Design and analysis of a proof-of-concept checkered-network compressive array

Abstract

Compressive arrays have recently been proposed as a new technique for reducing the number of controls in a beamforming system for a given array aperture, promising improved performance over existing thinned-array and subarray techniques. Checkered networks, feed networks consisting of interconnected couplers and fixed phase shifters, have been suggested for realizing the required overlapped subarrays. Although a checkered network has previously been implemented in microstrip, an integrated compressive array, comprising both the antenna elements and the feed network, is required to demonstrate the practical feasibility of such systems. Results for the first successfully manufactured checkered-network compressive array with integrated antenna elements are presented, thereby showing that compressive arrays are promising for use in a variety of real-world beamforming applications. Analysis of the results shows that steered-beam squint is a greater issue than previously assumed, and design guidelines are presented for minimizing the risk of excessive steered-beam squint in manufactured compressive arrays.