Course #17

Phased Array Antennas for Communications and Radar

New date and location to be decided.

INSTRUCTORS
Professor Emeritus Edward B. Joy,  Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, USA
Dr. Larry E. Corey, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, USA

TECHNOLOGY FOCUS 
Phased array antennas cover a wide spectrum of frequency, from 1 MHz up to, and including, mm wavelengths and are used in a wide range of communication and radar applications, such as cellular telephone base stations, mobile tracking communication system, GPS, commercial broadcasting linear arrays and planar-rectangular, ground, ship, air, and space-based phased array radars. 

COURSE CONTENT 
This course presents the necessary theory, basic principles of operation, components, and important design parameters of phased array antennas.The gain, efficiency, polarization, pattern, bandwidth and input impedance characteristics are presented and matched to communication and radar system requirements. Only the most important phased array mathematics are presented in order to concentrate on design and application. The course will: 

• Enable the participant to select the best phased array antenna type for a particular application, considering beam steering, cost, antenna size, gain, efficiency and polarization requirements. 
• Present the operating characteristics and limitations of a variety of each of the components of phased array antennas, including elements, feed systems, phase shifters and beam-steering computers. 
• Present phased array adaptive techniques to combat multipath and interference for communication systems and to combat interference and jamming for radar systems. 
• Describe the new cellular base station technology of smart antennas used to improve overall communication system capacity and performance. We will learn how low power single chip T/R modules can be used to lower cost of phased array antennas. 
• Describe how important antenna parameters, such as pattern, beam pointing, gain, and polarization are measured and what types of facilities that are required to perform these measurements. 
• Show how microwave holography is used to phase align phased array antennas in the production environment. 

Monday – LARRY COREY 

Basic Principles of Phased Array Antennas 
We begin with the basic principles of phased array antennas, including definition of important phased array antenna parameters such as beam  steering limits, the effect of the number and spacing of elements, input impedance, pattern, gain, directivity, efficiency, polarization and losses. 

• A Demonstration Workshop: Conducted to show the effects of number, spacing and excitation of the phased array elements on the pattern of a phased array 
• Common Phased Array Architectures and Phase Shifters
• Phase Shifter Options Including Diode, Ferrite and MEMS Types
• Power Handling and Losses of the Phase Shifters

Basic Phased Array Concepts 

• Linear Array Theory 
• Planar Array Theory 
• Demonstration Workshop
•  Phase Array Architecture 
• Phase Shifters 

Tuesday – EDWARD JOY 

Phased Array Elements, T/R Modules and Beam Steering Computer 
The components of phased array antennas, including a wide variety of element types such as the microstrip patch, open-ended waveguide, dipole and slot, are presented. The effects of element mutual coupling are shown and mutual coupling measurement techniques are presented. T/R module types and function, beam steering computer functions and requirements are presented. 

• Phased Array Elements 
• Printed Circuit Components 
• T/R Modules
• Beam Steering Computer 

Wednesday – LARRY COREY 

Feed Networks, Scanning without Phase Shifters, Wideband Techniques, and Errors 
Feed networks including series, parallel, and space are presented. Alternate scanning methods such as frequency scanning, beam switching, and commutation are presented. Bandwidth limitations for phased array antennas and special wideband array designs are presented. The effect of phased array excitation errors is shown to decrease gain and increase sidelobe levels and beam pointing errors. Budgeting of these errors is an important design parameter. 

• Feed Networks 
• Frequency Scanning Arrays 
• Wideband Arrays
• Phase Array Errors Analysis 
  

Thursday – EDWARD JOY 

Phased Array Excitation Design 
Phased array excitation distributions are designed to achieve low sidelobe levels, maximum gain, or a minimum number of array elements. Null placement design is presented to show the ability of phased array antennas to achieve nulls in specified directions including adaptively. Smart cellular communication base station requirements are examined and the use of planar phased array antennas is described. 

• Excitation Synthesis Techniques
• Null Placement Design 
• Adaptive Beamforming
• Communication Phased Arrays 
• Smart Base Station Arrays 

Friday – COREY/JOY 

Phased Array Radars 
The effect of phased array excitation errors is shown to decrease gain and increase sidelobe levels. Budgeting of these errors is an important design parameter. Radar phased array antenna types are presented using current military and commercial examples. These examples show the wide range of phased array types for radar applications. Future trends in phased array radars will also be discussed. 

Phased Array Pattern Measurement Techniques and Microwave Holography 
Antenna measurement techniques and microwave holography are summarized in the course. The most popular phased array antenna measurement techniques including Far-field, Anechoic Chamber, Compact and Near-field, are presented to acquaint the student with the types of required antenna measurement facilities, the types of measurements performed and the achievable levels of accuracy for each. Microwave holography is used for antenna diagnostics and for phase alignment and calibration of phased array antennas. 

• Radar Phased Arrays 
• Phased Array Measurement Techniques 
• Alignment and Calibration 

Regular Course Fee: EUR 2995

Early Registration Course Fee: EUR 2725
This applies to firm registrations received 2 months before course start. 

University Student and Faculty Rate:
Two university participants are welcome to attend for one course fee if payment is to be made from university funds.

Deliverables:
The course fee covers tuition, course material, and the day conference packages (morning/afternoon refreshments, lunches etc.) paid on your behalf to the course venue. Accommodation is not included.