N-element Linear Array

Outline
▪ Uniform Linear Array
▪ Working Principle
▪ Construction
▪ Design
▪ Pattern
 Working Principle
The antennas we have studied so far have all been
omnidirectional – no variation in φ. A properly spaced collection of
antennas, can have significant variation in φ leading to dramatic
improvements in directivity.

A Ka-Band Array Antenna

 Working Principle
An antenna array can be designed to give a particular shape of
radiating pattern. Control of the phase and current driving each
array element along with spacing of array elements can provide
beam steering capability.

For simplification:
➢ All antenna elements are identical
➢ The current amplitude is the same feeding each element.
➢ The radiation pattern lies only in xy plane, θ=π/2
The radiation pattern then can be controlled by:
➢ controlling the spacing between elements or
➢ controlling the phase of current driving for each element
 Outline
▪ Uniform Linear Array
▪ Working Principle
▪ Construction
▪ Design
▪ Pattern
 Antenna Arrays -Construction

The procedure of two-element array can be extended for an

arbitrary number of array elements, by simplifying assumptions :

➢ The array is linear → antenna elements are evenly spaced, d

along a line.

➢ The array is uniform → each antenna element driven by same

magnitude current source, constant phase difference, between
adjacent elements.
 Outline
▪ Uniform Linear Array
▪ Working Principle
▪ Construction
▪ Design
▪ Pattern
 Antenna Arrays -Design

I s1 = I 0 , I s 2 = I 0 e j , I s3 = I 0 e 2 j ,.... I sN = I 0 e j (N −1)
 Outline
▪ Uniform Linear Array
▪ Working Principle
▪ Construction
▪ Design
▪ Pattern
 Antenna Arrays - Pattern
The far field electric field intensity :  = kd cos + 

E 0 S (tot ) = j 0
I 0 ke− jkR
4R

1 + e j + e j 2 + ... + e j ( N −1) a r
E(total) = [E(single element at reference paint)]x[array factor ]
This product commonly referred as pattern multiplication for array
The array factor is a function of
▪ Number of element
▪ Geometrical arrangement of elements
▪ Relative amplitudes and phase excitation of
elements
▪ Inter element spacing

Array factor does not depend on the directional characteristic of the

radiating elements.
Antenna Arrays - Pattern

AF = 1 + e+ j( kd cos + ) + e+ j 2( kd cos + ) + ... + e j( N −1)( kd cos + )

AF =  n−1 e j ( n−1)( kd cos + )

N

( − )

N j n 1
AF = e
n =1

 = ( kd cos +  )
 Antenna Arrays - Pattern
Multiplying both side by

( AF )e j = e j + e j 2 + e j 3 + ......+ e j ( N −1) + e jN

Subtracting equation (7) from equation (8)

( ) (
AF e j − 1 = − 1 + e jN )
e jN − 1  e j ( N / 2) − e − j ( N / 2) 
Or AF = = e j( N − 1) / 2  
e j − 1  e j (1 / 2) − e − j (1 / 2) 

  N    N 
 sin 2     sin 2   
AF = e j( N − 1) / 2   AF =  
 
 1    1  
sin   sin  
  2  
 2  
 Antenna Arrays - Pattern
Thus normalized A.F
  N 
sin  
1   2  
( AF ) N =
N 1  
 sin  
 2  
 First Null location
Null of the array can be found by equating (12) to zero

i.e. at point at which numerator becomes zero

,
N
 = 0 = p p = 1,2,3,... p  N ,2 N ,3N...
2
2 p
 =
N
2 p
kd cos  +  =
N

 1  2 p 
cos  =   −  
 kd  N 
 First Null location
 1  2 p 
 = cos −1 =   −   p = 1,2,3,... p  N ,2 N ,3N ...
 kd  N 

− 1    2 p  (14)
 = cos =   −,  
 2d  N 

Equation (14) gives the first null location

 Main lobe Location
Peak of array will be at point where maximum of equation
(12) occurs when

