Journal of Electromagnetic Analysis and Applications, 2013, 5, 201-204 201

http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/jemaa.2013.55032 Published Online May 2013 (http://www.scirp.org/journal/jemaa)

Overlapped Subarray Architecture of an Wideband

Phased Array Antenna with Interference Suppression
Capability
Quazi Md. Alfred, Tapas Chakravarty2, Salil Kumar Sanyal3
1
Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, University Institute of Technology, University of Burdwan, Burdwan,
India; 2Tata Consultancy Services, Kolkata, India; 3Department of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering, Jadavpur Uni-
versity, Kolkata, India.
Email: [email protected]

Received February 2nd, 2013; revised March 5th, 2013; accepted March 18th, 2013

Copyright © 2013 Quazi Md. Alfred et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License,
which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

ABSTRACT
This paper presents a novel architecture of combining the linear array of antenna elements, where each antenna element
has digitally selectable true time-delays as weights. Use of time-delays for beam-formation inherently makes the phased
array network a wideband system. In particular, this technique envisage a new method of sharing antenna elements, by
fixed overlapped sub-array architecture, which is able to maintain permissible element spacing to avoid grating lobe in
antenna pattern. Moreover, this scheme additionally offers an easier null steering capability to the subarray architecture.
This method essentially eliminates the need for intensive computation of complex weight vectors attached to each an-
tenna element.

Keywords: Phased Array; Subarray, Time-Delay; Overlapped Array

1. Introduction menting a phased array system which is capable of ad-

justing beam tilt angle, pattern shape and interference
An electronically steered phased array antenna system
suppression preferably over multiple contiguous frequency
may be setup with phase shifters connected to each radi-
band of operations at low cost overheads. Till date a
ating element which in combine, transmits (receives) in
wideband, fully steerable array using digitally controlled
directive way. By selecting appropriate phase gradient
programmable time-delay units with the additional facil-
between successive radiating elements, it is possible to
ity of precise null-suppression is prohibitively costly.
steer the beam away from the boresight (that is normal to
To overcome this problem, the subarray based feeding
the plane of the radiating elements). In most applications
mechanism using both phase shifters and time-delays
[1-6], a complex weight is used for each element, where
the relative amplitude and phase gradient between suc- were proposed by Mailloux [11]. The subarray feeding
cessive elements determine the beam tilt from boresight may be conventional or overlapping. The method shown
and the sidelobe level. But phased array systems display in Ref. [12], defines an elaborate architecture of using
a problem of undesired beam squint for wideband appli- phase shifters in the main array combined by Butler ma-
cations. The quality of beam shape and angular accuracy trix and time delays in the subarrays combined by corpo-
worsen with the increase of signal bandwidth, size of rate feed, can be used for above mentioned benefits. The
aperture and steering angle. This is due to the fact that architecture utilizes the concept of complex weight opti-
phase shifters introduce nearly identical phase shift for mization for adaptive interference suppression. It is pos-
other frequency of operation also, whereas the require- sible to place one (multiple) null(s) in the presence of
ment is that of having a relative phase shift value propor- strong interference by adaptive sidelobe cancellers or by
tional to the change in frequency. This problem is over- optimizing the complex weight coefficients. Though
come by use true time delays instead of phase shifters these methods are popular for null formation but require
[7-10]. Moreover, in the rapidly evolving wireless com- extra hardware, computational resources and therefore
munication systems there is a growing need for imple- cost. One solution in this regard is to control the signal

Copyright © 2013 SciRes. JEMAA

202 Overlapped Subarray Architecture of an Wideband Phased Array Antenna with Interference Suppression Capability

characteristics at the subarray level. Often a large subar- tern as A0 = 0, A1 = 1, A2 = 0 and B0 = 0, B1 = 0, B2 = 1,

ray is divided into few subarrays where time delays are then inter-element differential delay or delay gradient
used at subarray level and phase shifters are used at an- becomes +2 T. Among 64 possible combinations only
tenna levels. R. L. Haupt has elaborated a subarray null seven (7) are useful as the other combinations are either
formation technique by optimizing complex weights in redundant or they do not conform the condition men-
the subarray level [13] One major challenge in subarray tioned previously.
scheme is controlling the grating lobe which is undesir- Let, A0 = 0, A1 = 0, A2 = 1 and B0 = 0, B1 = 1, B2 = 0 or
able in beam shaping as well as null placements. This has phase gradient   T  π 6 and inter-element dis-
been solved by using partially overlapped subarray tech- tance d   2 , then the beam is steered to the angle
nique where the overlap extent is optimized [14]. approximately 100 deg (99.6 deg) or 10 deg Eastward
There are challenges for setting up an electronically direction from broadside (90 deg). Only the seven (7)
steerable phased array system which is simultaneously non-redundant combinations and corresponding beam
wideband, programmable, very simple architecture re- positions are given in Table 1. Hence the main beam
quiring minimum additional hardware like power com- (SUM pattern) can be steered to seven (7) discrete posi-
biners and splitters, minimum computational efforts for tions in the space by loading proper digital bits from the
suppressing deterministic interference (where the angle microcontroller output. Resolution can be enhanced by
of arrival of jamming signal is known). There is also a adding more levels vertically to the feeding lines across
need for array antenna technologies for the evolving each antenna elements.
multiband and multistandard radio commonly called
Software Defined Radio.
The principal objective of the present communication
is to provide improved overlapped subarray architecture
for the following requirements:
To develop wideband phased array system with pro-
grammable beam forming capability;
To null at the angle of interference.

