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Monday Patel

The document provides an overview of phased array antennas, including: - Types of arrays such as linear, planar, and conformal arrays - Applications including ground-based radar, airborne radar, space communications, and radio astronomy - Design considerations for linear and planar arrays including element spacing to avoid grating lobes, array distributions to control sidelobe levels, and analysis software - The Embrace radio astronomy demonstrator array used a design with 8x8 dual-polarized Vivaldi antennas on a 1m tile to achieve scanning to ±45 degrees at 1421 MHz while controlling costs.

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Sam Ahmed
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61 views38 pages

Monday Patel

The document provides an overview of phased array antennas, including: - Types of arrays such as linear, planar, and conformal arrays - Applications including ground-based radar, airborne radar, space communications, and radio astronomy - Design considerations for linear and planar arrays including element spacing to avoid grating lobes, array distributions to control sidelobe levels, and analysis software - The Embrace radio astronomy demonstrator array used a design with 8x8 dual-polarized Vivaldi antennas on a 1m tile to achieve scanning to ±45 degrees at 1421 MHz while controlling costs.

Uploaded by

Sam Ahmed
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 38

Fundamentals of Phased Arrays

26th November 2007

Parbhu D. Patel
ASTRON,
The Netherlands

Parbhu Patel

Overview of the
presentation
Introduction
Types of arrays
Application of Phased arrays
Linear and Planar Arrays
Radiation patterns scanning
Array design and Grating lobes
Array distributions
Embrace example

Parbhu Patel

Phased Array Antennas


introduction
Phased array is a directive antenna made with individual
radiating sources (several units to thousands of elements).
Radiating elements might be: dipoles, open-ended waveguides,
slotted waveguides, microstrip antennas, helices, spirals etc.
The shape and direction of pattern is determined by relative
phases amplitudes applied to each radiating element.
A phased array antenna offers the possibility to steer the beam
by means of electronic control (a dedicated computer is
required).

Parbhu Patel

Different types of phased arrays


The collection of radiators can be on any of the following
different type of surfaces, such as:
LINEAR ARRAY:
Elements arranged on a straight line in one dimension
PLANAR ARRAY:
Elements arranged on a plane in two dimensions (rectangular,
square or circular aperture)
CONFORMAL ARRAY:
Elements are distributed on a non planar surface

Parbhu Patel

Applications of Phased Arrays

Ground based multi-function radar for military use

Airborne radar for surveillance (RBE2)

Parbhu Patel

Application continued
Spaceborne SAR and communications for remote
sensing

Recently for radio astronomy

Parbhu Patel

Linear array radiation pattern


A linear array is made of N elements uniformly fed,
spaced by a distance d

Phase shift between adjacent


sources:
= 2 . .(d/) . sin
( = angle of incidence)

sin N

Ea( )

Ga( ) :=

. sin ( )

d
sin . sin ( )

Ea( )

)2

N
Parbhu Patel

For scanning the beam

thetas := 0.0
E( ) :=

d := 0.5

A expj 2 d i sin sin thetas


i

180.0
180.0

Typical scanning angle


Typical gain losses
Half power beamwidth

Array Factor

600
G(a) = G(O) Cos a
3dB(a) = 3dB(a)/ Cos(a)

Parbhu Patel

Principles for beam scanning

Time delay

Phase Shift
( also Freq Scan)
Fix

Single Beam

Variable (very wide


instantaneous bandwidth )

Multiple beam (Rotmans Lens)

OR combination of phase and time delay


Parbhu Patel

3db Beamwidth and scanned


beam for a linear array

Radiation Pattern Characteristics


e.g. Radiation pattern for a linear array of N elements with d/ = 0.5:
- half power beamwidth: 3dB = 102/N

0r (3dB() = 0.88/(d/) in radians

3dB() = 3dB(0)/Cos()
- First side lobe 13.2 dB below the main lobe
- when directive elements are used, the resultant pattern is the product of
the array pattern Ga()by the individual source pattern Ge().
G() = Ge() x Ga()
Ge() = element factor
Ga() = array factor
Gain G = G( ) x cos()

