Antenna Array Design Workflow

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Topics
Topic 1: Optimization of a unit cell

Topic 2: Generate finite array from the layout tool

Topic 3: Generate finite array from *.tsv file (ASCII format)

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 Optimization of a unit cell
Open the file “Dual_Pol_Vivaldi.cst”

Tip: Set the global and local mesh properties for

both the F and T solvers: this setting will be used
later on in the unit cell and finite array.

F-solver local mesh

T-solver local mesh

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Optimization of a unit cell
Select: Schematic  Simulation Project  Phased Array
Antenna

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 Specify Array Layout
1. Select the “Custom” 2. Select the outer ring &
array shape with 10x10 set it to be passive
elements

Tip: use the mirror

selections in X & Y
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 Define Amplitude Taper
Click Excitation Pattern and specify a -30 dB Taylor distribution:

Tip: use this dialog box to define amplitude and/or phase quantization errors. Each
configuration is a different layout in DS.
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Create Unit Cell Simulation Project
Create simulation project and specify scan angle
parameter sweep settings

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Create Unit Cell Simulation Project
Verify that you have all the farfield frequencies required
– the active impedance & active element pattern will be
calculated at those frequencies:

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Define Port Polarization
1. Select Unit Cell1 tab:
(All the unit cell definitions are automatically set!)

2. Select the Floquet port (“Zmax”) in the Navigation

Tree and set a fixed polarization (cross-pol. can be
optimized):

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 Running the Unit Cell Simulation
Go back to the master project schematic and update the “Unit
Cell1” task in the Navigation Tree  View the Active Element
Reflection Coefficient (Гact) as a 2D color map.

Active impedance maps are calculated only

at the frequencies of the farfield monitors.

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 Post Processing of Гact
In the “Unit Cell1” simulation project, use to extract the
maximum Гact value at all the frequency points:

This 1D plot (worse case) will be used to simultaneously optimize the

input match for both frequency and scan angle.

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Active Element Pattern
The Active Element Pattern is calculated using the coupling data
between the antenna port and the fundamental Floquet modes.

• The realized gain drop of the finite array can be estimated from the 1D curve
• Use the same sampling as defined in the scan angles

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Active Element Pattern
Post processing of the field intensity can be used to calculate
the realized gain drop over the field-of-view.

Duplicate this step for (theta=60, phi=0), (theta=60, phi=45),

(theta=60, phi=90)
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 Active Element Pattern
Using “General 1D”  “Mix Template Results”  Subtract the 1D curves from the
curve at (theta=0, phi=0):

For theta=60° the ideal radiating aperture drop is 3 dBi  the plots above represent
the realized gain drop in a very large array (neglecting the edge effects).
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 Active Element Pattern
Circular polarization: Using “2D and 3D Field Results”  “Combine Results” 
combine the ports with 90° phase difference in order to get the new farfield plot:

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 Active Element Pattern
Circular polarization: the axial ratio can be plotted, without the need to calculate
the full finite large array (neglecting the edge effects):

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Optimization of Unit Cell
Setup optimization:

1. Select Phased Array Antenna  New Task

 Optimization

2. Drag & drop the unit cell on the “Opt1”

task  use the post processing results as
optimization goal

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 Optimization of Unit Cell
Tip: you can reduce the number of scan angles in the
Unit Cell when performing optimization.

In the “Unit Cell1” model,

change the parameter sweep,
by reducing the number of
scan angles to 4:

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 Optimization of Unit Cell
In this example we will use 3 parameters for the optimization:

Select the algorithm

properties and set
sigma=0.3

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 Optimization of Unit Cell
The goal is to keep the active S11 <-10 dB for all scan angles at all frequencies:

Start the optimization task  All goals

are below -10dB after only 8 iterations

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 Optimization of Unit Cell
The best parameters after the optimization:

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Topics
Topic 1: Optimization of a unit cell

Topic 2: Generate finite array from the layout tool

Topic 3: Generate finite array from *.tsv file (ASCII format)

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Create Full Array Simulation Project
Go back to the phased array editor and create a full
array simulation project

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 Create Full Array Simulation Project
Tip: in the “Array Setting” tab you can specify the finite array construction setting.
The default setup is to extrude in the x, y directions the faces which completely lie
on the structure bounding box (e.g. ground plane in patch antenna).

