Time-modulated array beamforming with periodic stair-step pulses

Time-modulated arrays (TMAs) are able to improve the side-lobe level of the radiation pattern at the fundamental mode but cannot steer the beam at such a mode towards a given direction. Beam-steering is possible in a TMA, but only at the harmonic patterns and at the expense of a severe TMA efficienc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Signal processing 2020-01, Vol.166, p.107247, Article 107247
Main Authors: Maneiro-Catoira, Roberto, Brégains, Julio, García-Naya, José A., Castedo, Luis
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antenna arrays
Antenna efficiency
Beam steering
Time-modulated arrays
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Summary:Time-modulated arrays (TMAs) are able to improve the side-lobe level of the radiation pattern at the fundamental mode but cannot steer the beam at such a mode towards a given direction. Beam-steering is possible in a TMA, but only at the harmonic patterns and at the expense of a severe TMA efficiency reduction. In this work we propose a TMA approach that simultaneously performs both features over the same beam by using two sets of switches: (1) single-pole four-throw switches to generate periodic stair-step pulses suitable for efficiently synthesizing a uniform steerable beam over the first positive harmonic, and (2) single-pole single-throw switches to reconfigure the side-lobe level of the previous beam. Performance, small size, cost-effectiveness, and performance invariability with the carrier frequency are features that make this TMA approach a competitive solution for analog beamforming. Accordingly, the structure is an attractive proposal for the design of multibeam transceivers.
ISSN:0165-1684
1872-7557
DOI:10.1016/j.sigpro.2019.107247