Antenna Arrays

An array exists when 2 antennas (elements) in close proximity radiate at the same frequency at the same time. time Cancellation and reinforcement from those antennas will create an array pattern in space (analogous to an antenna pattern). For example, consider 2 isotropic antennas (point sources), separated by a distance, d, transmitting in-phase: , inThe received signal in this case will be: S1 R d S2
E ( R, ) =
Observer

e j S1 e j S2 E ( S1 , S 2 ) = E0 + S2 S1

Which can be made more meaningful after applying the far-field approximation: farE0 j ( R d 2 sin ) j ( R + d 2 sin ) 2 E e j R e +e = 0 ( cos ( d 2 sin ) ) R R

This will give the expected maximum at =0, since the signal from both elements will be in-phase at that angle. in-

If d=/2, this equation becomes: ,

E ( R, ) = 2 E0 e j R ( cos ( 2 sin ) ) R

Antenna Arrays (2)

/2 is the most commonly used element spacing for arrays

By adding additional elements to the array, more directional patterns can be obtained. For Example, the array pattern for a 4-element 4array with /2 element spacing is:

2 elements 4 elements

E ( R, ) =

2 E0 e j R ( cos ( 2 sin ) ) + cos ( 3 2 sin ) R

These in-phase elements form a inbroadside array

Antenna Arrays (3)

Changing the phase and amplitude relationships between the elements of an array will change the shape and direction of the radiation pattern.
Source

For example, an antenna over a ground plane and its image form an end-fire endarray. In this case, the two array elements are out of phase, and the pattern is given by:
j 2 E0 j R e sin( h sin ) R If h=/4, boresight will be at =90 , E ( R, ) =

Out-of-Phase Source (Image)

In general, array patterns can be steered and shaped by manipulating element phase and amplitude relationships. Arrays that are varied in this manner are called phased arrays.

Pattern Multiplication
Enables us to account for the pattern of the elements in an array array plus the pattern of the array itself. Because isotropic antennas dont exist, any antenna that is part don of an array will have an antenna pattern Ee() (note: the pattern is not a function of R). For example, Ee() for a half-wave dipole is ). halfgiven by:
cos sin 2 Ee ( ) = sin

The subscript e stands for element

The effect of the element pattern on the pattern of the array is given by the product of the antenna pattern and the array factor.

ETotal ( , ) = E A ( , ) Ee ( , )
The array factor is the pattern generated by the array of point sources.

Pattern Multiplication Example

Find the radiation pattern of a vertically-oriented half-wave dipole verticallyhalfat a height h above a perfectly-conducting ground plane. perfectlyThe array factor is:
E A ( ) = 2sin( h sin )

And the element pattern is:

Ee ( ) = cos sin 2 sin

So the resultant pattern, ETotal will be:

2 cos sin 2 ETotal ( ) = sin( h sin ) cos

In order to reduce multipath interference, and to increase the signal in the direction of the approaching aircraft, an array is often used for the instrument landing system (ILS) glide slope. The antennas in the array are /2 dipoles, separated by 0.95. Find the pattern for this array if all elements are fed equal-magnitude, equalin-phase signals. inSolution: Using the center antenna as the phase center of the array, we can write the array pattern as:
E Array ( ) =
1000 Array 400 .95

Array Example

1 1 + e j 2 (0.95)sin + e j 2 (0.95)sin 3

1 1 + 2 cos(1.9 sin ) 3

Problem: The first null occurs at a corresponding to an aircraft at runway threshold. That happens when cos(1.9 sin)=-.5=> =20.54. =>