Multiple beams enabled 2D and 3D shaped beam synthesis in planar phased array antennas

Abstract

The function of a phased array antenna is to generate a highly focused newlinesingle pencil beam pattern. This radiation pattern strongly depends on the array newlinegeometry, amplitude, and or phase weights of the individual elements in the newlinearray. Uniform amplitude and progressive phase difference between the array newlineelements is required to steer the beam toward any intended direction. Further, newlineadditional amplitude weighting to the elements helps reduce the sidelobe levels. newlineEven though the theory of phased array existed over the years, the advancement newlinein analog, digital, and mixed-signal integrated chip technologies enabled a new newlinearea of beamforming and pattern synthesis for commercial applications. newlineThe phased array antennas can generate shaped and contour patterns newlinefrom the same aperture with a proper weighting of individual elements using newlinepattern synthesis methods. The Phased array pattern synthesis has extensive newlineapplications in wireless communications, cellular mobile communications, newlineradar systems, satellite communications, secure military communications, and newlineothers. Synthesis of desired radiation patterns using a minimum number of newlineantenna elements and a faster weights calculation are the primary challenges newlinefor the designers. The existing synthesis and optimization methods focus newlineon fixed shaped and contour patterns and are lacking in computing the newlinedynamically changeable pattern generations. Many practical applications newlinedemand pattern synthesis with dynamically changeable excitation weights newlinefollowing environmental conditions. The limitations are due to the synthesis newlinecalculation and optimization convergence time of the algorithms used. newlineThis research presents a novel computation method to newlinesimultaneously generate multiple pencil beams from a single planar aperture of newlinea passive electronically steerable array. newline