Linear array of rectangular aperture coupled microstrip antennas with sectoral radiation pattern

The Fourier transform method is applied so as to determine the excitation coefficients and the resultant pattern for a broadside discrete element array whose array factor will closely approximate the symmetrical sectoral pattern with 90/spl deg/ aperture. The influence that the radiation pattern of a single element of the array has on the resultant radiation characteristic is considered analytically by approximation of a single radiation pattern by the parabolic function. Experimental verification of the theoretical results is also described for the case of a linear array of nine elements of rectangular aperture coupled microstrip antennas.