An optimal time modulated compact circular antenna array design using a stochastic optimization technique

ABSTRACT

This paper presents a time modulated far-field radiation pattern synthesis of a compact circular antenna array (CAA) by employing a stochastic optimization technique known as grey wolf optimization (GWO). The compactness of the antenna array is achieved by reducing the inter-element distances between the elements of the array which leads to the miniaturization of the antenna array size. On the other hand, an optimal far-field radiation characteristic is achieved by suppressing the side lobe level (SLL) as well as by narrowing the first null beamwidth (FNBW). A lower SLL value is necessary to avoid the interference with the system working in the same frequency, whereas, a narrow FNBW helps the antenna array to attain a high directivity. The performance of a time modulated antenna array (TMAA) depends on the rise on–off time, pulse shape as well as on the switching time duration of each element of the array which radiates at different harmonic frequencies. In this paper, the generation of radiation pattern at the fundamental/central frequency and its first two harmonic frequencies are considered for the design issue.

KEYWORDS:

• Time modulated circular antenna array
• side lobe level
• first null beamwidth
• directivity
• grey wolf optimization

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work is funded by the Science & Engineering Research Board (SERB), Department of Science & Technology-Government of India under the grant EEQ/2017/000519 dated 23 March 2018. The authors are grateful to the Science and Engineering Research Board for funding the project.

Notes on contributors

Avishek Das

Avishek Das completed his B.E. degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering and M.Tech (the project was done on Microwave at Antenna Division in SAMEER-Centre for Electromagnetics, Chennai) in E.C.E (Microwave) from The University of Burdwan, West Bengal, India in 2008 and 2010, respectively. He received an MBA degree in Human Resource from Sikkim Manipal University in the year 2014 and completed his PhD degree in 2020 from National Institute of Technology, Durgapur, West Bengal, India under Visvesvaraya Ph.D. Scheme for Electronics and IT, Ministry of Electronics and IT, Government of India. Presently, he is working as Assistant Professor in the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Haldia Institute of Technology, Haldia, West Bengal, India and associated as a post PhD researcher at National Institute of Technology, Durgapur, on the project funded by Science and Engineering Research Board, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India (Grant No. EEQ/2017/000519 dated 23/03/2018). His research interests include the application of evolutionary optimization techniques for the design of Antenna Arrays.

Durbadal Mandal

Durbadal Mandal passed B.E. degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering, from Regional Engineering College, Durgapur, West Bengal, India in the year 1996. He received the M. Tech and Ph.D. degrees from National Institute of Technology, Durgapur, West Bengal, India in the year 2008 and 2011 respectively. Presently, he is working in National Institute of Technology, Durgapur, West Bengal, India, as Associate Professor in the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering. His research interest includes Array Antenna design; filter Optimization via Evolutionary Computing Techniques. He has published more than 350 research papers in International Journals and Conferences.

Rajib Kar

Rajib Kar passed B.E. degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering, from Regional Engineering College, Durgapur, West Bengal, India in the year 2001. He received the M. Tech and Ph.D. degrees from National Institute of Technology, Durgapur, West Bengal, India in the year 2008 and 2011, respectively. Presently, he is working in National Institute of Technology, Durgapur, West Bengal, India, as Associate Professor in the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering. His research interest includes VLSI circuit optimization, Signal Processing using Evolutionary Computing Techniques. He has published more than 350 research papers in International Journals and Conferences.