2. Time-Delayed Matrix at Antenna Level

Unlike conventional use of phase-shifters in beam-for-
mation, focus is given here on time-delay units (de-
lay-lines). The time-delay unit inserts progressive phase
gradient between antenna elements, hence by designing a
Programmable Switching Matrix (PSM) beam steering
and beam synthesis [9,10,12] is possible which is ex-
plained as follows. This offers the advantage in designing
a wideband phased array system.
Let in Figure 1, a six (6) element linear array is arbi-
trarily chosen where the antenna elements are separated
by distance “d” and is connected with two levels of delay
elements. In each level, every antenna is connected
through three parallel path having delay elements, multi- Figure 1. PSM for 6-element linear array.
ples of unit delay T (here T  π 6 ) are selected by SP3T
(Single Pole Three Throw) PIN switches. Here, A and B Table 1. Switching pattern for 6 element linear array and
are the PIN switches where A0, A1, A2 and B0, B1, B2 are corresponding beam direction.
the six (6) control inputs and corresponding logical bits. Digital bit pattern Equiv.
Angular SUM
Inputs to the switches may be controlled (ON/OFF) by 8 SL Delay Phase
position of the beam
bit-microcontroller where only 6 bits are required for this No. A0 A1 A2 B0 B1 B2 gradient gradient
main beam direction
(β)
situation. In each level, at least and at most only one path 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0T 0 90˚ Broadside
of delay element is selected and the delay elements of the 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 +2 T +π/3 109.5˚ Westward
two levels are added to provide total delay and hence 3 1 0 0 0 0 1 –2 T –π/3 70.5˚ Eastward
4 0 0 1 0 1 0 +T +π/6 99.6˚ Westward
delay gradient. This condition therefore demands some 5 0 1 0 0 1 0 +3 T +π/2 120˚ Westward
bit pattern to be redundant. 6 1 0 0 0 1 0 –T –π/6 80.4˚ Eastward
For example, microcontroller sets the switching pat- 7 1 0 0 1 0 0 –3 T –π/2 60˚ Eastward

Copyright © 2013 SciRes. JEMAA

 Overlapped Subarray Architecture of an Wideband Phased Array Antenna with Interference Suppression Capability 203

3. Overlapped Subarray Architecture for Fs    F   S    (3)

Interference Rejection
Figure 3 depicts the sum pattern of 7-element linear
Another requirement of this communication is to provide array of isotropic radiators with the main beam at bore-
steerable nulls to the direction of arrival (DOA) of inter- sight direction (θ = 90˚). Assuming that the jamming or
ferences. interference signal is known to be getting injected from
Here a linear array of N numbers of radiating elements an angle of θ = 60˚, we place a null there, by setting the
is divided into two (M = 2) subarrays, each consisting of digital phase shifter with a value that is a function of co-
(N − 1) elements as shown in Figure 2. The two hori- sine of 60˚. This is shown in Figure 4.
zontal subarrays are overlapping to an extent of (N − M) Main beam can be steered to other angles also and
elements. Thus, the element locations that are grouped in similarly null can be imposed to the interference angle.
only one of the two subarrays, are the 1st element and the The use of time-delay matrix at the array level ensures
Nth element. Hence, this structure maintains the spacing wideband scanning system while the use of multibit
in both element level as well as subarray level as the same. digital phase shifter at the subarray level ensures a pre-
Each antenna element, at the main array level, is con- cise null placement for a given frequency of jamming
nected to a programmable time delay matrix which offers signal.
limited scanning at the discrete angular positions. The
outputs of the time-delay matrix for individual elements
are combined to form two subarrays as explained before.
At the subarray level, the outputs of the two subarrays
are combined in a manner where a multi-bit digital phase
shifter is connected to any only one of the subarrays.
The introduction of multi-bit phase-shifters at the su-
barray level offers null forming option at various posi-
tions. For the null formation, phase shifter at subarray is
finely tuned to form difference pattern at the predeter-
mined angle of strong interference arrival. Thus, when
the angle of arrival of jamming signal is known, a simple
expression is evaluated to compute the phase shifter
value required to be imposed in the subarray level. This
phenomenon is illustrated through the mathematical
formulation by Equation (1) to Equation (3).
The sum pattern F   of the N linear elements in
each subarray is given by the following expression.
N 1
F     exp   jn  (1)
n0

where,   kd cos    , phase constant k  2π  , dx Figure 2. Overlapped subarray architecture for linear array.
is inter-element spacing, θs is the elevation angle form
the end-fire direction, β is the phase difference required
to maintain between antenna elements.
The main beam (sum pattern) will be formed to the
desired direction (target) θ0 at ψ = 0 or essentially phase
gradient will be maintained as   kd cos  0 .
Again, the difference pattern of M No. of subarray is
expressed by following equation.
S  
M 2 1 M 1 (2)
  exp   jn   exp   jπ   exp   jn 
n 0 nM 2

where   kd cos    and difference pattern with

broad null will be in α0 direction (interference) when
  kd cos  . Hence the resultant pattern Fs   is
given by following. Figure 3. Sum pattern at broadside (90˚) direction.

Copyright © 2013 SciRes. JEMAA

204 Overlapped Subarray Architecture of an Wideband Phased Array Antenna with Interference Suppression Capability

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