Quantization and Mutual Coupling Effects on Beamforming in Dense Phased Arrays

摘要

In previous work, the authors investigated the effects of phase quantization on the pointing accuracy and side lobe level of a linear array. These analyses were performed on a forced excitation implying direct control over the voltages and currents at the ports of the antennas. By doing it this way, the effects can be directly observed that would otherwise be obscured by mutual coupling. This article is a continuation of this ongoing study in which a practical implementation will be investigated using a free excitation model. The coupling parameters are provided by measurements taken from a Dense Dipole Array prototype tile. The pointing accuracy and side lobe level is determined and presented.