Antenna Array

Several antennas can be arranged in space interconnected to produce

directional radiation pattern
 Different Geometry of Antenna Arrays
 Linear array
 Circular Array
 Planar Array
 Conformal array
 Applications of Antenna Arrays
 Increase the overall gain
 Provide diversity reception
 Cancel out interference from particular direction
 Steer the array so that it is the most sensitive in a particular
direction

Dr. Gopi Ram

Why Antenna Array?

Problem:

 Radiation pattern of a single element is relatively wide

 Enlarging the dimensions of each element?
Solution:

 Arrangement of identical antenna elements in an array,

 Vector addition of the field radiated by the individual pattern

Control parameter to shape the pattern of antenna array:

 Geometrical configuration,
 Excitation weights, Phase, and inter-element spacing

Dr. Gopi Ram

  Relative pattern of individual elements
Parameters Constructing Antenna Array’s Radiation Pattern

 Geometrical configuration
 Relative inter-element displacements
 Excitation (Amplitude and Phase) of individual elements
 Choice of practical elements in the array

Dr. Gopi Ram

Broadside Array
A broadside array is an array that scans perpendicularly to its array plane. In

this type of array there should be no relative inter-element phasing. This type

of array suffers from the back lobe, but has an advantage of the thinnest

possible FNBW for all possible array geometries.

Dr. Gopi Ram

End-fire Array
This is an array which is capable to scan uniquely along its target direction,

and is completely free from any back lobe or image lobes etc. Elements are

excited by using the maximum possible relative phasing. This type of array

suffers from the thickest FNBW

Dr. Gopi Ram

Dr. Gopi Ram
Dr. Gopi Ram
Two Element Array:
The total field radiated by the two elements, assuming no coupling
between the elements, is equal to the sum of the two and in the y-z
plane it is given by:

Dr. Gopi Ram

 2  j r
 j  I 0 dl sin  e 
 E  4 r 
  jkr

 kI 0 dl e
j sin  
 4 r 

Dr. Gopi Ram

where β is the difference in phase excitation between the
elements. The magnitude excitation of the radiators is
identical. Assuming far-field observations

Dr. Gopi Ram

The total field of the array is equal to the field of a single element
positioned at the origin multiplied by a factor which is widely
referred to as the array factor. Thus for the two-element array of
constant amplitude, the array factor is given by

Dr. Gopi Ram

Dr. Gopi Ram
Array of Point Source (Isotropic Element):

Dr. Gopi Ram

Parameter to control  d , ( 2  1 ), I 2 
 I1 

j1  jkr
I1e e
E1  K
r
j 2
I 2e  jk ( r  d cos  )
E2  K e
r  d cos 
j
I 2e 2
 jkr jkd cos 
E2  K e e
r
 jkr
Ke
Define k0 
r
Dr. Gopi Ram
Now the field can be written as
j1
E1  k 0 I1e
j 2 jkd cos 
E2  k0 I 2 e e
Total Field
E  E1  E2
E  k 0  I 1e j1
 I 2e e j 2 jkd cos 

E  k0  I1e j1
 I 2e j  kd cos   2 

Dr. Gopi Ram
   I 2  j    jkd cos  
j1
E  k0 I1e 1    e e 
2 1

  I1  

Effect of variation in “d”

I2 
 1  2 1  0 
Lets I1 ,

E  k 0 1  e j  kd cos  


Dr. Gopi Ram

  
kd kd kd
j cos  j cos  j cos 
E  k0 e 2
e 2
e 2

 
kd
j cos  kd
E  k0 e 2
2 cos cos 
2

Normalized radiation pattern

 cos
kd
2 
cos  
Dr. Gopi Ram
Nulls
kd  3
cos    ,  ,....
2 2 2
2 d  3
cos    ,  ,....
2 2 2
2 d  3
cos    ,  ,....
2 2 2
 3
cos    ,  ,....
2 d 2d
Dr. Gopi Ram
 
d   No nulls in the radiation pattern
2
d    We get two nulls
d  2  Four nulls
So, larger the element spacing more will be the nulls

