A novel approach for design of beam steerable aperiodic planar array antenna with reduced number of elements

Abstract

This paper introduces the design of an aperiodic beam steerable planar array antenna using a novel strip-projection (SP) method, offering the reduced array elements with improved peak SLL with beam scan. The SP method generates the aperiodic lattice by projecting a section of the 3D body-centric tetragonal lattice onto the aperture and rotating it using Rodrigue's formula. The optimized lattice parameters are obtained using Jaya algorithm. The proposed SP method requires only three optimization parameters for any aperture dimensions and 21.9% less elements as compared to the rectangular lattice. For comparison, pinwheel-based aperiodic planar array antenna has been designed and analyzed. The peak SLL is maintained <−11.63 dB and <−12.70 dB for 0°-30° beam scan by proposed array and pinwheel-based array respectively. Both types of aperiodic lattice have been populated with S-band dielectric resonator antenna and simulated. Position standard deviation has also been introduced and computed to quantify the aperiodic distribution.

KEYWORDS:

• Aperiodic array
• planar array
• phased array antenna
• strip-projection (SP) method
• sidelobe level (SLL)

Acknowledgment

The authors wish to thank Shri N. M. Desai, Director, SAC for his support and encouragement during this work. The authors would also like to thank all the engineers of the Microwave Sensors Antenna Division (MSAD) for their help extended.

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Pratik Mevada

Pratik Mevada obtained his B.Tech degree in Electronics and Communications from Nirma University, Ahmedabad in 2010. Since then, he is working as a scientist/engineer in Space Applications Centre (SAC), ISRO, Ahmedabad. His current work focuses on the design, development and characterization of state-of-the-art antenna technologies, including advanced beamforming array antennas and metasurface antennas, for various spaceborne microwave remote sensing payloads. His area of interest includes the aperiodic array antennas, reflectarray antenna, metasurface antenna, Fresnel field holography and multilayer microstrip array antenna. He has also authored and co-authored various technical papers in international journals and conferences.

Sanjeev Gupta

Sanjeev Gupta is Dean (Research) since June 2016 after serving as Dean (Students) for five academic years (2011-2016) at DA-IICT, Gandhinagar. He received his graduation and master's degree from the University of Delhi. He pursued his Ph.D. from The Queen's University of Belfast, UK. He is currently a member of the Board of Governors of DA-IICT and other prominent institutes like GIRDA and GEC, Gandhinagar. He has around thirty-two years of experience in High-Frequency Microwave and Millimeter Wave Electronics, Antennas, Radars and Communication and Wireless Sub-systems/Systems from VHF to millimeter-wave frequencies.

Soumyabrata Chakrabarty

Soumyabrata Chakrabarty obtained his B. E. (Hons) degree from NIT Silchar in 1988, M. E. from Jadavpur University in 1992 and Ph. D. degree in Microwave Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur in 1996. He served NIT, Silchar as a lecturer in the Department of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering during 1995-1996. He is currently working in Antenna Systems Group, Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad as Head, Microwave Sensors Antenna Division and is involved in developing a variety of state-of-the-art antenna systems related to Microwave Remote sensing. He has also authored and co-authored more than 80 technical papers.

Milind Mahajan

Milind Mahajan obtained his B.E. degree in 1991 from Marathwada University, Aurangabad and M.Tech. degree in Microwave Engineering from I.I.T., BHU, Varanasi in 1993. He received Ph.D. degree from D.D. University, Nadiad in 2015. He is currently working as Group Director, Antenna Systems Group, SAC, ISRO. He was the designer of shaped reflectors and DGR Antennas, high power helix antenna, multiple beam antennas for the various INSAT and GSAT programs. His current areas of interest are contoured beam reflector antennas and digital beamforming-based antennas. He has more than 50 publications in journals and 3 patents to his credit.