O. S. Alekseev1, S. E. Gavrilova2, A. N. Gribanov3, G. F. Moseychuk4, A. I. Sinani5

1–5 JSC “V. Tikhomirov Scientific Research Institute of Instrument Design” (Zhukovsky, Russia)

The dynamic pattern appliance reduces labour intensity and increases informativeness of measurements that are necessary to evaluate the pattern type and amplitude-phase distribution of a phased antenna array. A dynamic pattern is formed by processing of signals, received in a process of a beam phased scanning measurements. This process is similar to that of a real phased antenna array operation. Dynamic pattern gives large amount of data. This information may be applied to a pattern evaluation and amplitude-phase distribution and passive antenna array and AESA basic diagnostics. These factors make it important in-depth study of the dynamic pattern features in theory and in practice.

To measure a dynamic pattern it is necessary to form a field with a plane phase wave surface in the location of the phased antenna array under examination. When the dynamic pattern is measured, the phased surface tilt of a received field (the antenna array operates in a receive mode) is shifted by phase shifters. This procedure is similar to that of electronic beam steering of a given angular sector routine antenna array operation. The received signal amplitude and phase are measured along with change of the beam position. Electron beam steering effectively reduces time of measurement procedure compared with time of measurement by mechanical rotation of the antenna.

One of peculiar features of electron beam steering measurement procedure is that the pattern does not change its value. This means that the dynamic pattern is equal to the phased antenna array directionality factor. Fourier transform connects the dynamic pattern with the amplitude-phase distribution of a phased array aperture.

Several parameters of the phased array pattern may be identified by one dynamic pattern measurement without processing or with minimal processing (like multiplication by the scanning pattern). It is possible to identify a space factor and any radiation pattern cuts for any phased array in the receive or transmit operation mode. These can be sum patterns with a spot beam or a full beam or tracking patterns. Research demonstrated that results of traditional pattern measurements and that of measured dynamic pattern differ less than 0.1 dB above level –30 dB.

Further processing of the same dynamic pattern using Fourier transform allows identifying array pattern and amplitude-phase distribution that are averaged by a number of amplitude-phased distribution realizations. These data represent results of dynamic pattern measurement. To determine the amplitude-phase distribution it is necessary to process dynamic patterns values. Dynamic patterns must be taken from one period area. Number of beam directions in the period area must meet Kotelnkov’s sampling theorem conditions. Amplitude-phase distribution statistical analysis allows determination of phased antenna array and AESA feed.

Proposed approaches are more efficient for multielement antenna arrays with a planar aperture and an equidistant topology of radiating elements along rows and columns.

Alekseev O.S., Gavrilova S.E., Gribanov A.N., Moseychuk G.F., Sinani A.I. Evaluation of radiation characteristics of phased antenna arrays and AESA on the basis of dynamic patterns. Antennas. 2021. № 4. P. 52–62. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18127/j03209601-202104-07 (in Russian)

1. Denisenko V.V., Dubrov Yu.B., Korchemkin Yu.B., Makota V.D., Nikolaev A.M., Tolkachev A.A., Shitikov A.M., Shishlov A.V., Shubov A.G. Mnogoelementnaya FAR Ka-diapazona voln. Antenny. 2005. № 1. S. 7–14. (in Russian)
2. Shiryaev A.M., Sbitnev G.V. Metody kontrolya kachestvennykh pokazatelej aktivnykh fazirovannykh antennykh reshetok. Chast' 2. Izmereniya v blizhnej zone. Vek kachestva. 2015. № 2. S. 34–40. (in Russian)
3. Isakov M.A., Lisinskij V.P. Perspektivy rekonstruktivnykh antennykh izmerenij kak osnovnogo metoda priemo-sdatochnykh ispytanij. Vestnik Kontserna PVO «Almaz – Antej». 2015. № 3. S. 51–58. (in Russian)
4. Aliev M.Yu., Markov V.I., Samburov N.V. Sostoyanie i perspektivy razvitiya tekhniki nastrojki i opredeleniya parametrov FAR. Sb. dokl. I Vseross. mikrovolnovoj konf. Moskva, 27–29 noyabrya 2013 g. M.: IRE im. V.A. Kotel'nikova RAN. 2013. S. 324–329. (in Russian)
5. Patent № 4453164. Method of determining excitation of individual elements of a phase array antenna from near-field data. W.T. Patton. Maintained 26.06.1982. Published 05.06.1984.
6. Sanchez D., Baquero M., Herranz J.I., Antonino E. High resolution in currents reconstruction applying the extrapolation matrix and spectrum replies. IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society International Symposium. Conference Paper. 2007. R. 417–420.
7. Long R., Ouyang J. Planar phased array calibration based on near-field measurement system. Progress In Electromagnetics Research C. 2017. V. 71. P. 25–31.
8. Sánchez-Escuderos D., Baquero-Escudero M., Vico-Bondia F., Rodrigo-Peñarrocha V.-M. Algorithm for currents reconstruction using the FFT iterative method and a lattice of the spectrum. IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society International Symposium. Conference Paper. 2006. P. 1379–1382.
9. Gribanov A.N., Gavrilova S.E., Dorofeev A.E., Mosejchuk G.F., Alekseev O.S. Metod izmereniya dinamicheskikh diagramm napravlennosti passivnykh i aktivnykh fazirovannykh antennykh reshetok. Vestnik Kontserna VKO «Almaz – Antej». 2016. № 4. S. 32–40. (in Russian)

10. Gavrilova S.E., Gribanov A.N., Mosejchuk G.F., Sinani A.I. Osobennosti rekonstruktsii vozbuzhdeniya v raskryve ploskoj mnogoelementnoj fazirovannoj antennoj reshetki s ispol'zovaniem dinamicheskikh diagramm napravlennosti. Vestnik Kontserna VKO «Almaz – Antej». 2017. № 4. S. 32–39. (in Russian)