An improved method of diagnosis of failed elements in arrays based on far-field radiation pattern

An improved approach of locating failed elements in antenna arrays based on far field radiation pattern is proposed using genetic algorithms (GA). The locations of the failed elements were found based on the comparison between the results of the proposed model and the simulation from HFSS which was treated as the measured results of the array with failed elements. The success rate of the diagnosis was improved by taking account the effect of the mutual coupling into the far field calculation. Furthermore, the positions of the failed elements were distinguished from their symmetrical positions which the method proposed by Ares could not accurately dealt with. A 16-elements linear array and 32 elements microstrip printed dipole array were studied with the application of the improved diagnosis method. This showed the validity of the suggested method.