linearArray

Create linear antenna array

Description

The linearArray class creates a linear antenna array in the X-Y plane. By default, the linear array is a two-element dipole array. The dipoles are center fed. Each dipole resonates at 70 MHz when isolated.

Creation

Syntax

array = linearArray

array = linearArray(Name,Value)

Description

array = linearArray creates a linear antenna array in the X-Y plane.

array = linearArray(Name,Value) class to create a linear antenna array, with additional properties specified by one, or more name-value pair arguments. Name is the property name and Value is the corresponding value. You can specify several name-value pair arguments in any order as Name1, Value1,..., NameN, ValueN. Properties not specified retain their default values.

Output Arguments

array — Linear array

linearArray object

Linear array, returned as an linearArray object.

Properties

Element — Individual antenna elements, or array elements in array

dipole (default) | antenna object | array object

Individual antenna elements or array elements, specified as an antenna or array object.

Example: 'Element',monopole

NumElements — Number of antenna elements in array

2 (default) | scalar

Number of antenna elements in array, specified as a scalar.

Example: 'NumElements',4

'ElementSpacing' — Spacing between antenna elements

2 (default) | scalar | vector

Spacing between antenna elements, specified as a scalar or vector in meters. By default, the dipole elements are spaced 2 m apart.

Example: 'ElementSpacing',3

Data Types: double

AmplitudeTaper — Excitation amplitude of antenna elements

1 (default) | scalar | vector

Excitation amplitude of antenna elements, specified as a scalar or vector. Set the property value to 0 to model dead elements. This value corresponds to the excitation voltages for the elements in the array.

Example: 'AmplitudeTaper',3

Data Types: double

Phaseshift — Phase shift for antenna elements

0 (default) | scalar | vector

Phase shift for antenna elements, specified as a scalar or vector in degrees. This value corresponds to the excitation voltages for the elements in the array.

Example: 'PhaseShift',[3 3 0 0]

Data Types: double

Tilt — Tilt angle of array

0 (default) | scalar | vector

Tilt angle of the array specified as a scalar or vector with each element unit in degrees. For more information, see Rotate Antennas and Arrays.

Example: Tilt=90,

Example: Tilt=[90 90],TiltAxis=[0 1 0;0 1 1] tilts the array at 90 degrees about the two axes, defined by vectors.

Data Types: double

TiltAxis — Tilt axis of array

[1 0 0] (default) | three-element vector of Cartesian coordinates | two three-element vectors of Cartesian coordinates | 'X' | 'Y' | 'Z'

Tilt axis of the array, specified as:

• Three-element vectors of Cartesian coordinates in meters. In this case, each vector starts at the origin and lies along the specified points on the X-, Y-, and Z-axes.

• Two points in space, each specified as three-element vectors of Cartesian coordinates. In this case, the array rotates around the line joining the two points in space.

• A string input describing simple rotations around one of the principal axes, 'X', 'Y', or 'Z'.

For more information, see Rotate Antennas and Arrays.

Example: TiltAxis=[0 1 0]

Example: TiltAxis=[0 0 0;0 1 0]

Example: TiltAxis='Z'

Data Types: double

Object Functions

show	Display antenna, array structures or shapes
info	Display information about antenna or array
beamwidth	Beamwidth of antenna
charge	Charge distribution on antenna or array surface
correlation	Correlation coefficient between two antennas in array
current	Current distribution on antenna or array surface
design	Design prototype antenna or arrays for resonance around specified frequency
efficiency	Radiation efficiency of antenna
EHfields	Electric and magnetic fields of antennas; Embedded electric and magnetic fields of antenna element in arrays
impedance	Input impedance of antenna; scan impedance of array
layout	Display array or PCB stack layout
mesh	Mesh properties of metal, dielectric antenna, or array structure
optimize	Optimize antenna or array using SADEA optimizer
pattern	Radiation pattern and phase of antenna or array; Embedded pattern of antenna element in array
patternAzimuth	Azimuth pattern of antenna or array
patternElevation	Elevation pattern of antenna or array
rcs	Calculate and plot radar cross section (RCS) of platform, antenna, or array
returnLoss	Return loss of antenna; scan return loss of array
sparameters	Calculate S-parameter for antenna and antenna array objects

Examples

Create and Plot Layout of Linear Array

Create a linear array of four dipoles and plot the layout of the array.

la = linearArray;
la.NumElements = 4;
layout(la);

Radiation Pattern of Linear Array

Plot the radiation pattern of a four element linear array of dipoles at a frequency 70MHz.

la = linearArray('NumElements',4);
pattern(la,70e6);

Linear Array Using Groundplane Antennas

Create a linear array of two monopoles.

m1 = monopole;
m2 = monopole('Height',0.5);
mla = linearArray

mla = 
  linearArray with properties:

           Element: [1x1 dipole]
       NumElements: 2
    ElementSpacing: 2
    AmplitudeTaper: 1
        PhaseShift: 0
              Tilt: 0
          TiltAxis: [1 0 0]

mla.Element = [m1,m2];
show(mla);

Rectangular Array of Linear Array

Create an array of discones with element spacing of 3 m.

la = linearArray('Element',discone);
la.ElementSpacing = 3;
show(la)

Create a rectangular of the linear array.

ra = rectangularArray("Element",la)

ra = 
  rectangularArray with properties:

           Element: [1x1 linearArray]
              Size: [2 2]
        RowSpacing: 2
     ColumnSpacing: 2
           Lattice: 'Rectangular'
    AmplitudeTaper: 1
        PhaseShift: 0
              Tilt: 0
          TiltAxis: [1 0 0]

show(ra)

Pattern of Linear Array of Linear Array

Create a linear array and plot the pattern.

la=linearArray('Element',linearArray('ElementSpacing',1)); 
show(la)

pattern(la,70e6); 

References

[1] Balanis, C.A. Antenna Theory. Analysis and Design, 3rd Ed. New York: Wiley, 2005.

Version History

Introduced in R2015a