Beam Switching Cylindrical Array Antenna System for Communication

V. C. Misra; L. N. Merugu; R.V. Hara Prasad; T.G. Krishna Murty; O. K. Singh

doi:10.14429/dsj.48.3966

V. C. Misra Defence Electronics Research Laboratory, Hyderabad
L. N. Merugu Defence Electronics Research Laboratory, Hyderabad
R.V. Hara Prasad Defence Electronics Research Laboratory, Hyderabad
T.G. Krishna Murty Defence Electronics Research Laboratory, Hyderabad
O. K. Singh Defence Electronics Research Laboratory, Hyderabad

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14429/dsj.48.3966

Keywords: Radome, Power dividers, Printed dipole radiating element, Communications

Abstract

The beam switching cylindrical array, which is a unique system, has been designed and developed to cover 360° in azimuth plane by generating 16 beams with specified elevation coverage.In this design, the concept of fast aperture selection (4 x 4) in microseconds from the total cylindrical array has been realised successfully to meet the requirement of point-to-multipoint communication. The components of the array, viz., radiating elements, powder dividers, switches, etc., are designed in printed circuit type, and hence, objectives of lightweight and ease of reproducibility are achieved. The lightweight of the array makes it accessible for easy mounting at a specified height for achieving longer communication range. Finally, a low-loss radome is incorporated to protect the array from environmental conditions. The various parameters, viz., return loss, gain, and switched-beam radiation patterns were measured over a bandwidth of 300 MHz in L- band and typical measured results are presented in this paper.

Author Biographies

V. C. Misra, Defence Electronics Research Laboratory, Hyderabad

Dr vc Misra obtained his PhD from Banaras Hindu University in 1995. He joined DRDO at the Defence Electronics Research Laboratory (DLRL), Hyderabad in 1972. Since then, he is engaged in the design and development of a wide variety of multi-octave band microwave antennas for electronic warfare application. Presently, he is the Head, Phased Array Antenna Division. He has designed and developed state-of-the-art antennas for direction finding (DBD) and jamming applications and wide varieties of radomes to meet the system requirement. He has published several papers in nationaVinternational journals. He was given Megh Nath Saha Award in 1994 by the Institute of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (IETE), New Delhi, for his best application-oriented technical paper.

L. N. Merugu, Defence Electronics Research Laboratory, Hyderabad

Mr LN Merugu obtained his MTech (Electronics & Communication Engineering) from Indian Institute of Technology (lIT), Kharagpur, in-1980, and PhD in Electronics from the Queen's University of Belfast, UK, in 1991. He joined DRDO at DLRL, Hyderabad, in 1981. At present, he is working as Sci E. His areas of interest include design and development of linear phased arrays, cylindrical phased arrays and beam switching cylindrical arrays, shaped reflectors and application of numerical methods to predict the performance of antennas mounted on platforms. He is a fellow of , IETE, New Delhi and a member of IEEE .

R.V. Hara Prasad, Defence Electronics Research Laboratory, Hyderabad

Mr RV Hara Prasad obtained his ME (Electronics & Communication Engineering) from Osmania University in 1992. He joined DRDO in 1998 at DLRL, Hyderabad. His areas of research include design and development of omini antennas, directional antennas and radomes covering multi-octave frequency bands, printed circuit antennas for phased arrays and beam switching arrays.

T.G. Krishna Murty, Defence Electronics Research Laboratory, Hyderabad

Mr TG Krishna Murthy received his BE (Electronics & Communication Engineering) from Andhra University in 1974. He joined DRDO at DLRL, Hyderabad. His areas of research include design and development of broad-band ridged horn antennas, linear and phased array antennas for identification friend or foe (IFF) application, biconical antennas and feed networks for array antennas.

O. K. Singh, Defence Electronics Research Laboratory, Hyderabad

Mr OK Singh obtained his BE (Electronics & Communication Engineering) from Jodhpur University. He joined DRDO at DLRL, Hyderabad, in 1979. Presently, he is working as Sci E. His areas of research include signal processing.for direction finding systems, beam steering computer for phased array and identification f~end or foe (IFF) system. state-of-the-art receiving & analysis systems for microwave frequencies.