Design Of Linear Arrays Research Articles

Retraction Note: Design of linear array for shaped beams using enhanced flower pollination optimization algorithm

Retraction Note: Design of linear array for shaped beams using enhanced flower pollination optimization algorithm

An Improved Unfolded Coprime Linear Array Design for DOA Estimation with No Phase Ambiguity

In this paper, the direction of arrival (DOA) estimation problem for the unfolded coprime linear array (UCLA) is researched. Existing common stacking subarray-based methods for the coprime array are invalid in the case of its subarrays, which have the same steering vectors of source angles. To solve the phase ambiguity problem, we reconstruct an improved unfolded coprime linear array (IUCLA) by rearranging the reference element of the prototype UCLA. Specifically, we design the multiple coprime inter pairs by introducing the third coprime integer, which can be pairwise with the other two integers. Then, the phase ambiguity problem can be solved via the multiple coprime property. Furthermore, we employ a spectral peak searching method that can exploit the whole aperture and full DOFs of the IUCLA to detect targets and achieve angle estimation. Meanwhile, the proposed method avoids extra processing in eliminating ambiguous angles, and reduces the computational complexity. Finally, the Cramer–Rao bound (CRB) and numerical simulations are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method.

Interstitial dual-mode ultrasound with a 3-mm MR-compatible catheter for image-guided HIFU and directional in-vitro tissue ablations.

Current interstitial techniques of tumor ablation face challenges that ultrasound technologies could meet. The ablation radius and directionality of the ultrasound beam could improve the efficiency and precision. Here, a 9-gauge MR-compatible dual-mode ultrasound catheter prototype was experimentally evaluated for Ultrasound Image-guided High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (USgHIFU) conformal ablations. The prototype consisted of 64 piezocomposite linear array elements and was driven by an open research programmable dual-mode ultrasound platform. After verifying the US-image guidance capabilities of the prototype, the HIFU output performances (dynamic focusing and HIFU intensities) were quantitatively characterized, together with the associated 3D HIFU-induced thermal heating in tissue phantoms (using MR thermometry). Finally, the ability to produce robustly HIFU-induced thermal ablations in in-vitro liver was studied experimentally and compared to numerical modeling. Investigations of several HIFU dynamic focusing allowed overcoming the challenges of miniaturizing the device: mono-focal focusing maximized deep energy deposition, while multi-focal strategies eliminated grating lobes. The linear-array design of the prototype made it possible to produce interstitial ultrasound images of tissue and tumor mimics in situ. Multi-focal pressure fields were generated without grating lobes and transducer surface intensities reached up to Isapa = 14 W·cm-2. Seventeen elementary thermal ablations were performed in vitro. Rotation of the catheter proved the directionality of ablation, sparing non-targeted tissue. This experimental proof of concept demonstrates the feasibility of treating volumes comparable to those of primary solid tumors with a miniaturized USgHIFU catheter whose dimensions are close to those of tools traditionally used in interventional radiology, while offering new functionalities.

Design of Linear and Planar Arrays With Low Sidelobe Levels and High Directivity Using Two-Way Array Factor

Design of Linear and Planar Arrays With Low Sidelobe Levels and High Directivity Using Two-Way Array Factor

Design, scalable construction, and test of optimal linear Halbach arrays for mobile applications

Advancing permanent magnet arrays for linear electric machines is a compelling endeavor with the potential to further improve efficiencies in the fields of power generation or passenger and cargo transportation. Permanent magnets offer an unparalleled advantage by providing a consistent and efficient source of magnetic flux density without the need for external power input. This remarkable property allows for the development of smaller, lighter, and more energy-efficient electric machines, making them ideal for applications in several industries. Here, we present the design of an optimal linear Halbach array with a sinusoidal distribution of the magnetic flux density component Bz perpendicular to the surface of the array. A large scale and easy scalable six-segmented Halbach array has been built without the use of a steel backplate enabling a lightweight and compact design. Numerical results of the magnetic flux density distributions are calculated by relying on finite element methods and are compared with experimental measurements of the magnetic flux density, showing good agreement. The demonstration revealed that, with an optimal magnet configuration, the absence of a backplate does not result in any diminishment of magnetic flux density strength.

