Thinning of concentric two-ring circular array antenna using fire fly algorithm

AbstractThe paper describes the application of novel meta-heuristics of the fire fly algorithm for reduction of the maximum Side Lobe Level (SLL) with specific First Null Beam Width (FNBW) of thinned two-ring Uniform Concentric Circular Arrays (UCCA) of isotropic elements. The effect of thinning is analyzed in the four subsequent examples using uniform and non-uniform excitations for different FNBW. Optimization is carried out without and with prefixing the value of the percentage of thinning. The UCCA containing 35 and 70 elements in the two successive concentric rings is optimized using FFA. The example using non-uniform excitation is proved more efficient to reduce SLL for same FNBW. Simulation results show the SLL performance improves as we chose the FNBW wider in the designing problem. Fixing the percentage of thinning at a higher value increases the power efficiency of the feeding network with little compromise on the design specifications. The non-uniformly excited thinned concentric array is again optimized using two more state-of-the-art algorithms, namely, Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Differential Evolution (DE) to compare the effectiveness of each algorithm in a statistically meaningful way. Design results using fire fly algorithm shows better performances compared to PSO and DE provided the same number of function evaluation has been considered for all the algorithms

Multi-Element Aperiodic Array Synthesis by Compressive Sensing

In recent years, Compressive Sensing has attracted considerable attention in various areas of antennas and electromagnetics, including the synthesis of sparse array antennas. The CS synthesis of arrays achieves higher accuracy than analytical methods and allows for the fast and deterministic design of large complex arrays, without resorting to computationally expensive Global Optimization methods. The CS approach presented here has been previously studied by the authors for the design of maximally sparse arrays in the presence of mutual coupling effects, beam scanning degradation, as well as the imposition of symmetries for design modularity. In this manuscript the authors demonstrate another (yet unexplored) capability of such an approach, i.e., to incorporate different element types and determine their optimum combination in the course of the array synthesis procedure. Numerical examples are illustrated for large arrays comprising uniform circular aperture elements and operating in a SATCOM multi-beam scenario. It is shown that by exploiting this capability it is possible to simultaneously reduce the number of elements and gain scan loss

Synthesis of new antenna arrays with arbitrary geometries based on the superformula

The synthesis of antenna arrays with low sidelobe levels is needed to enhance the communication systems’ efficiency. In this paper, new arbitrary geometries that improve the ability of the antenna arrays to minimize the sidelobe level, are proposed. We employ the well-known superformula equation in the antenna arrays field by implementing the equation in the general array factor equation. Three metaheuristic optimization algorithms are used to synthesize the antenna arrays and their geometries; antlion optimization (ALO) algorithm, grasshopper optimization algorithm (GOA), and a new hybrid algorithm based on ALO and GOA. All the proposed algorithms are high-performance computational methods, which proved their efficiency for solving different real-world optimization problems. 15 design examples are presented and compared to prove validity with the most general standard geometry: elliptical antenna array (EAA). It is observed that the proposed geometries outperform EAA geometries by 4.5 dB and 10.9 dB in the worst and best scenarios, respectively, which proves the advantage and superiority of our approach

Concentric circular antenna array synthesis using comprehensive learning particle swarm optimizer

Abstract-Concentric circular antenna array (CCAA) is synthesized to generate pencil beam with minimum side lobe level (SLL). The comprehensive learning particle swarm optimizer (CLPSO) is used for synthesizing a ten-ring CCAA with central element. This Synthesis is done by finding the optimum current excitation weights and interelement spacing of rings. The computational results show that sidelobe level is reduced to −40.5 dB with narrow beamwith about 4.1 •

The optimal synthesis of scanned linear antenna arrays

In this paper, symmetric scanned linear antenna arrays are synthesized, in order to minimize the side lobe level of the radiation pattern. The feeding current amplitudes are considered as the optimization parameters. Newly proposed optimization algorithms are presented to achieve our target; Antlion Optimization (ALO) and a new hybrid algorithm. Three different examples are illustrated in this paper; 20, 26 and 30 elements scanned linear antenna array. The obtained results prove the effectiveness and the ability of the proposed algorithms to outperform and compete other algorithms like Symbiotic Organisms Search (SOS) and Firefly Algorithm (FA)

