Design Criteria for Near-Field-Focused Planar Arrays

A detailed performance analysis of near-field-focused planar arrays is addressed. Design curves and performance data are shown for planar square arrays as a function of the array size, the inter-element distance, and the focal distance. The performance curves are compared with results presented in earlier studies relevant to continuous-aperture antennas, as well as with numerical results obtained from a full-wave analysis of planar microstrip arrays.