A framework for preventing unauthorized drone intrusions through radar detection and GPS spoofing

The increasing use of Global Positioning System (GPS)-based autonomous drones in various civilian and military applications has raised concerns about malicious or unintentionally harmful activities that can be carried through them. It is necessary to detect these intruding drones within protected areas and prevent their unauthorized access by denying them entry. We propose a framework that combines the detection of intruding drones using an L-band radar and then counters by transmitting fake GPS coordinates toward the drones, effectively redirecting them. This article explains the setup required to add to an existing monostatic radar that provides two-dimensional information, i.e., range and azimuth information, to enable the proposed setup to get the elevation angle of the drone. We propose a linear array design using digital receive-only beamforming techniques in the elevation domain to compute the elevation angle in addition to the range, velocity, and azimuth information being provided by the monostatic radar to get complete information about the intruding drone. The simulation of drone detection is followed by an examination of the impact of transmitting fabricated GPS coordinates to the drone. Experimental verification has been conducted to validate both the digital beamforming algorithm and the spoofing technique. This approach blocks the reception of actual GPS signals in the drone and replaces the drone's GPS coordinates with alternative, desired coordinates. The proposed framework can be used to prevent unauthorized drone intrusions in the protected area.

Optimal sparse linear array design with reduced mutual coupling effect

Sparse linear arrays (SLAs) provide a high number of degrees of freedom (DOF) and reduce the mutual coupling effect between sensors of the array. Many design methods for SLAs have been proposed in the last two decades but most of the existing SLA design methods fail to achieve minimum number of sensors for a desired DOF. In this paper, a design method is proposed which utilizes the branch and bound (B&B) optimization algorithm to give a SLA with the desired DOF and minimum number of physical sensors. The proposed SLA design method is obtained by generalizing the minimum sensor array (MSA) design method which is recently proposed in the literature. This generalized method provides the same DOF as the MSA method but with a smaller number of physical sensors. In addition, a version of this design method is proposed which provides more robustness against mutual coupling effect between the sensors of the array. Simulation results demonstrate the superiority of the performance of the SLAs obtained with the proposed method over the arrays obtained with the MSA method and also over the other existing SLAs.

Optimal Amplitude–Density Synthesis of Linear Aperiodic Arrays

New deterministic procedures for the design of linear aperiodic arrays are described which permit exploiting, in a combined way, both the positions and the excitation amplitudes of the array elements obtaining a pattern which optimally fits, in terms of a weighted L2 norm, the pattern of a reference linear continuous aperture. A first numerical procedure is based on alternating optimization of positions and amplitudes by means of closed-form convex projectors. Sufficient conditions for the solution to be optimal are established. A second numerical procedure is based on a domino-like sequential determination of the unknowns which can be iterated to convergence. Additionally, analytical asymptotic expressions for the optimal inter-element spacing and amplitude are derived by means of variational techniques. The optimal asymptotic inter-element spacing is demonstrated to be proportional to the reference tapering to the power (-2/3) while the optimal asymptotic array amplitude is proportional to the reference tapering to the power (1/3). For aperiodic arrays with equiamplitude excitation it is proved that the optimal inter-element spacing is proportional to the reference tapering to the power (-1). Based on these asymptotic dependencies, closed-form analytical solutions are obtained for amplitudes and positions of the elements. Several numerical results confirm the effectiveness and accuracy of the new procedures.

Knowledge-Guided Active-Base-Element Modeling in Machine-Learning-Assisted Antenna-Array Design

Machine-learning (ML)-assisted antenna-array design methods suffer from a heavy computational burden. In this article, a knowledge-guided active-base-element-modeling (KG-ABEM) method is proposed for practical antenna array design to largely alleviate this burden. With the introduction of prior physical knowledge and trustworthy assumptions, the ML is only introduced to scenes where analytical methods cannot build accurate models, achieving great efficiency and accuracy improvement simultaneously compared with conventional ML-assisted modeling methods. First, to solve the intricate antenna array design tasks under mutual coupling and platform effects, the array is decomposed into an assembly of active base elements (ABEs) with different characteristics. Then, the active element patterns (AEPs) of these ABEs are approximately characterized by excitations of planar virtual subarrays. Finally, the ML method is introduced within the modeling process between the ABE geometry and corresponding excitations of the subarrays. By integrating the proposed KG-ABEM into an ML-assisted optimization (MLAO) algorithm, a fast and reliable array design is achieved. A set of design examples, including both linear and planar array design problems, are provided to validate the effectiveness and advantages of the proposed modeling and optimization method.

Structural Design of Non-Uniform Linear Arrays for Favorable Propagation in Massive MIMO

Favorable propagation (FP) for massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems with uniform and non-uniform linear arrays is considered. A gap in the existing FP studies of uniform linear arrays is identified, which is related to the existence of grating lobes in the array pattern and which results in the FP condition being violated, even under distinct angles of arrival. A novel analysis and design of non-uniform linear arrays are proposed to cancel grating lobes and to restore favorable propagation for all distinct angles of arrival. This design is consistent with the popular hybrid beamforming paradigm and extends to multipath channels and arrays of directional elements.

