Adaptive beam weighting

The optimum adaptive steering of multibeam antennas is discussed, where a single beam is scanned or shaped by weighting and summing the antenna outputs. Classical principles and implementations are valid here. The most effective antenna system involves a set of orthogonal beams by means of which gain maximization, pattern synthesis, beam scanning, besides pattern null steering can be realized. A large weight dynamic range may be required for low sidelobe synthesis. A number of antennas fitting the desired type is cited. The feasibility of real weight instead of complex weight control is illustrated by means of a linear array fed by a Butler matrix.