Three-dimensional shaped and contour pattern synthesis with multiple beam approach

A multiple-beam synthesis method is proposed to generate three-dimensional (3D) shaped and contour patterns from a planar phased array antenna. Three-dimensional radiation patterns are synthesized primarily with optimum beam positions and variable mainbeam power levels of multiple beams, followed by calculating the resultant element weights. Contour patterns are synthesized from multiple beam peaks by mapping the individual beam power levels to their corresponding 3 dB beamwidth coverage areas at each designated location on the contour. The far-field contour shape affected by the influence of the element pattern, mutual coupling, and scan loss is compensated by the peak power of the scanned beam patterns. The proposed synthesis supports dynamically changeable contour shapes. Flat-topped, stepped 3D patterns and arbitrary contour shapes with shaped null zones inside the contour are simulated and implemented on a 16 x 16 element 5G mmWave planar phased array. Measured radiation patterns are compared with simulations and presented.

Automated summary

A method for synthesizing multi-beam patterns from a planar phased array antenna to generate three-dimensional shaped and contour patterns is proposed. The method supports dynamically changeable contour shapes and compensates for the influence of the far-field shape.