6.

ANTENNA ARRAY

Lecture-1
6.1 INTRODUCTION
In the previous modules, we have studied individual antenna elements such as dipole, loop, horn etc. and
their radiation characteristics were analyzed. The requirement for very directive antenna (for long
distance communications, for example) cannot be accomplished by the single element antennas as their
radiation pattern is relatively wide. The directivity can be increased by increasing the dimensions of the
radiating aperture compared to the wavelength (). This approach leads to mechanical problem and also
difficult from fabrication point of view. Another way to increase the electrical size of an antenna is to
arrange several antennas in space and interconnect to produce a directional radiation pattern. Such a
configuration of multiple radiating elements to synthesize radiation characteristics, not available with a
single antenna, is referred to as an array (antenna). Usually, the array elements are identical for simpler
design and fabrication. Now-a-days, antenna arrays are becoming increasingly important in wireless
communications.
Advantages of using antenna array:
1. In an array, provisions can be made to make the fields from individual elements interfere
constructively in some directions and cancel in some other directions.
2. They can provide the capability of a steerable beam (radiation direction change)
3. They can provide a high gain (array gain) by using simple antenna elements
4. They provide a diversity gain in multipath signal reception.
There are several design variables that can be used to achieve the overall pattern of the array:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

The geometrical configuration of the overall array (linear, circular, spherical, rectangular, etc.)
The relative placement of the elements
The excitation amplitude of the individual elements
The excitation phase of each element.
The relative pattern of the individual elements

6.2 TWO ELEMENT ARRAY

Let us assume, that two infinitesimal horizontal dipole antennas positioned along the z-axis (Fig.6.1). The
total field of the array is determined by the vector addition of the fields radiated by the individual
elements. The electric field pattern in the y-z plane for one element is given by:

jkI o l e jkr
sin
4
r

where

sin 1 cos 2 1 sin 2 sin 2

(6.1)

Fig.6.1 Two element antennna array

cos a y ar sin sin
For 90
9 o sin 1 sin 2 cos

jkI o l e jkr
E
cos
c
4
r

(6.2)

The total field from thee two elementts is given by

y:

Et E1 E2

j ( kr2 )
j ( kr1 2 )

2
jkI ol e
e

cos 1
cos 2
4
r2
r1

is the phase
p
differen
nce of the feed
d of the two elements.
e

(6.3)

r1, r2 are th
he distances to
t the observaation points as shown in thhe figure.
The far fieeld approxim
mation of this two
t element array
a
problem
m cab be givenn by (see Fig.. 6.2)

Fig.6.2 Faar-field observ

vation

1 2
d

cos
r
r

2
forr the phasee term

d
r r cos

2
2
r1 r2 r
for the amplittude term
Then the total
t
field rad
diated by the array
a
can be expressed
e
as

Et a j

kI ole jkr
cos e j kd cos / 2 e j kdd cos / 2
4r

jkI
k ole jkr

kd cos
Et
cos a 2 cos

r
2

4

sin gle element

rad . pattern

((6.4)

Arra
ay Factor ( A. F .)

The total field of the arrray is equal to

t the productt of the field ccreated by a ssingle elemennt located at thhe
d a factor whiich is called array
a
factor (A
AF). Thus, foor a two elemeent array of constant ampliitude,
origin and
the array factor
f
is

kd cos
AF 2 cos
c

(6..5)

The normalized AF is expressed as:

kd cos
( AF ) n cos

(6.6)

So, the far field of a uniform two element array of identical elements can be expressed as:

E (total ) E SingleElem ent AF

(6.7)

The concept described in (6.7) is called "pattern multiplication" and it is valid for arrays with any number
of identical elements. So each array has its own array factor. The total pattern, therefore, can be controlled
via the singleelement pattern or via the AF. The array factor (AF) of an array can be obtained by
replacing the actual elements with isotropic sources.
The AF, in general, depends on:

Number of elements
Relative excitation (magnitudes and phases)
Spacing between the elements