Unit 2

Antenna Arrays

Dr. S. Ramprabhu
Assistant Professor
Department of Electronics Engineering
Madras Institute of Technology
Anna University
Chennai 600 044
N-element linear Array : Uniform
amplitude and spacing
 Session Meta Data

Author Dr. S. Ramprabhu

Version No 1.1
Release Date 08-09-2023
Reviewer

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 Revision History

Date of
Details Version Number
Revision

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 Session Objectives

 To study the radiation mechanism of N element array

with uniform amplitude and spacing

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 Session Outcomes
 At the end of the session, students will be able to
 Understand the radiation mechanism of N
element array with uniform spacing and amplitude

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 N-Element linear array

• Uniform amplitude and spacing

• Excitation amplitude for each
elements are identical
• Excitation of each succeeding
element has a β progressive phase
lead current excitation relative to
proceeding one
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 Uniform Array
• An array of identical elements all of identical magnitude
and each with a progressive phase is referred to as a
uniform array.
• The array factor is obtained by assuming elements are
point sources.

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•
 Array Factor

(7)

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Multiplying both sides by

 AF e j  e j  e j 2  e j 3  ......  e j  N 1  e jN (8)

Subtracting equation (7) from equation (8)

  
AF e j  1   1  e jN 
e jN  1  e j  N / 2  e  j  N / 2 
or AF   e j N  1 / 2  
e j  1  e j 1 / 2  e  j 1 / 2 

  N 
 sin 2   
AF  e j N  1 / 2   
(9)
 1  
 sin  
 2  
By considering the reference point as the physical centre of the
array.
The array factor in equation (9) simplifies to

  N 
 sin 2   
AF     (10)
 1  
 sin  
 2  
When   kd cos   

For small value of ψ,

  N 
 sin 2   
AF     (11)
  
 
 2 
Maximum value of equation (10) and (11) is N

Thus normalized Array Factor

  N 
 sin   
 AF  N  1   2   (12)
N 1  
 sin  
 2  

For small values of 

  N  (13)
 sin  2   
 AF N   
 N 
 2 
 Directivity vs Number of Elements

Plot of eq.10 is Fig. 0.1, page 742

Balani

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 First Null location
Null of the array can be found by equating (12) to zero

i.e., at point at which numerator becomes zero

,
N p  N ,2 N ,3N ...
  0  p p  1,2,3,...
2
2 p
 
N
2 p
kd cos    
N

 1  2 p 
cos       
 kd  N 
 First Null location
 1  2 p 
  cos  1       p  1,2,3,... p  N ,2 N ,3 N ...
 kd  N 

 1    2 p  (14)
  cos    ,   
 2d  N 

Equation (14) gives the first null location

 Main lobe Location
Peak of array will be at point where maximum of equation
(12) occurs when


1
kd cos       m   p p  0,1,2,...
2 2

 
 m  cos 1     2 p  p  0,1,2,... (15)
 2d 

The main beam appears at an angle at which all element

add in phase and it occurs when p=0
Thus    
 m  cos  1
 (16)
 2d 

Equation (16) gives the main beam location

 Half Power Beamwidth
Occurs when in equation(13)
  kd cos       n  1.39
N N
2 2

1.39 is obtained from SYNC function plot

   2.782 
 h  cos  1      (17)
 2d  N 
    2.782 
h   sin  1      (18)
2  2d  N 
For dλ
   2.782  (19)
h    
2 2d  N 

Half power beamwidth for symmetrical pattern (20)

h  2 m   h 
 Sinc function

SYNC FUNCTION PLOT pp739 Balani

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 Side lobe location
The normalized A.F (equation 13) has secondary maximum
(minor lobes) when the numerator attain its maximum value
i.e.
N  N 
sin    sin  kd cos      1
 2  2    s

This maximum occur at angle

N
kd cos       2 p  1   p  1,2,3,...
2  2 

kd cos       2 p  1  

 N 
 Side lobe location

    2 p  1  
  cos  1
      p  1,2,3,... (21)
 2d   N   ,

    2 p  1  
s  
 sin 1         p  1,2,3,...
 2d
2
  N   ,

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Basically equation (13) is a SYNC function
Maximum of the first side lobe from AF equation (13)
occurs when

N N 3 
 kd cos      s     (22)
2 2 2 
or

   3  
 s  cos 
1
   N  
(23)
 2d 
At this point, magnitude of AF becomes
 N 
 sin 2  
 AF n        S  2  0.212unit
 N  S 1 3
 2  
 

In terms of dB

 AF n  10 log 10  2 
  13.46dB
 3 

Thus the maximum of the first side lobe of the array factor is 13.46
dB down the maximum at the main lobe.
 Broadside Array
In many application it is required to have the maximum
radiation of array directed normal to the axis of the array
(Broadside;  = 90o)
 Broadside Array
• The design is to optimize such that maximum of single
element and of the array factor should both be directed
toward  = 90o

• The requirement of single elements are accomplished by

judicious choice of the radiators.

• The requirement of array factor met by the proper

separation and excitation of the individual radiators.
 Broadside Array
From equation (12) and (13)
The maximum of the array factor occurs when
ψ = kd cos  + β = 0
Since it is desired to keep the maximum directed towards =
90o
Then   kd cos   90 o    0 (24)
Thus to have the maximum of the array factor of a uniform
array, it is necessary that all the elements have the same phase
excitation along with same amplitude.
 Grating Lobes
• One of the objectives in many designs is to avoid
multiple maxima, in addition to the main maximum,
which are referred to as grating lobes.

• Often it may be required to select the largest spacing

between the elements but with no grating lobes.

• To avoid any grating lobe, the largest spacing between

the elements should be less than one wavelength (dmax
< λ).
Radiation Pattern of Broadside Array
Radiation Pattern of Broadside Array
 End - fire array
Instead of having the maximum radiation on the broad
sides of the axis of the array, it is directed along the axis
of the array either =0o or 180o
 End - fire array
To direct the maximum towards =0o
  kd cos     0 0

kd + β = 0

 = - kd

To direct the maximum towards =180o

  kd cos    180 0

-kd + β = 0

β = kd
 Condition for End-Fire Radiation
• If the element separation is d = λ∕2, end-fire radiation
exists simultaneously in both directions (𝜃 = 0º and 𝜃
= 180º).
• If the element spacing is a multiple of a wavelength
(d = nλ, n = 1, 2, 3,…), then in addition to having
end-fire radiation in both directions, there also exist
maxima in the broadside directions.
• To have only one end-fire maximum and to avoid
any grating lobes, the maximum spacing between the
elements should be less than dmax < λ∕2.
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 Summary
• Learnt the radiation mechanism and pattern of N
element array with uniform amplitude and spacing

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 Summary

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 Test Your Understanding
A uniform linear broadside array of 4 elements are placed
along the z-axis each a distance d apart.
(a) Write the normalized array factor in simplified form.
(b) For a separation of d = 3λ∕8 between the elements,
determine the:
1. Approximate half-power beamwidth (in degrees).
2. Approximate directivity (dimensionless and in dB).

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 References

1. Constantine A. Balanis, “Antenna Theory Analysis

and Design”, Third edition, John Wiley India Private
Ltd., 2005.

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