Parbhu Patel

10

Gain as a function of scan angle

Parbhu Patel

11

Linear array radiation pattern


GRATING LOBES:
|Ea ()| is maximum whenever sin = n/d
Main lobe at sin = O
Other maxima are grating lobes:
- Grating lobes are undesirable and must be avoided
- they appear for n = 1, 2, etc...
- for d/2 = 0.5 - sin >1 - no (real) grating lobes
- if d/ = 1 grating lobes appear at = 90
To prevent grating lobe, the element spacing d must satisfy:
d/ 1/(1+Sin max)
Pattern for n=10 @ d/ = 0.5
Grating lobe

Parbhu Patel

12

To re-cap - the avoidance of


the grading lobe condition:
To prevent grating lobe, the element spacing d must
satisfy:
d/ 1/(1+Sin max)
Some new definition have been introduced recently:
Dense Array if d/ < 0.5
Sparse Array if d/ > 0.5
Personal opinion is that there is no need for a new definition as
the above condition explains everything.
To avoid GL completely, we must keep d/ 0.5 for ALL
frequency
Sparse array already has a different meaning in array antenna
design terminology (thinned arrays, density tapered array etc)

The conditions hold for planar geometry also


Parbhu Patel

13

Planar Array radiation pattern


The radiation pattern of a two dimensional planar array can be written
as the product of radiation pattern in the two planes which contain the
principal axes of the antenna:
G(a, e) = G1(a) x G2(e) (array separability: f(x,y) = f(x) * f(y)
Normalised radiation pattern of a uniformly
illuminated rectangular array:
N = No of elements in a dimension with d spacing
M = No of elements in e dimension with d spacing
Comments:
Equations used for modelling arrays but no account of mutual coupling is included
In the design phase mutual coupling must be included otherwise radiation patterns will
degrade and will have a poor match.

Parbhu Patel

14

Array distributions

To design an array with lower sidelobes we have many


different types of array distributions available to us. e.g.

Uniform simplest with first sidelobe level at about -13 dB

Dolph - Tchebyschev all equal sidelobes at any level

Modified Sin x/x distribution - 1st sidelobe is specified (Taylor oneparameter distributions

Taylor n-bar distribution ( specified no of equal sidelobes)

Taylor circular Aperture (2 D arrays)

there are many others.. (See Hansen Phased array Antennas, Wiley)

Parbhu Patel

15

Examples of different distributions

Example of Dolph-Tchebyscheff
@sidelobe level of -20, -30 and 40DB

Parbhu Patel

Example of Nbar Taylor distribution


@ n bar =2 , -40db

16

So exactly() how do we design


a phased array? (1)

We will consider the case for Embrace design

Start with the size ( or 3dB() requirements or gain

We require approx 1m x 1m tile ( or in s) and many hundreds of tiles


(as we had done before for ThEA)
The size also gives us an idea for the analysis of the phased array
(finite or infinite)

How do we fill this aperture?


We need scan requirements
Astronomer normally say all the way down to horizon i.e. 90 deg.

Consider the frequency range of operation


Highest and lowest frequency
(For Embrace we chose about 1550MHz to 400MHz)
Determine spacing such that scan requirements are met at the
frequency of operation

It is these parameter you have to optimise for - Normally !!!


Parbhu Patel

17

So exactly() how do we design


a phased array? (2)

For Embrace we also had to optimise for cost!

For cost optimisation, we sometimes over design or under design slightly,


(negotiate the performance)

As Embrace is a demonstrator there was no need to stick to the numbers


produced on frequency and scan reqt so rigidly.

( Scan up to 90 deg and up to Neutral Hydrogen frequency 1421MHz)


/2 at 1421 MHz = 21/2 = 10.5 cm i.e. about 9 el x 9 el
We chose 8 el x 8 el which gives 12.5 cm spacing in 1metre.
12.5 cm spacing gives scan of up to between 40 and 45 degrees at 1421
MHz
We considered this acceptable. (Dense, Sparse, closely packed ??? etc.)

