Linear array of rectangular aperture coupled microstrip antennas with sectoral radiation pattern

Abstract

The Fourier transform method is applied so as to determine the excitation coefficients and the resultant pattern for a broadside discrete element array whose array factor will closely approximate the symmetrical sectoral pattern with 90/spl deg/ aperture. The influence that the radiation pattern of a single element of the array has on the resultant radiation characteristic is considered analytically by approximation of a single radiation pattern by the parabolic function. Experimental verification of the theoretical results is also described for the case of a linear array of nine elements of rectangular aperture coupled microstrip antennas.