Automatic
extrude

Starting point

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 Create Full Array Simulation Project
Specify the amplitude/phase ratio between the ports for the finite array, for
example:

Option 1: Linear Option 2: circular

polarization of port 1 only polarization of ports 1,2
with 90° phase shift

 Define circular polarization (option 2) and select OK

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Full Array Model
The full array is generated:
 with the predefined amplitude
taper and passive elements
 with the same index names for
components and ports as in the
layout editor
 with new parameters to specify
the scan angle (set theta=60°)

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 Full Array Model
The T-solver is the best solver for the finite array.
 Change the frequency range: 0-15 GHz and save the model.

 In the master schematic select the “Full Array1” task  duplicate it 

set the scan angle to theta=0°, phi=0°. This duplication is required if
the 3D results (e.g. E-field monitors, 3D farfields) are needed to be
stored.

 Select the “Opt1” task and disable it (greyed out).

 Update all tasks.

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 Full Array Model Simulation Results
The realized circular polarized gain at two different scan angles:

Due to the small array size the peak gain for scan angle=60,0 is not exactly at theta=60°

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Topics
Topic 1: Optimization of a unit cell

Topic 2: Generate finite array from the layout tool

Topic 3: Generate finite array from *.tsv file (ASCII format)

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 Finite array from *.tsv file
This import option allows you to generate any array layout (planar,
conformal, periodic, non-periodic) with your specific amplitude and phase
distribution.

Select: Schematic  Simulation

Project  Phased Array Antenna

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 Finite array from *.tsv file
1) Select “TSV file” 2) Import “My_phase.tsv” file (it is 8x8 array but with
option: phase distribution which generate a null):

Select OK

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 Finite array from *.tsv file
 Sets the proper phasing for scanning with
the parameters ( ) on top of the
imported phase distribution.
 For example, you can use this setting for
scanning a null to different scan angles.

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Finite array from *.tsv file: conformal array
 The *.tsv import can be use to generate any conformal array:

Select: Schematic  Simulation

Select “TSV file” option:
Project  Phased Array Antenna
Import “My_cyl.tsv” file

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Finite array from *.tsv file: conformal array
Select and repeat the steps for generating the full array:

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 Additional information

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Advantages of the Workflow
 Post-processing for Active Input Impedance and Active
Element Pattern
 Simultaneous optimization for both frequency and scan
angle (also useful for FSS, polarizers, etc.)
 Easy tracking between the array layout and the 3D
model components/ports
 Fast and automatic construction of full array, including
the excitation distribution
 All simulation models saved under a single project
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Implementation Notes
 Set localized mesh refinement in the
main project (for both Hex and Tet)

 Refine the mesh for every scan angle

𝟐
 Sufficient open space is required above 𝟑
λ

both the unit cell and finite array

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 Implementation Notes II
For small arrays, it is more cost effective to solve all ports and then optimize
the full array pattern using combine results (post-processing) only:
1. Generate the finite array using the array task and simulate all ports
(instead of simultaneous excitation).
2. In the PP-template select:

3. Select “Evaluate” and a new set of parameters will be created, and a new
farfield monitors will be created. Use this new monitors to define your
goals.

4. In the optimizer dialog select the next setting:

• “Template Based Postprocessing” - no additional 3D simulation!
• Set the amplitude/phase parameters to be optimized.

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Advanced Feature
 Identical ports are automatically detected
 Evaluate fields on box close to structure and
not on the simulation bounding box
 higher accuracy for large structures

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