Dr. Gopi Ram

Effect of phase difference  2   1   
I2
 1,  1  0 , I1  1
I1

E  k 0 1  e j ( kd cos   )

Radiation pattern in this case
 kd cos    
 cos  
 2 
Max kd cos 0  
 0,  , 2
2
Dr. Gopi Ram
kd cos 0    0

cos 0  
kd

 
For   0 , 0
2
For     d  0  0, 

Dr. Gopi Ram

  I2 
Effect of variation in  
 I1 

d   ,  2 1   0 ,  1  0
, I1  1
kd 2
cos    cos 
2 
 2 cos 
  I 2  j 2 cos  
E  k 0 1    e 
  I1  
For   0  two terms add
Dr. Gopi Ram
   I2 
E  k0 1    
  I1  

 
For 3 two terms cancel each other
  I2 
E  k0 1    
  I1  
No null in the pattern
I2
1 Full null----full interference
I1

Dr. Gopi Ram

I2
1 No nulls-----not full interference
I1

Dr. Gopi Ram

N-Element Linear Array: Uniform Amplitude
and Spacing
 Let us generalize the method to include N elements.

 Let us assume that all the elements have identical amplitudes

but each succeeding element has a β progressive phase lead
current excitation relative to the preceding one.

Dr. Gopi Ram

Dr. Gopi Ram
The array factor is given by

Multiplying both sides by ejψ, it can be written as

Dr. Gopi Ram
If the reference point is the physical center of the array, the
array factor reduces to
Dr. Gopi Ram
For small values of ψ, the above expression can be
approximated by

Dr. Gopi Ram

Dr. Gopi Ram
Direction of maximum radiation pattern:-
Radiation will be maximum when

 0
kd cos  0    0
  
1
0  cos   
 kd 
1   
 cos   
 2 d 

Dr. Gopi Ram

By controlling the progressive phase shift of the array the
direction of maximum radiation can be changed (scanning
array)

  kd cos  0
  kd cos   kd cos  0
  kd  cos   cos 0 

Dr. Gopi Ram

End-Fire Array:-

 0  0, 
for 0  0

  kd cos  0
 kd
for 0  

  kd cos  0
  kd
  kd  cos  1
Dr. Gopi Ram
If the element separation is d = λ/2, end-fire radiation exists
simultaneously in both directions (θo = 0◦ and θ0 = 180◦).

If the element spacing is a multiple of a wavelength (d = nλ, n = 1,

2,..), then in addition to having end-fire radiation in both
directions, there also exist maxima in the broadside directions.

Thus for d = nλ, n = 1, 2, 3, . . there exist four maxima; two in the

broadside directions and two along the axis of the array.

Dr. Gopi Ram

Broad Side Array:-

0 
2
  kd cos  0  0

  kd cos 
Note:- for the end- fire the direction of maximum radiation is
only in direction either 0 or 
But in broadside array the direction of maximum radiation is
complete plane perpendicular to array axis.
Dr. Gopi Ram
To ensure that there are no principal maxima in other directions,
which are referred to as grating lobes, the separation between the
elements should not be equal to multiples of a wavelength (d ≠ nλ,
n = 1, 2, 3 . . .) when β = 0.
If d = nλ, n = 1, 2, 3, . . . and β = 0, then

This value of ψ when substituted in array factor equation then it

makes the array factor maximum value.
Thus for a uniform array with β = 0 and d = nλ, in addition to
◦
having the maxima of the array factor directed broadside (θ0 = 90 )
Dr. Gopi Ram
to the axis of the array, there are additional maxima directed along
the axis (θ0 = 0◦, 180◦) of the array (end-fire radiation)

Dr. Gopi Ram

Direction of the nulls:-
Note: when numerator goes to zero the total field goes to zero,
so the numerator of the equation gives the direction nulls and
the direction of side lobes
  
sin  N 0
 2 
One way:-

N  n   kd  cos   cos 0  
2
2n
kd  cos  n  cos  0  
N
Dr. Gopi Ram
  2 
 cos  n  cos  0  
2n
 k  
Nkd   
 1 n 
 n  cos  cos  0  
 Nd  in terms of angle of maximum
Direction

