A New Method for Array Pattern Correction

Mutual coupling causes in small antenna arrays distorted and correlated element patterns. To have more identical and ideal element patterns the array can be corrected computationally with a correction matrix. For microstrip arrays a new method to find a reference plane for pattern correction which uses the measured scattering matrix is presented. The method determines an optimum reference plane for which the imaginary part of the mean pattern correlation has a minimum. The computation is completed over a frequency band. The method is evaluated using several microstrip arrays with element spacings 0.3lambda ... 0.9lambda.