A Novel Algorithm to Eliminate the Sidelobes for any Planar Antenna Arrays for High Quality Signals and Accurate Positioning and Tracking

摘要

The sensor arrays have become an essential part in critical job applications like tracking, remote sensing and surveillance. These arrays lured many designers and manufacturers to integrate them as part of the modern systems because of their fascinating features like high speed of rotation, dynamic beamforming and lightweight Therefore, the arrays were implemented in deep space communication systems, tracking radars and high accuracy medical equipments. Despite the arrays superior features, they suffer from the sidelobes. These sidelobes are potential sources for unwanted signals that interfere with the desired source. Hence, the researchers, scholars and designers worked hardly to mitigate the deteriorating effect of the sidelobes. Their efforts were divided into either inventing new sampling windows with lower sidelobe levels (tapering), or modifying the array geometry, or optimizing the array weights for high mainlobe to sidelobe level or simply inducing a null in the direction of interference. Unfortunately, these solutions were temporary, or sometimes expensive, or need high computation power or may deform the original mainlobe leading to an increase Signal to Interference Ratio (SIR). Thus the search for an algorithm that is free of these disadvantages continues. This paper suggests a novel algorithm that provides a full solution for the sidelobes problem without the complications or drawbacks mentioned above. The algorithm is based on Sidelobe Level phase Inversion w.r.t Main Beam or shortly (SLIMB). This algorithm affords not just a solution for the sidelobes problem but also doubles the array gain and information contents in the main beam. This algorithm is independent of the array geometry or its type and can be installed to any system without expensive modifications or pre-requirements. This algorithm is well suited for Digitally Beam Formed Array (DBFA) and also can be installed for the analogue arrays. The algorithm was tested for Planar Periodic Antenna Array (PPAA) as well as for Planar Aperiodic Antenna Array (PAAA) generated using various methods such as random or ring concentric or fractal or chaotic array geometries. The results showed that the algorithm has eliminated the sidelobes and doubled the mainlobe gain without deforming the mainlobe.