Research on Optimization of the Phase Shifter Control Current in Antenna Arrays with Electronic Beamforming and Estimation of Directivity Decreasing

Antenna arrays that perform electonic beam deviation have phase shifters in their composition. In case of large number of antennas in array, the phase shifter control current can be very big. Particulary, the control current of phase shifters could be optimized to a minimum by providing an additional equal phase shift to all elements of the array. The article contains the study of the value of the current control phase shifters in the 308-element antenna array of the wind profiler radar. It was shown that control current varies a lot with an additional phase step for all phase shifters. Difference between maximum and minimum current depends on a deviation angle and minimal step of the phase shifter. The second part of the article dedicated to influence of phase discrete on the antenna array directivity. In particular, it consists estimation of directivity decreasing when the beam is deviated from the normal position by different angles.