Autocorrelation-Driven Synthesis of Antenna Arrays—The Case of DS-Based Planar Isophoric Thinned Arrays

A new methodology for the design of isophoric thinned arrays with a priori controlled pattern features is introduced. A fully analytical and general (i.e., valid for any lattice and set of weights) relationship between the autocorrelation of the array excitations and the power pattern samples is first derived. Binary 2-D sequences with known autocorrelation properties, namely the difference sets (DSs), are then chosen as a representative benchmark to prove that it is possible to deduce closed-form synthesis formulas that a priori guarantee to fit requirements on the sidelobe level (SLL), the directivity, the half-power beamwidth, and the power pattern in user-defined directions. The selected results from a wide numerical assessment, which also includes full-wave simulations with realistic radiators, are illustrated to validate the reliability and the accuracy of the proposed design equations and the associated performance bounds.