Multi-objectives adaptive array synthesis using speedy-particle swarm method

A method of computing the optimum element distance position of multi-objectives adaptive linear antenna arrays (MLAA) is developed by taking several objectives (eg. adaptive capability, beamwidth and minimum sidelobe level (SLL)) into consideration. In this paper, the recently invented algorithm, known as Speedy-Particle Swarm Optimization (SpPSO) algorithm is adopted to optimize the distance between the MLAA elements. Different numerical examples of 8- and 12-element MLAA are presented to validate and illustrate the capability of SpPSO for pattern synthesis with a prescribed adaptive angle, controllable beamwidth and minimum SLL. It was found that by employing SpPSO method, the results provide considerable improvement over the conventional array. It is observed that the maximum normalized SLL of -12.27 dB has been achieved by using SpPSO for 8-element MLAA. The proposed SpPSO-based LAA also able to achieve a beampattern with sufficiently low sidelobes for 12-element MLAA by having maximum SLL of -16.46 dB, a desired wider FNBW of 50° and main beam that is pointing to 20°

Characteristics of different focusing antennas in the near field region

Focusing antennas are of interest in many application including microwave wireless power transmission, remote (non-contact) sensing, and medical applications. Different kinds of antennas such as array antennas, reflector antennas and Fresnel zone plate (FZP) antennas have been used for these applications. Here, first, a new scheme in designing focused array antennas with desired sidelobe levels (SLLs) in the near field region is presented. The performance of the large focused array antennas is predicted based on the knowledge of the mutual admittances of a smaller array. The effects of various focal distances on the near field pattern of these antennas are investigated. Then, electric field pattern characteristics of the focused Fresnel zone plate lens antennas in the near-field region are presented. The FZP antenna fed by a circular horn is implemented and the effects of various focal lengths on the near field pattern of this antenna are examined. It is shown that the maximum field intensity occurs closer to the antenna aperture than to the focal point and this displacement increases as the focal point moves away from the antenna aperture. The focusing properties of ultra-wideband (UWB) array antennas are also presented. Large current radiator (LCR) antennas are modeled by replacing the antenna with a set of infinitesimal dipoles producing the same near field of the antenna. LCR antenna arrays are used to provide high concentration of microwave power into a small region. It is shown that the defocusing effect occurs in pulse radiating antennas as well. Invasive weed optimization (IWO), a new optimization algorithm, is also employed to optimize the pulsed array antenna. In the attempt of optimizing the focused arrays, a new scenario for designing thinned array antennas using this optimization method is introduced. It is shown that by using this method, the number of elements in the array can be optimized, which yields a more efficient pattern with less number of elements. By applying this new optimization method to UWB arrays, the peak power delivered to a localized region can be increased