=
1
(kd cos +  )  = m =  p p = 0,1,2,...
2 2

 
 m = cos − 1  (−   2 p ) p = 0,1,2,... (15)
 2d 

The main beam appears at an angle at which all element

add in phase and it occurs when p=0
Thus  −  
 m = cos  −1
 (16)
 2d 

Equation (16) gives the main beam location

Half Power Beamwidth
 Sinc function

SYNC FUNCTION PLOT pp739 Balani

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 Side lobe location
The normalized A.F (equation 13) has secondary maximum
(minor lobes) when the numerator attain its maximum value
i.e.
N  N 
sin   = sin (kd cos  +  )  1
 2  2   = s

This maximum occur at angle

N
(kd cos +  ) =  2 p + 1   p = 1,2,3,...
2  2 

(kd cos +  ) =  (2 p + 1)  

 N 
 Side lobe location

    2 p + 1  
 = cos  −1
−      p = 1,2,3,... (21)
 2d   N   ,

    2 p + 1  
s  
− sin −1  −      p = 1,2,3,...
 2d
2
  N   ,

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Basically equation (13) is a SYNC function
Maximum of the first side lobe from AF equation (13)
occurs when

N N 3 
= (kd cos +  )  =s     (22)
2 2 2 
or

   3  
 s = cos 
−1
−   N  
(23)
 2d 
 Broadside Array
In many application it is required to have the maximum
radiation of array directed normal to the axis of the array
(Broadside;  = 90o)
 Broadside Array
• The design is to optimize such that maximum of single
element and of the array factor should both be directed
toward  = 90o

• The requirement of single elements are accomplished by

judicious choice of the radiators.

• The requirement of array factor met by the proper

separation and excitation of the individual radiators.
 Broadside Array
From equation (12) and (13)
The maximum of the array factor occurs when
ψ = kd cos  + β = 0
Since it is desired to keep the maximum directed towards =
90o
Then  = kd cos  = 90o =  = 0 (24)
Thus to have the maximum of the array factor of a uniform
array, it is necessary that all the elements have the same phase
excitation along with same amplitude.
 Grating Lobes
• One of the objectives in many designs is to avoid
multiple maxima, in addition to the main maximum,
which are referred to as grating lobes.

• Often it may be required to select the largest spacing

between the elements but with no grating lobes.

• To avoid any grating lobe, the largest spacing between

the elements should be less than one wavelength (dmax
< λ).
Radiation Pattern of Broadside Array
Radiation Pattern of Broadside Array
 End - fire array
Instead of having the maximum radiation on the broad
sides of the axis of the array, it is directed along the axis
of the array either =0o or 180o
 End - fire array
To direct the maximum towards =0o
 = kd cos +   = 0 0

kd + β = 0

 = - kd

To direct the maximum towards =180o

 = kd cos +   =180 0

-kd + β = 0

β = kd
 Condition for End-Fire Radiation
• If the element separation is d = λ∕2, end-fire radiation
exists simultaneously in both directions (𝜃 = 0º and 𝜃
= 180º).
• If the element spacing is a multiple of a wavelength
(d = nλ, n = 1, 2, 3,…), then in addition to having
end-fire radiation in both directions, there also exist
maxima in the broadside directions.
• To have only one end-fire maximum and to avoid
any grating lobes, the maximum spacing between the
elements should be less than dmax < λ∕2.
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 Summary
• Learnt the radiation mechanism and pattern of N
element array with uniform amplitude and spacing

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 Summary

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 Test Your Understanding
A uniform linear broadside array of 4 elements are placed
along the z-axis each a distance d apart.
(a) Write the normalized array factor in simplified form.
(b) For a separation of d = 3λ∕8 between the elements,
determine the:
1. Approximate half-power beamwidth (in degrees).
2. Approximate directivity (dimensionless and in dB).

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 References

1. Constantine A. Balanis, “Antenna Theory Analysis

and Design”, Third edition, John Wiley India Private
Ltd., 2005.

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