Optimization of Module Partition Based on the Weighted Clustering Method for a Wideband Irregular Subarrayed Array

In wideband beam scanning with module-level time delay and subarray-level phase shifting methods in irregular subarrayed planar arrays, obtaining the optimal module partition is a critical challenge. In this article, we propose a module partition optimization method based on the weighted clustering method (WCM). First, we demonstrate that pattern matching is equivalent to the subarray-level excitation matching principle. Then we transform the complex optimization model into a real clustering optimization framework based on the second-order Taylor approximation, which reduces the computational complexity. Next, the WCM is proposed to reduce the matching error by modifying the membership rule and cluster center of K-means clustering, ultimately obtaining the optimized module partition scheme. In addition, we propose a minimum module quantity estimation method to explore the relationship between array bandwidth and module quantity. The proposed methods are applicable to both the uniform and nonuniform weighting cases. The effectiveness and potential of the proposed method are verified by different numerical experiments and comparison of the state-of-the-art method.