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Phased Array

A phased array uses an array of antennas that can electronically steer radio waves to point in different directions without physically moving the antennas. It does this by controlling the phase of the signal from each antenna through phase shifters. This allows the beam to be steered electronically and dynamically to track targets quickly. Phased arrays are mainly used at high frequencies like UHF and microwave due to the small size of antenna elements. They can be either dynamic, where the beam position is variable, or fixed, where the antenna must move to change the beam position. Dynamic phased arrays do not require physical movement and allow rapid electronic beam steering.

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136 views

Phased Array

A phased array uses an array of antennas that can electronically steer radio waves to point in different directions without physically moving the antennas. It does this by controlling the phase of the signal from each antenna through phase shifters. This allows the beam to be steered electronically and dynamically to track targets quickly. Phased arrays are mainly used at high frequencies like UHF and microwave due to the small size of antenna elements. They can be either dynamic, where the beam position is variable, or fixed, where the antenna must move to change the beam position. Dynamic phased arrays do not require physical movement and allow rapid electronic beam steering.

Uploaded by

Azazel
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Phased Arrays

In antenna theory, a phased array usually means an electronically scanned array,


a computer-controlled array of antennas which creates a beam of radio waves
that can be electronically steered to point in different directions without moving
the antennas
• In a simple array antenna, the radio frequency current from
the transmitter is fed to the individual antennas with the
correct phase relationship so that the radio waves from the separate
antennas add together to increase the radiation in a desired direction and
cancel to suppress radiation in undesired directions.
• In a phased array, the power from the transmitter is fed to the antennas
through devices called phase shifters controlled by a computer system,
which can alter the phase electronically, thus steering the beam of radio
waves to a different direction.
• Since the array must consist of many small antennas (sometimes
thousands) to achieve high gain, phased arrays are mainly practical at the
high frequency end of the radio spectrum, in
the UHF and microwave bands, in which the antenna elements are
conveniently small.
Types of phased array
• Dynamic – an array of variable phase shifters are used to move the
beam
• Fixed – the beam position is stationary with respect to the array face
and the whole antenna is moved

There are two further sub-categories that modify the kind of dynamic
array or fixed array.
• Active – amplifiers or processors are in each phase shifter element
• Passive – large central amplifier with attenuating phase shifters
Dynamic phased array
• Each array element incorporates an adjustable phase shifter that are
collectively used to move the beam with respect to the array face.
• Dynamic phased array require no physical movement to aim the beam. The
beam is moved electronically. This can produce antenna motion fast enough to
use a small pencil-beam to simultaneously track multiple targets while
searching for new targets using just one radar set (track while search).
• As an example, an antenna with a 2 degree beam with a pulse rate of 1 kHz will
require approximately 8 seconds to cover an entire hemisphere consisting of
8,000 pointing positions. This configuration provides 12 opportunities to detect
a 1,000 m/s (2,200 mph; 3,600 km/h) vehicle over a range of 100 km (62 mi),
which is suitable for military applications.
• The position of mechanically steered antennas can be predicted, which can be
used to create electronic countermeasures that interfere with radar operation.
• The flexibility resulting from phased array operation allows beams to be aimed
at random locations, which eliminates this vulnerability. This is also desirable
for military applications.
Fixed phased array
• An antenna tower consisting of a fixed phase collinear antenna array with
four elements
• Fixed phased array antennas are typically used to create an antenna with a
more desirable form factor than the conventional parabolic reflector
or cassegrain reflector.
• Fixed phased arrays incorporate fixed phase shifters. For example, most
commercial FM Radio and TV antenna towers use a collinear antenna
array, which is a fixed phased array of dipole elements.
• In radar applications, this kind of phased array is physically moved during
the track and scan process.
Active phased array
• Active electronically-scanned arrays (AESA) elements incorporate transmit
amplification with phase shift in each antenna element (or group of
elements).
• Each element also includes pre-amplification. The phase shifter setting is
the same for transmit and receive.
• Active phased arrays do not require phase reset after the end of the
transmit pulse, which is compatible with Doppler radar and pulse-Doppler
radar.
Passive phased array
• Passive phased arrays typically use large amplifiers that produce all of the
microwave transmit signal for the antenna. Phase shifters typically consist
of waveguide elements controlled by magnetic field, voltage gradient, or
equivalent technology.
• The phase shift process used with passive phased arrays typically puts the
receive beam and transmit beam into diagonally opposite quadrants.
• The sign of the phase shift must be inverted after the transmit pulse is
finished and before the receive period begins to place the receive beam
into the same location as the transmit beam.
• As an example, Yttrium iron garnet phase shifters must be changed after
transmit pulse quench and before receiver processing starts to align
transmit and receive beams. That impulse introduces FM noise that
degrades clutter performance.
PHASED ARRAY Design
OBJECTIVE
 To accomplish beam steering without mechanical and inertial
problems of rotating the entire array.
 To provide beam control at a fixed frequency or at any number of
frequencies within a certain bandwidth.
Beam steering of a phased array can be instantaneous and with suitable
networks all beams can be formed simultaneously.
Beam steering can be done by MECHANICAL SWITCHING.

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