1 Introduction

1.1 Time modulated arrays (TMA)

Time modulated arrays (TMAs) are antenna arrays whose radiated power patterns are controlled
by periodically enabling and disabling the excitations of the individual array elements,[2].

With the rapid development of modern electronic technologies, antenna arrays typically operate
in very complex electromagnetic environments. However, owing to the various errors such as
systematic errors and random errors, conventional antenna arrays have relatively high sidelobes.
TMAs also known as four-dimensional (4-D) antenna arrays, introduce time as an additional
dimension for generating ultra-low sidelobes at fundamental component and realizing real-time
beam scanning by harmonic components.[1]
The beam pattern control and reconfiguration is carried out in TMAS through the simple on/off
control of the RF switches ,unlike the setting of the amplifiers and phase shifters as done in
phased array . Therefore the complexity of the feeding structure results mutch simplified.
Moreover, the explotation of the harmonic patterns ,that are unavoidablly generated by the
periodic modulation of the array excitations is of great interest for nowadays applications inwhich
novel techniques for joint space frequency diveristy are investigated in the framewiorks of hte
new generataion cellular commmunications (e.g 5G) and the internet of things.
In time modulated array ,the side band radiations (SR) can be supressed or exploited for further
applications . In another word, a single beam is synthesized at the antenna carrier frequency with
the desired pattern shape ,while jointly minimizing the power losses in SR to increase the overall
antenna efficiency. In another use of TMA, we can profitably exploit multiple harmonic
patterns with different time modulation techniques. As a result, they are used for multiple-input multiple-
out (MIMO)communications , direction of arrival estimation, radar direction finding, wireless powe
transmission, and physicalm level secure communications.

The TMA was first proposed by Shanks and Bickmore in the 1950s. They indicated that
by periodically controlling the ON-OFF state of the element in an antenna array, the
desired radiation pattern can be achieved. Recently, TMA has aroused renewed attention
owing to its advantages of flexibility and low cost.[2]

1.2 Diagnoisis of linear arrays

Large array antennas for radar, communications, remote sensing, and biomedical systems
sometimes exhibit “failed” elements that cause sharp variations of the field across the array
aperture and a distortion of the radiation features (e.g., peak sidelobe level-PSL) . To guarantee
reliable performances complying with the application/target requirements, failures have to be
reliably detected and compensated . Detecting “faulty” elements within the arrangement of the
radiating elements is certainly a key issue in array testing to be carefully addressed [3]. Of
course, the development of effective diagnosis/measurement techniques suitable for large
arrangements is a non-trivial task from both the theoretical and the algorithmic viewpoint.
An innovative array diagnosis technique based on a compressive-sensing (CS) paradigm is
introduced in the case of linear arrangements. Besides detecting the faulty elements, the approach
is able to provide the degree of reliability of such an estimation. Starting from the measured
samples of the far-field pattern, the array diagnosis problem is formulated in a Bayesian
framework and it is successively solved with a fast relevance vector machine (RVM). The arising
Bayesian compressive sensing (BCS) approach is numerically validated through a set of
representative examples aimed at providing suitable user’s guidelines as well as some insights on
the method features and potentialities [3]. The codes that I use for this small project is entirely
from the authors of [3].
2. Mathmatical equations
2.1 Time modulation

Reference
1,Time-Modulated Arrays: A Four-Dimensional Antenna Array Controlled by Switches
Chong He, Lele Wang, Jingfeng Chen, Ronghong Jin*
2, Time Modulated Arrays: From their Origin to Their Utilization in Wireless
Communication Systems
Roberto Maneiro-Catoira, Julio Brégains, José A. García-Naya * and Luis Castedo
3, Reliable diagnosis of large linear arrays