A numerical pattern synthesis algorithm for arrays

A simple numerical technique for synthesizing array patterns with low sidelobes is described. Unlike classical approaches to this problem, such as the Dolph-Chebyshev method, the technique described is not limited to uniformly spaced linear arrays of isotropic elements. It can be used with an arbitrary collection of elements. The underlying approach is to assume that the given array elements are used as elements of an adaptive array. The main beam is steered in the desired direction by choosing the steering vector for that direction. To reduce sidelobes, a large number of interfering signals is assumed to be incident on the array from the sidelobe region. The power of this method is that it can handle design problems not treatable by any analytical method. This is illustrated for a 33-element linear array of nonuniformly spaced dipoles of varying length, with the axis of each dipole oriented in a different direction.<>