Planar Thinned Arrays: Optimization and Subarray Based Adaptive Processing

Abstract

A new approach is presented for the optimized design of a planar thinned array; the proposed strategy works with single antenna elements or with small sets of different subarray types, properly located on a planar surface. The optimization approach is based on the maximization of an objective function accounting for side lobe level and considering a fixed number of active elements/subarrays. The proposed technique is suitable for different shapes of the desired output array, allowing the achievement of the desired directivity properties on the corresponding antenna pattern. The use of subarrays with a limited number of different shapes is relevant for industrial production, which would benefit from reduced design and manufacturing costs. The resulting modularity allows scalable antenna designs for different applications. Moreover, subarrays can be arranged in a set of subapertures, each connected to an independent receiving channel. Therefore, adaptive processing techniques could be applied to cope with and mitigate clutter echoes and external electromagnetic interferences. The performance of adaptive techniques with subapertures taken from the optimized thinned array is evaluated against assigned clutter and jamming scenarios and compared to the performance achievable considering a subarray based filled array with the same number of active elements.

Optimization of partially thinned subarrays based on two‐stage random search method for large phased array antenna

“…[5][6][7][8][9] Also, optimization methods are introduced to minimize side lobes generated by grating lobes and to cancel interferences. [10][11][12] Some studies are multiobjective, 13,14 and deal with overlapped, tiled, and reconfigurable subarray structures. [15][16][17] The overlapped and tiled subarrays get low side lobes by suppressing grating lobes while those subarrays need a complex combiner/divider for signal crossover, and various L-octomino or polyhex-shaped structures.…”

“…So far, many studies to optimize subarray structure focus on G / T and monopulse systems 5–9 . Also, optimization methods are introduced to minimize side lobes generated by grating lobes and to cancel interferences 10–12 . Some studies are multiobjective, 13,14 and deal with overlapped, tiled, and reconfigurable subarray structures 15–17 .…”

Investigation on SIW Slot Antenna Array with Beam Scanning Ability

“…Some algorithms are employed to large scale sparse array optimizations, such as genetic algorithm (GA) [3], particle swarm optimization [4], and Harmony Search Algorithm [5]. Among the optimization methods, genetic algorithm is one of the most popular optimization techniques used for side lobe level reduction [6][7][8][9], since GAs [10] are well suited for sparse and thinning array optimization. GA is a global and random search algorithm that simulates natural selection and evolution.…”

Integration of Frequency Domain Wideband Antenna Nulling and Wavenumber Domain Image Formation for Multi-Channel SAR

“…Radar systems based on antenna arrays can typically employ different strategies to protect themselves from unwanted intentional or environmental electromagnetic interferences, especially when impinging on the side-lobes of the synthesized array pattern. A basic way to try and mitigate the effects of undesired components of the received signal is to lower the level of the side-lobes of the array pattern [4]: different strategies can be employed, from traditional amplitude tapering [5] to efficient antenna aperture thinning at element or subarray level, as for example, the one developed and implemented in [6,7]. A different way to reject the interference component from the received signal is to null the synthesized pattern in the estimated jammer Direction of Arrival (DoA) performing the adaptive processing called antenna nulling.…”