A Calculation Method of Conformal Circular Polarized Array Radiation Pattern for IoT Application

This article proposes a comprehensive calculation method for determining the radiation pattern of a conformal circularly polarized antenna array, which is increasingly utilized in advanced communication systems for Internet of Things (IoT) applications due to its ability to conform to various surface geometries and maintain consistent polarization. The method involves defining the positions of antenna elements on a conformal surface using spherical coordinates, calculating the individual element radiation patterns for circular polarization, and deriving the array factor that accounts for the spatial arrangement and phase excitation of the elements. On this basis, an antenna array with continuously adjustable half-power beamwidth (HPBW) and axial-ratio beamwidth (ARBW) is designed. The method is validated through simulation of the array, demonstrating its capability to accurately predict the radiation characteristics and reveal the impact of conformal geometry on performance. Measured results are consistent with the simulated results, verifying the proposed method’s validity. The obtained HPBW is 198° of the designed array and can be continuously adjusted from 34°–232°, and the gain is 12.2 dBi at the range of 2.4–14.6 dBi at the centre frequency of 2.45 GHz. This calculation method provides a robust framework for future research and development in conformal antenna technology.