The simultaneous interpolation of antenna radiation patterns in both the spatial and frequency domains using model-based parameter estimation

The Pade rational function fitting model commonly used for model-based parameter estimation (MBPE) in the frequency domain is enhanced to include spatial dependence in the numerator and denominator coefficients. This allows the function to interpolate an antenna radiated electric field pattern in both the frequency and spatial domains simultaneously, such that a single set of coefficients can be used to accurately reconstruct an entire radiation pattern at any frequency in the fitting-model range. A simple procedure is introduced for transforming interpolated electric fields into gain patterns using input impedance versus frequency curves also obtained via MBPE. The utility of this method is demonstrated by applying it to a dipole antenna over a frequency range of 150-950 MHz and using a polynomial representation in /spl theta/ for the coefficient spatial dependence. It is also used to estimate radiation patterns for a three-element Yagi array between the frequencies of 470 and 500 MHz using a binomial representation for the spatial variation that includes terms dependent on /spl theta/ as well as /spl phi/. The use of this method for interpolating radiation patterns has at least two significant advantages; one being large compression ratios for the amount of data that must be stored to accurately reproduce patterns and the other being a significant decrease in the amount of time required for modeling problems with large computational domains.