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Alternative Formulation of Antenna Arrays for DF Systems Considering Active-Element Patterns and Scattering Matrices
Bernardo Fabiani1, Eduardo Sakomura1, Eduardo Silveira1
1Laboratory of Antennas and Propagation, Aeronautics Institute of Technology, Sao Jose dos Campos 12228-900, Brazil.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|August 10, 2021
Summary
This study introduces a new model for direction finding (DF) antenna arrays that enhances accuracy by accounting for real-world factors. The improved model accurately determines the direction-of-arrival (DoA) and polarization of radio frequency (RF) waves without calibration.
Area of Science:
- Electromagnetics and Signal Processing
- Antenna Array Theory
- Radio Frequency (RF) Systems
Background:
- Direction finding (DF) systems are crucial for locating radio frequency (RF) sources by determining the direction-of-arrival (DoA) of electromagnetic waves.
- Traditional DF systems often face accuracy limitations due to unaddressed factors like mutual coupling, wave polarization, and impedance mismatches.
- Accurate characterization of received waves is essential for reliable RF source tracking and signal analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present an alternative formulation for modeling antenna arrays in DF systems.
- To improve the accuracy of DoA estimation by incorporating mutual coupling, wave polarization, and impedance mismatches into steering vectors.
- To provide a calibration-free method for complete characterization of received waves.
Main Methods:
- Developed a new formulation for antenna arrays in DF systems, integrating effects of mutual coupling, polarization, and impedance mismatches.
- Derived a closed-form expression using scattering parameter data and active-element patterns to compute receiver output voltages.
- Validated the model through experimental measurements on a 2.2 GHz DF system employing the MUSIC algorithm with linear and planar antenna arrays.
Main Results:
- Achieved direction-of-arrival (DoA) estimation errors below 6 degrees.
- Successfully classified the polarization of incoming waves.
- Demonstrated accurate characterization of received waves without requiring system calibration techniques.
Conclusions:
- The proposed formulation significantly enhances the accuracy of DF systems by accounting for critical electromagnetic effects.
- The model enables precise DoA estimation and wave polarization classification, crucial for advanced RF signal processing.
- Experimental validation confirms the effectiveness and practical applicability of the developed formulation for DF systems.
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