Design of Steerable Linear Differential Microphone Arrays With Omnidirectional and Bidirectional Sensors

This paper is dedicated to the design of fully steerable linear differential microphone arrays (LDMAs). We analyze the steerable ideal spatial responses and explain why conventional LDMAs consisting of only omnidirectional microphones have limited steering ability. In order to circumvent this limitation, we suggest to use both omnidirectional and bidirectional (with a dipole shaped directivity pattern) microphones. We discuss the minimum numbers of omnidirectional and bidirectional sensors required for achieving steerable spatial responses and present a method to design fully steerable differential beamformers with LDMAs through the Jacobi-Anger series expansion. Simulations validate the presented technique and the steering flexibility of the designed LDMAs.

Evaluation of Conventional and Imaging MIMO OWC Systems Using Linear Array Design

Multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) optical wireless communication systems are potential candidates for high-speed data transmission in indoor environments. In this work, we present an experimental evaluation of two different MIMO systems, i.e., conventional-MIMO (c-MIMO) and imaging-MIMO (i-MIMO) in terms of design considerations. Both systems use the same transmitter configuration featuring a one-dimensional (light-emitting diode) LED transmitting array. On the receiver side, the c-MIMO system employs a similar one-dimensional receiving avalanche photodetector (APD)-based array, whereas the i-MIMO system uses a customized imaging camera-based receiver design. To assess the performance of the two systems, the channel matrix and the bit-error rate are calculated based on the experimental data. At distances shorter than 50 m, the proposed c-MIMO system demonstrates a good transmission performance, particularly when the maximum likelihood detection (MLD) technique is applied. Whereas, at long distances ranging from 40 m to 65 m, the proposed i-MIMO system can ensure an error-free transmission due to the efficient spatial separation between the emitted optical beams. Furthermore, the experimental results confirm that our systems have the potential for high data rates over longer distances in indoor environments.

Design and evaluation of a linear nozzle array with double auxiliary electrodes for restraining cross-talk effect in parallel electrohydrodynamic jet printing

It is attractive and challenging to fabricate micro-nano scale patterns in large area by parallel electrohydrodynamic jet printing (E-jet printing) with nozzle array. However, cross-talk effect (i.e. interference phenomenon) between nozzles may probably lead to poor positioning accuracy and cause jet instability. In this paper, design and evaluation of a special linear nozzle array with double auxiliary electrodes at both ends were proposed to restrain the cross-talk effect. Firstly, the numerical simulation model of multi-nozzle E-jet printing was established considering with electro-hydraulic coupling effect. The corresponding multi-nozzle E-jet printing processes in several geometry configurations were successfully simulated based on a commercial multi-physical software ‘COMSOL’. Secondly, the unique design of new type linear nozzle array with double auxiliary electrodes was proposed after accomplishing theoretical analysis and comparison study of simulation results. Thirdly, several experiments were carried out on a constructed multi-nozzle E-jet printing system to verify feasibility and effectiveness of the provided design. The experiments show that the proposed manner has obvious advantages in restraining cross-talk compared with traditional suppressing method ‘with single flat-head auxiliary electrode at both ends’. When nozzle space is 0.5 mm, the jet deflection angle 2.8° and Taylor cone angle 3.3° could be reduced to 0° and 0.05° with two methods respectively. Finally, the printability of fabricated new multi-nozzle was also characterized. Microscale droplets array (mean diameter about 200–240 μm) could be achieved with no deflection and the gap between them is equal with the distance between adjacent nozzles. This study can provide a reference for the design of high integrated printhead and E-jet printing system.

Conformal Array Antenna for Applications in Wide-Scanning Phased Array Antenna Systems

A dipole with four branches, fed by Marchand balun, is designed to be conformal with wing of an unmanned aerial vehicle. With the help of branches, the proposed dipole element achieves a better impedance matching performance. Meanwhile, the metallic coupled strip is added to move the scanning blindness out of the operating frequency band, without deterioration at broadside radiation. Besides, the beamwidth in the vertical plane, i.e., the H-plane of the dipole, can be effectively compressed by loading three metallic strip directors, and the element gain increases as well. Based on the dipole element, a 12-element linear phased array is designed and simulated. The simulated results show that the array achieves ±60° scanning range in the horizontal plane, with the voltage standing wave ratio lower than 2.5 in the operating band of 2.4∼3 GHz. Moreover, the 3 dB beamwidth in the H-plane is 81° at the center frequency of 2.7 GHz. The measured results of the fabricated antenna prototype agree reasonably well with the simulated ones, which verify the feasibility of the wing-conformal linear phased array design.

