This is the first comprehensive treatment of conformal antenna arrays from an engineering perspective. While providing a thorough foundation in theory, the authors of this publication provide a wealth of hands-on instruction for practical analysis and design of conformal antenna arrays. Thus, you get the knowledge you need, alongside the practical know-how to design antennas that are integrated into such structures aircrafts or skyscrapers.
Table of Contents:
Preface xi
Abbreviations and Acronyms xiii
1 Introduction 1
1.1 The Definition of a Conformal Antenna 1
1.2 Why Conformal Antennas? 2
1.3 History 4
1.4 Metal Radomes 9
1.5 Sonar Arrays 9
2 Circular Array Theory 15
2.1 Introduction 15
2.2 Fundamentals 16
2.3 Phase Mode Theory 23
2.4 The Ripple Problem in Omnidirectional Patterns 34
2.5 Elevation Pattern 41
2.6 Focused Beam Pattern 41
3 The Shapes of Conformal Antennas 49
3.1 Introduction 49
3.2 360° Coverage 52
3.3 Hemispherical Coverage 57
3.4 Multifaceted Surfaces 67
3.5 References 70
4 Methods of Analysis 73
4.1 Introduction 73
4.2 The Problem 75
4.3 Electrically Small Surfaces 76
4.4 Electrically Large Surfaces 89
4.5 Two Examples 95
4.6 A Comparison of Analysis Methods 100
5 Geodesics on Curved Surfaces 123
5.1 Introduction 123
5.2 Singly Curved Surfaces 130
5.3 Doubly Curved Surfaces 135
5.4 Arbitrarily Shaped Surfaces 149
6 Antennas on Singly Curved Surfaces 155
6.1 Introduction 155
6.2 Aperture Antennas on Circular Cylinders 157
6.3 Aperture Antennas on General Convex Cylinders 192
6.4 Aperture Antennas on Faceted Cylinders 200
6.5 Aperture Antennas on Dielectric Coated Circular Cylinders 209
6.6 Microstrip-Patch Antennas on Coated Circular Cylinders 230
6.7 The Cone 245
7 Antennas on Doubly Curved Surfaces 265
7.1 Introduction 265
7.2 Aperture Antennas 267
7.3 Microstrip-Patch Antennas 289
8 Conformal Array Characteristics 305
8.1 Introduction 305
8.2 Mechanical Considerations 306
8.3 Radiation Patterns 313
8.4 Array Impedance 327
8.5 Polarization 336
8.6 Characteristics of Selected Conformal Arrays 351
9 Beam Forming 365
9.1 Introduction 365
9.2 A Note on Orthogonal Beams 366
9.3 Analog Feed Systems 366
9.4 Digital Beam Forming 380
9.5 Adaptive Beam Forming 384
9.6 Remarks on Feed Systems 388
10 Conformal Array Pattern Synthesis 395
10.1 Introduction 395
10.2 Shape Optimization 397
10.3 Fourier Methods for Circular Ring Arrays 397
10.4 Dolph-Chebysjev Pattern Synthesis 398
10.5 An Aperture Projection Method 401
10.6 The Method of Alternating Projections 404
10.7 Adaptive Array Methods 406
10.8 Least-Mean-Squares Methods (LMS) 407
10.9 Polarimetric Pattern Synthesis 409
10.10 Other Optimization Methods 409
10.11 A Synthesis Example Including Mutual Coupling 411
10.12 A Comparison of Synthesis Methods 414
11 Scattering From Conformal Arrays 421
11.1 Introduction 431
11.2 Definitions 422
11.3 Radar Cross Section Analysis 423
11.4 Cylindrical Array 427
11.5 Cylindrical Array with Dielectric Coating 435
11.6 Radiation and Scattering Trade-off 446
11.7 Discussion 458
References 459
Subject Index 463
About the Authors 471
