Antenna arrays with partially tapered amplitudes

A new technique is presented for linear array design based on a form of limited amplitude tapering. It is shown that desirable pattern characteristics can be achieved using an amplitude distribution that is uniform over all but a few of the outermost pairs of array elements, resulting in a partially uniform array. This method applies equally well to broadside and endfire arrays, and can be used to place pattern nulls in one or more specified directions or to eliminate virtually all radiation over one or more sectors of space. When compared with Dolph-Chebyshev arrays corresponding to the same sidelobe levels, partially uniform arrays provide a simpler excitation scheme in general and, in some cases, higher directive gain and a lower maximum-to-minimum excitation ratio. Both theoretical and experimental examples are given.