相控阵的峰值副瓣电平，并且可适且于任意复杂口径天线。另外，对于随机幅相误差和单元（或Ｔ／Ｒ组件）失而引起的增益损失及峰值副瓣电平恶化也进行了分析。     

A probabilistic approach to large circular and spherical arrays

Antenna arrays with elements distributed at random in a three-dimensional space are studied. Arbitrary excitation and nonisotropic elements are considered. The distribution of the sidelobe level below a certain value for all directions of observation, as well as other probabilistic properties are determined approximately. These general results are then applied to circular and spherical arrays. In particular, for the latter case, conical log-spiral antennas are considered in some detail. It is found that for large arrays with high resolution, the required number of elements can be several orders of magnitude smaller than what is commonly required on the basis of one element per(lambda/2)^{2}Finally, a few experiments simulated by the Monte Carlo method were conducted and excellent agreements with theory have been found in all cases.     

Application of retrodirective beams to achieve low sidelobe levelsin small phased arrays

Synthesis of beams with low sidelobe levels is a difficult problem for the case of small phased arrays with few elements. Mutual coupling between elements means that conventional weighting algorithms are not applicable. A technique is presented that calculates a complex weight vector for a five element linear array, giving a reduced sidelobe beam pattern. Sidelobes are reduced by the addition of retrodirective beams to the quiescent beam pattern. No knowledge of the coupling coefficients or element radiation patterns is required     

Low sidelobe design considerations of large linear array antennas with contiguous subarrays

Design of large array antennas with contiguous subarrays and having very low sidelobe levels of the order of - 40 dB is discussed. The effects of the amplitude quantization, phase quantization and the number of subarrays on the radiation patterns of contiguous arrays are studied, and results are presented for both sum and difference patterns. A linear array of length200 lambdawith different number of contiguous subarrays and having true time delay steering at the subarray level and phase steering at the element level is analyzed. It is shown that peak sidelobe/quantization lobe levels better than - 39 dB for the sum patterns and better than - 35 dB for the difference patterns can be realized withinpm 60degscan and 0.3 percent bandwidth.     

Planar fractal-tree arrays derived from cellular automata

A two-dimensional cellular automata is used to derive two novel planar fractal-tree arrays. The maximum Euclidean size, element count and the radiation pattern functions of a fractal stage are expressed in terms of easily computable recurrence relations. Computed results show that these have a better sidelobe performance for a low thinning factor and element count than some other fractal and algorithmically optimised non-fractal arrays     

基于副瓣峰值控制的天线阵方向图综合

在干扰入射方向,自适应天线阵方向图会产生零陷,使副瓣电平降低。根据自适应阵列的这一特性,应用一种基于最大输出信噪比准则的改进自适应算法对天线阵进行方向图综合。假定有大量干扰信号施加到方向图副瓣区,通过只对副瓣峰值电平进行控制调整加权值,降低副瓣电平,得到满足副瓣要求的目标方向图,使算法得到简化。可以应用于不等间距直线阵列和矩形平面阵的方向图综合问题。考虑了阵元间的互耦及阵元方向图特性的影响。仿真结果证实了该算法是可行的。     

Distribution of sidelobe level in random arrays

The probability of peak sidelobe level of a random array is obtained for any given probability density of element positions. The method is based on the sampling theorem for band-limited functions. These results are applicable to small as well as large arrays. In the case of large arrays, they coincide with those obtained earlier by Lo through a different argument. In addition, this method shows the effect of probabilistic distribution of the elements on the sidelobe level.     

The peak sidelobe of the phased array having randomly located elements

A formula is derived for the peak sidelobe level of a phased array in which the elements are randomly located. The parameters of the formula are the number and size of the array elements, size of the array, wavelength, beamsteering angle, and signal bandwidth. The theory is tested by measurement of the peak sidelobe of several hundred computer-simulated random arrays. Unlike the case for the conventional array the effect of spatial taper (nonuniform density of element location) upon the peak sidelobe level is minor. The peak sidelobe of the two-dimensional planar array is approximately 3 dB higher than that of the linear array of the same length and same number of elements.     

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。     

任意形状旁瓣波束形成技术研究

在自适应零陷形成的基础上,提出了一种自适应加权算法,用于任意阵型阵列构成具有任意形状旁瓣的波束图,并考虑基元方向性对波束图的影响.给出了实现自适应加权算法的三个步骤,预先设定所需旁瓣形状及旁瓣级,采用循环,最终使旁瓣与预设形状吻合.将该算法用于均匀线阵和抛物线阵,均得到期望的结果,并与道夫-切比雪夫加权作了相应比较.研究表明,基元的方向性对该算法波束形成的影响很小,新算法可以消除基元宽带方向性对波束的影响.     

Be/spl acute/zier representations for the multiobjective optimization of conformal array amplitude weights

For conformal phased arrays, generally the excitation amplitude of the array elements must be adjusted in order to maintain low sidelobes as the array is scanned. While the desired phase weights for maximum gain are deterministically set by the array geometry and scan angle, the representation of optimum low sidelobe amplitude weights remains an open problem. Following up on prior work using the efficiency-constrained optimization of a modified Bernstein polynomial for low sidelobe conformal array synthesis, a Be/spl acute/zier surface is shown to provide a good representation of the optimized amplitude weights with a reduced number of parameters, while demonstrating /spl epsiv/-constraint multi-objective optimization of conformal aperture efficiency versus sidelobe level. These results are extended to include a Be/spl acute/zier volume representation for the multiobjective optimization of conformal aperture efficiency versus both sidelobe level and scan angle.     

Study of Low Sidelobe Time Modulated Linear Antenna Arrays at Millimeter-Waves

In this paper, the time modulation technique for the design of low sidelobe antenna arrays is extended to millimeter-wave frequency band. Millimeter-wave rectangular waveguide is selected as the element radiators of linear antenna arrays, and the element radiation patterns are taken into account in the analysis and design of low sidelobe time modulated linear arrays. Two types of time modulation, namely, the time modulated variable aperture sizes (VAS) and unidirectional phase center motion (UPCM), are implemented in the design of low sidelobe millimeter waveguide linear arrays. It is observed that both the co-polarized and the cross-polarized components will experience the time modulation effect simultaneously. Many factors that affect the array performance are discussed.     

An experiment on antenna arrays with randomly spaced elements

An experimental investigation on the planar array with randomly spaced elements was made by using the holey-plate technique. Two sample arrays, each consisting of 210 elements over a circular aperture of about 56 wavelengths in diameter, were tested at 71.25 GHz. The measured sidelobe levels were -12.8 dB and -13 dB, in excellent agreement with the theory which predicted below -12.8 dB with 90 percent probability and -13.3 dB with 50 percent probability. Further, one may consider the pattern in each plane cutting through the antenna as that of a linear random array. Thus one may study the sample distribution of the sidelobe levels of as many linear random arrays as cuts. The results showed a nearly perfect agreement with the theory, despite the fact that in the theory the mutual coupling effect was neglected altogether. This experiment seems to suggest that when the average element spacing is of the order of a few wavelengths or more, the net coupling effect on the pattern of a random array is generally negligible.