Method for Low Sidelobe Operation of a Phased Array Antenna Having Failed Antenna Elements

Phased array antennas are a series of antennas that functions as a single antenna. They are prominent in applications such as radar and communication systems. However, a challenge faced in this domain is the occurrence of failed antenna elements that could potentially disrupt system performance. Furthermore, recalibration for resolving this issue could lead to system interruptions, which can be detrimental in critical applications. Current approaches to handle this problem often involve complex fixes that require system downtime for recalibration. This unplanned downtime could result in loss of data, missed communication, or disruption of services. The limitations of these current methods highlight the need for a solution that can resolve the failure issue without necessitating a halt and recalibration of the system.

Technology Description

This technology outlines a novel method of modifying antenna patterns for phased array antennas, particularly ones with one or more faulty antenna elements. The method identifies a number of proximate beamformers that are positioned within a certain angular region about a beamformer at an angle of interest. Each of these beamformers possesses proximate beamformer weight vectors. A corrected beamformer weight vector is computed for the angle of interest, derived as a linear combination of the proximate beamformer weight vectors. Any element of this corrected vector corresponding to the failed antenna elements is assigned a value of zero. What sets this technology apart is its ability to calculate low spatial sidelobe antenna patterns without necessitating a recalibration of the antenna. This method ensures the uninterrupted functioning of systems utilizing phased array antennas. Additionally, even without failed antenna elements, this method is applicable for controlling taper loss or sidelobe levels for phased array antennas.