A power divider/combiner block for switched beam arrays

Switched active element arrays that produce radiation patterns with variable diversity gain, have been recently considered for countering the effects of multipath fading in industrial environments. The functionality of these arrays is highly dependent on the characteristic; of their feeding network. Generating patterns with variable diversity gain requires a feeding network capable of driving different number of elements for each pattern. This paper presents a feeding network building block suitable for producing variable diversity gain in printed circuit switched beam arrays, using active elements with minimal mutual coupling characteristics. The use of this circuit design is illustrated on a seven-elements antenna array, producing numerous radiation patterns, with diverse directivity values.