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circularArray

Create circular antenna array

Description

The circularArray object creates a circular antenna array. Circular array finds application in direction of arrival (DoA) systems. You can use circular arrays to perform 2-D scanning, while lowering element counts. These arrays also have the ability for 360-degree scanning. The individual elements in the circular array are part of the same array environment. This property reduces the impact of edge effects and other coupling variation.

Creation

Description

array = circularArray creates a circular antenna array in the xy-plane.

example

array = circularArray(Name=Value) creates a circular array, with additional Properties specified by one or more name-value arguments. Name is the property name and Value is the corresponding value. You can specify several name-value pair arguments in any order as Name1=Value1,..., NameN=ValueN. Properties that you do not specify retain their default values.

Properties

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Individual antenna type, specified as a single antenna object for homogeneous array or a vector of antenna objects of same type with varying dimensions and load for heterogeneous array. The antenna object can be an element from the Antenna Catalog or an antenna without a substrate created using customAntennaGeometry, customAntennaMesh, customAntennaStl, or customAntenna objects.

Note

Following antennas are unsupported as an element:

Example: dipole

Example: [monopole monopole(Height=2)]

Example: customAntenna

Number of elements in the array,specified as a positive scalar integer. The elements in the array are arranged along the x-axis.

Example: 4

Data Types: double

Radius of array, specified as a positive scalar integer in meters.

Example: 0.4

Data Types: double

Starting angle offset for first element in array, specified as a real scalar in degrees.

Example: 8

Data Types: double

Excitation amplitude for antenna elements in the array, specified as a real positive vector of size 'Element'.

Example: [0 1]

Data Types: double

Phase shift for each element in the array, specified as a real vector of size 'Element' in degrees.

Example: [0 2]

Data Types: double

Tilt angle of the array in degrees, specified as a scalar or vector. For more information, see Rotate Antennas and Arrays.

Example: 90

Example: Tilt=[90 90],TiltAxis=[0 1 0;0 1 1] tilts the array at 90 degrees about the two axes, defined by the vectors.

Data Types: double

Tilt axis of the array, specified as one of these values:

  • Three-element vectors of Cartesian coordinates in meters. In this case, each vector starts at the origin and lies along the specified points on the x-, y-, and z-axes.

  • Two points in space, specified as a 2-by-3 matrix corresponding to two three-element vectors of Cartesian coordinates. In this case, the array rotates around the line joining the two points.

  • "x", "y", or "z" to describe a rotation about the x-, y-, or z-axis, respectively.

For more information, see Rotate Antennas and Arrays.

Example: [0 1 0]

Example: [0 0 0;0 1 0]

Example: "Z"

Data Types: double | string

Object Functions

arrayFactorArray factor in dB
axialRatioCalculate and/or plot axial ratio of antenna or array
beamwidthBeamwidth of antenna
chargeCharge distribution on antenna or array surface
correlationCorrelation coefficient between two antennas in array
currentCurrent distribution on antenna or array surface
designDesign prototype antenna or arrays for resonance around specified frequency or create AI-based antenna from antenna catalog objects
efficiencyRadiation efficiency of antenna
EHfieldsElectric and magnetic fields of antennas or embedded electric and magnetic fields of antenna element in arrays
impedanceInput impedance of antenna or scan impedance of array
infoDisplay information about antenna, array, or platform
layoutDisplay array or PCB stack layout
memoryEstimateEstimate memory required to solve antenna or array mesh
meshMesh properties of metal, dielectric antenna, or array structure
meshconfigChange meshing mode of antenna, array, custom antenna, custom array, or custom geometry
optimizeOptimize antenna or array using SADEA optimizer
patternPlot radiation pattern and phase of antenna or array or embedded pattern of antenna element in array
patternAzimuthAzimuth plane radiation pattern of antenna or array
patternElevationElevation plane radiation pattern of antenna or array
patternMultiplyRadiation pattern of array using pattern multiplication
phaseShiftCalculate phase shift values for arrays or multi-feed PCB stack
rcsCalculate and plot monostatic and bistatic radar cross section (RCS) of platform, antenna, or array
returnLossReturn loss of antenna or scan return loss of array
showDisplay antenna, array structures, shapes, or platform
sparametersCalculate S-parameters for antennas and antenna arrays
vswrVoltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) of antenna or array element

Examples

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Create a circular antenna array using 10 antenna elements. View the layout of the antenna elements in the array.

ca = circularArray(NumElements=10)
ca = 
  circularArray with properties:

           Element: [1x1 dipole]
       NumElements: 10
            Radius: 1
       AngleOffset: 0
    AmplitudeTaper: 1
        PhaseShift: 0
              Tilt: 0
          TiltAxis: [1 0 0]

figure
layout(ca)

View the array.

figure
show(ca)

Plot the elevation pattern of the circular array at a frequency of 70 MHz.

figure
patternElevation(ca,70e6)

Version History

Introduced in R2016b