A New Multiple-Beam Forming Network Design Approach for a Planar Antenna Array Using Corps

Abstract

This paper deals with a novel way to design and analyze beam-forming networks (BFNs) for a multi-beam steerable planar antenna array using Coherently Radiating Periodic Structures (CORPS) technology. A 9-beam design of CORPS-BFN configuration with aperture reuse and with a innovative way to feed it is proposed and analyzed. In this design, the complex inputs of the feeding network are optimized using the well-known method of Genetic Algorithms (GA). Simulation results reveal interesting characteristics in the array factor response for the multi-beam steerable planar array. Furthermore, a significant simplification of the feeding network for a planar array based on CORPS is achieved, improving the results of literature dealing with different CORPS-BFN configurations and antenna array geometries.