An Accurately Steerable, Compact Phased Array System for Narrowbeam Ultrasound Transmission

For over more than a decade, ultrasound phased arrays have been playing a leading role in domains such as noninvasive diagnostic examination, nondestructive testing and sonar, and will continue to be indispensable in a wide range of new applications. Unlike the aforementioned traditional scanning systems, many new applications require a transmit-only configuration and work in the low ultrasound frequency range, consequently posing new challenges in low-cost phased array design. However, two sought-after features are still missing in current low-cost ultrasound phased array systems, namely broadband transmission and wide angular beam steering. In this work, a low-cost ultrasound phased array system is presented that enables the transmission of both narrowband and broadband signals. Accurate beam steering is achieved through the concept of Direct Digital Synthesis (DDS). The design features small, wide bandwidth MEMS transducers enabling grating lobe free beam patterns at high frequency and a broad angular beam steering range. The presented prototype supports 64 speaker elements and allows very fine amplitude and phase control over each transducer stage with respectively 10-bit and 12-bit resolution. The beam steering performance is validated for a <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${1}\times {10}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> calibrated uniform linear array design. In these measurements, an accuracy in the order of just a few degrees was observed, even at a steering angle of 70° off-axis.

Comparative and comprehensive study of linear antenna arrays’ synthesis

&lt;span&gt;In this paper, a comparative and comprehensive study of synthesizing linear antenna array (LAA) designs, is presented. Different desired objectives are considered in this paper; reducing the maximum sidelobe radiation pattern (i.e., pencil-beam pattern), controlling the first null beamwidth (FNBW), and imposing nulls at specific angles in some designs, which are accomplished by optimizing different array parameters (feed current amplitudes, feed current phase, and array elements positions). Three different optimization algorithms are proposed in order to achieve the wanted goals; grasshopper optimization algorithms (GOA), antlion optimization (ALO), and a new hybrid optimization algorithm based on GOA and ALO. The obtained results show the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed algorithms to achieve the wanted targets. In most experiments, the proposed algorithms outperform other well-known optimization methods, such as; Biogeography based optimization (BBO), particle swarm optimization (PSO), firefly algorithm (FA), cuckoo search (CS) algorithm, genetic algorithm (GA), Taguchi method, self-adaptive differential evolution (SADE), modified spider monkey optimization (MSMO), symbiotic organisms search (SOS), enhanced firefly algorithm (EFA), bat flower pollination (BFP) and tabu search (TS) algorithm.&lt;/span&gt;

On the design of linear sparse arrays with beampattern shift invariant properties

We investigate the design of linear sparse arrays and multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) linear sparse arrays with beampattern shift invariant property (BSIP) and determine the necessary and sufficient conditions needed to achieve BSIP. Moreover, we show how to theoretically calculate the precise peak sidelobe level (PSL) values of their array beampatterns. We also establish the relationship between the number of antennas and the beampattern of a linear sparse array with BSIP. Furthermore, built on our theoretical analysis, we devise computationally efficient cyclic algorithms to design linear sparse arrays with BSIP and their MIMO counterparts by minimizing the PSL values of their beampatterns. In addition, we introduce a design method to avoid angle ambiguities even when the pointing direction of the linear array beampattern is the extreme case of 90∘ or -90∘. Numerical examples are provided to support our theoretical analysis and demonstrate that our proposed algorithms can be used to obtain linear sparse arrays with 3-dB main beam widths narrower while simultaneously PSL values lower than those of the existing arrays.

Design of linear array for shaped beams using enhanced flower pollination optimization algorithm

Design of linear array for shaped beams using enhanced flower pollination optimization algorithm

Alias-Free Arrays.

Nonuniform array geometries provide freedom for increased aperture and reduced mutual coupling. A necessary and sufficient condition is given for an array of isotropic sensor elements to be unambiguous for any specified set of directions of arrival. The set of unambiguous spatial frequencies is shown to be a parallelepiped, admitting simple geometrical interpretation. Results are used in design of linear, planar, and 3D arrays.

Performance Analysis of Sparse Array Designed by Improved Density-Tapered Method

The density-tapered method is a method to simulate amplitude weighting of full array by using the density of antenna element. However, the probability of the existence and non-existence of the element is 0 and 1 respectively, which makes the performance of the side lobe level of the pattern worse than that of the amplitude weighting of full array. In this paper, by improving the density-tapered method, gradual and interdependent density-tapered method is proposed to realize the design of sparse linear array, and the simulation experiments are carried out to compare and analyze the performance of peak side lobe level. The experimental results show that the improved density-tapered method can further reduce the side lobe level of the pattern.