Adaptive array antenna design for wireless communication systems

Adaptive array antennas use has been limited to non-commercial applications due to their high cost and hardware complexity. The implementation cost of adaptive array antennas can be kept to a minimum by using cost effective antennas, reducing the number of elements in the array and implementing efficient beamforming techniques. This thesis presents techniques for the design of adaptive array antennas which will enable their cost effective implementation in wireless communication systems. The techniques are investigated from three perspectives, namely, reconfigurable antenna design, wide scan array design and single-port beamforming technique. A novel single-feed polarisation reconfigurable antenna design is proposed in the first stage of this study. Different polarisation states, namely, linear polarisation (LP), left-hand circular polarisation (LHCP) and right-hand circular polarisation (RHCP), are achieved by perturbing the shape of the main radiating structure of the antenna. The proposed antenna exhibits good axial ratio (< 3 dB at 2.4 GHz) and has high radiation efficiency in both polarisation modes (91.5 % - LHCP and 86.9 % - RHCP). With a compact single feeding structure, the antenna is suitable for implementation in wireless communication devices. The second stage of the study presents the design procedure of wide scan adaptive array antennas with reduced number of elements. Adaptive array antennas with limited number of elements have limited scanning range, reduced angular scanning resolution and high sidelobe levels. To date, design synthesis of adaptive array antennas has been targeted on arrays with a large number of elements. This thesis presents a comprehensive analysis of adaptive array antennas with less than 10 elements. Different array configurations are analysed and various array design parameters such as number of elements, separation between elements and orientation of the elements are analysed in terms of their 3 dB scan range. The proposed array, the 3-faceted array, achieves a scanning range up to ±70°, which is higher than ±56° obtained from the Uniform Linear Array. The faceted arrays are then evaluated in the context of adaptive beamforming properties. It was shown that the 3-faceted array is suitable for adaptive array applications in wireless communication systems as it achieves the highest directivity compared to other faceted structures. The 3-faceted array is then synthesised for low sidelobe level. Phase correction together with amplitude tapering technique is applied to the 3-faceted array. The use of conventional and tuneable windowing techniques on the 3- faceted array is also analysed. The final stage of the study investigates beamforming techniques for the adaptive array antenna. In the first part, beamforming algorithms using different performance criteria, which include maximum signal-to noise-ratio (SINR), minimum (mean-square Error) MSE and power minimisation, are evaluated. In the second part, single-port beamforming techniques are explored. In previous single-port beamforming methods, the spatial information of the signals is not fully recovered and this limits the use of conventional adaptive beamforming algorithms. In this thesis, a novel signal estimation technique using pseudo-inverse function for single-port beamforming is proposed. The proposed polarisation reconfigurable antenna, the 3-faceted array antenna and the single-port beamforming technique achieve the required performance, which suggests the potential of adaptive array antennas to be deployed commercially, especially in wireless communication industry

Advanced Design Methodologies and Novel Applications of Reflectarray Antennas

Reflectarray antennas combine the numerous advantages of printed antenna arrays and reflector antennas and create a hybrid high-gain antenna with a low-profile, low-mass, and diversified radiation performance. Reflectarrays are now emerging as the new generation of high-gain antennas for long-distance communications. In this dissertation, some advanced concepts demonstrating novel features of reflectarray antennas are presented. • First, various approaches for radiation analysis of reflectarray antennas are described and implemented. Numerical results are then presented for a variety of systems and the advantages, limitations, and accuracy of these approaches are discussed and compared with each other. • A broadband technique by using sub-wavelength elements is proposed and prototypes are fabricated and tested. This technique enables the reflectarray to achieve a significant bandwidth improvement with no additional cost. • Infrared reflectarrays antennas are studied for possible applications in concentrating solar power systems. Material losses, an important design issue at infrared frequencies, are investigated and reflectarrays consisted of dielectric resonant elements are proposed with low-loss features at infrared. • Multi-beam reflectarray antennas are studied and it is demonstrated that by optimizing the phase of the elements, a desirable multi-beam performance can be achieved using a single-feed. Local and global phase-only optimization techniques have been implemented. Two Ka-band quad-beam prototypes with symmetric and asymmetric beams have been fabricated and tested. • Different approaches for beam-scanning with reflectarray antennas are also revieand it is shown that for moderately wide angle beam-scanning, utilizing a feed displacement technique is more suitable than an aperture phase tuning approach. A feed displacement beam-scanning design with novel aperture phase distribution is proposed for the reflectarray antenna, and is further optimized to improve the performance. A high-gain Ka-band prototype achieving 60 degrees scan range with side-lobe levels below 15 dB is demonstrated. • The feasibility of designing reflectarray antennas on conformal surfaces is also studied numerically. A generalized analysis approach is presented and the radiation performance of reflectarray antennas on singly-curved conformal cylindrical platforms are studied and compared with their planar counterpart. It is revealed that conformal reflectarray antennas are a suitable choice for a high-gain antenna where curved platforms are required. In summary, different challenges in reflectarray analysis and design are addressed in this dissertation. On the element design challenges, bandwidth improvement and infrared operation of reflectarray antennas have been studied. On the system level challenges, multi-beam designs, beam-scanning performance, and conformal platforms have been investigated. Several prototypes have been fabricated and tested, demonstrating the novel features and potential applications of reflectarray antennas