An optimized circular array - Application to the tacan system

The specified rotating TACAN-antenna pattern is generated by a circular array system using a minimized number of circumferential radiators (
N=16
compared to
N \geq 32
of known designs). A
6\times16
BUTLER-matrix feeds the array where sequentially radiated sets of conjugate phase modes of the maximum order
M=5
are excited. Three 4 bit digital phase shifters provide the electronic rotation. Basic theoretical, conceptional and experimental results of a realized feasibility antenna are presented.