Sometimes there are additional parameters which also needs to be


considered for optimisation.
Weight ( Not considered here)

Parbhu Patel

18

Analysis

Once you have approximate dimensions, you need to


analyse with correct software

Determine exactly what you want out from the


software e.g. for a phased array, designed on an
infinite array basis, one needs the VSWR (reflection
coefficient) v Scan and Frequency.

Use only the verified the software. (or write your


own but verify extensively.)

Parbhu Patel

19

Comments:

Must not overdesign too much otherwise it will be


costly

Significant cost reduction will come from a proper


design

Continue to make sanity checks at each level

Lets see how we have used these comments for


Embrace design

Parbhu Patel

20

Antenna concepts

Parbhu Patel

21

Baseline design of the radiators


Design Vivaldi with a stripline feed configuration

Similar design to THEA safe approach

Parbhu Patel

22

Verification of Simulation
software

Parbhu Patel

23

Simulated performance for


Vivaldi with Stripline feed
(Embrace)
VSWR vs. Frequency

= 0 & = 0
= 0 & = 30

Using PB - FDTD software

VSWR

5
4
3
2
1
0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.2

Frequency (GHz )

Parbhu Patel

1.4

1.6

1.8

2
x 10

24

Actual tile

Parbhu Patel

25

Measured 8 x 8 Array
ACT =

p = q =

00, pq

exp{ j (k sin cospDx)} { j (k sin cosqDy)}

q
3

C-43

C-33

C-23

C-13

C03

C13

C23

C33

C-42

C-32

C-22

C-12

C02

C12

C22

C32

C-41

C-31

C-21

C-11

C01

C11

C12

C33

C-40

C-30

C-20

C-10

C00

C10

C20

C30

-1

C-4-1

C-3-1

C-2-1

C-1-1

C0-1

C1-1

C21

C3-1

-2

C-4-2

C-3-2

C-2-2

C-1-2

C0-2

C1-2

C2-2

C3-2

-3

C-4-3

C-3-3

C-2-3

C-1-3

C0-3

C1-3

C2-3

C3-3

-4

C-4-4

C-3-4

C-2-4

C-1-4

C0-4

C1-4

C2-4

C3-4

-4

-3

-2

-1

0.3 GHz, x
1.2 GHz, 4 x 4
Parbhu Patel

26

Smith Chart
Normalised to feed line
impedance: 70 ohms
0.3 1.4 GHz
H-Plane 0 - 45
E-Plane 0 - 45

Parbhu Patel

27

Migration to Low cost and


Dual polarisation
Single sided Vivaldis and a microstrip feed
Simple construction and low cost

Parbhu Patel

28

Simulated performance for


Vivaldi with Microstripline feed
VSWR vs. Frequency
8

= 0 & = 0
= 0 & = 30

Using PB - FDTD software

VSWR

5
4
3
2
1
0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.2

1.4

Frequency (GHz )
Parbhu Patel

1.6

1.8

2
x 10

29

Chosen antenna type from all


the possible options

Parbhu Patel

30

Possible practical design of


Vivaldis

Parbhu Patel

31

Embrace Tile

Parbhu Patel

32

Parbhu Patel

33

Aluminium Radiator with microstrip feed

Parbhu Patel

34

Element pattern as a function of frequency


(for Embrace Vivaldi antennas)

E-Plane

H-Plane

Parbhu Patel

35

Element pattern as a function of spacing

H plane element pattern for a centre element of a 7 x 9 element /2 dipole array

Larger the spacing, smaller the allowed scanned region before the GL appears
Scanned blindness appears just before the emergence of the GL
Spacing not only restricts the scanned region but also narrows the element pattern
before the analysis, the basic design process must be understood

Parbhu Patel

36

References
Hansen R. C., Phased Array Antennas, Wiley
Mailloux R., Phased Array Antennas Handbook, Artech
House
Brookner, E. Practical Phased Array Antenna Systems,
Artech House

Parbhu Patel

37

Thank you

Parbhu Patel

38

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