Dr. Gopi Ram

Another way:-

N  n
2
  kd cos    
2n
kd cos  n    
N
2n
kd cos  n    
N
  2n 
1
 n  cos    
 kd kdN 

Dr. Gopi Ram

  
1 2n 
 n  cos    
 2 d 2 dN 
  
1 2n 
 n  cos     
 2 d  N 

Number of Element in the array

N increase No. of nulls increases
No. of side lobes increases

Dr. Gopi Ram

Directions of side lobes:-
 Half wave between two nulls
  1
N    n     kd  cos   cos 0  
2  2

 1  2
kd  cos  SL  cos 0     n  
 2 N

 1  2
cos  SL  cos  0   n  
 2  Nkd

 1 
cos  SL  cos  0   n   , n  0,1, 2.....
 2  Nd
Dr. Gopi Ram
Another way:-
  1
N    n  
2  2
  kd cos    
 1  2
kd cos  SL      n  
 2 N
  1  2
cos SL   n  
kd  2  kdN

  1  2
cos SL   n  
2 d  2  2 dN

Dr. Gopi Ram

   
1  1  2 
 SL  cos      n   
 2 d   2 N 

For the first side lobe:-

 3
N 
2 2
 3

2 2N

Amplitude of the first side lobe

Dr. Gopi Ram

 1 1

N 3
2N
2

3

2
nd
2 side lobe amplitude 
5
2
rd
3 side lobe amplitude 
7

Note: - Amplitude of the side lobe is independent of N

Dr. Gopi Ram

Half power beam width
 N 
sin  
 2   1
  2
N sin  
2

Approximate Calculation
 
 HPBW  
dN Length of the array (Broad Side Array)
2 2
 HPBW  
dN Length of the array (End fire Array)

Dr. Gopi Ram

Important Note:-

 In 3D space, the main beam width of broadside array

essentially covers 360 degree of solid angle in its
omnidirectional principal plane unlike endfire where there is
no omnidirectional plane.
 However, for relative directivity of non-omnidirectional
plane, broadside registers a higher directivity.

Dr. Gopi Ram

N-Element Linear Array: Directivity
Broadside Array:-
As a result of the criteria for broadside radiation, the array factor
for this form of the array reduces to

which for a small spacing between the elements (d << λ) can be

approximated by

Dr. Gopi Ram

The radiation intensity can be written as

Umax is equal to unity (Umax = 1) and it occurs at θ = 90◦

The average value U0 of the intensity reduces to

Dr. Gopi Ram

By making a change of variable, that is,

For a large array (Nkd/2 → large), it can be approximated by

extending the limits to infinity. That is,
Dr. Gopi Ram
Dr. Gopi Ram
Dr. Gopi Ram
Ordinary End-Fire Array:-
For an end-fire array, with the maximum radiation in the θmax = 0◦
direction, the array factor is given by

which, for a small spacing between the elements (d<< λ), can
be approximated by

Dr. Gopi Ram

The corresponding radiation intensity can be written as

whose maximum value is unity (Umax = 1) and it occurs at θ = 0◦.

The average value of the radiation intensity is given by

Dr. Gopi Ram

Let

For a large array (Nkd → large), it can be approximated by

extending the limits to infinity. That is,

Dr. Gopi Ram

Dr. Gopi Ram
The problem of antenna arrays can be divided into two
categories:-
(1) Array Analysis:- Here we investigate the radiation patterns
for a given antenna array configuration.

(2) Array Synthesis: - Here we design the array configurations

to achieve a desired radiation pattern.

Dr. Gopi Ram

Examples:-

Ans:-

Dr. Gopi Ram

Ans:-

Dr. Gopi Ram

Ans: Hint
Radiation will be maximum when

 0
kd cos  0    0
Dr. Gopi Ram
Dr. Gopi Ram
Ans:-

Dr. Gopi Ram

Dr. Gopi Ram
Dr. Gopi Ram
Calculate array factor
Ans: Hint

Dr. Gopi Ram

Dr. Gopi Ram