An improved thinning method for density tapering of planar array antennas

A thinning method is presented to realize the desired aperture distribution in a planar array antenna with elements fixed on an array lattice. In this method elements to be excited are determined by quantizing cumulative weights which are calculated from the desired aperture distribution. At first, this method is applied to density tapering on orthogonal axes of a planar array. Radiation patterns of the planar array determined by this method are compared with those by the desired amplitude distribution, and the results show good coincidence. Next, this method is extended to density tapering on four axes, that is, orthogonal and diagonal axes of a planar array. Moreover, this method is applied to density tapering with multi-amplitude level elements in order to enhance directive gain of thinned array. Lastly, a rectangular planar array was fabricated, and its radiation patterns were measured. Measured results were in good coincidence with calculated ones, and the usefulness of this method was verified.