An improvement of parasitic dipole array using suppressor elements

A novel configuration of parasitic arrays is introduced. The characteristics of the array in both forward and backward radiation are improved by using a new element, the suppressor. The suppressor elements are aligned parallel to a radiating dipole or to a conventional endfire array such as a Yagi-Uda array. Radiation in the unwanted direction is reduced by the suppressors, and the forward gain is effectively increased. Design of the optimum antenna parameters was achieved using the moment method, and results were compared to measured values, with good agreement obtained. New arrays were compared to well-designed Yagi-Uda arrays. A new array which is aligned with two broadside suppressors and with three endfire elements had an improved forward gain of 1.5 dB and a reduced backward gain of -4 dB compared to a conventional, well designed Yagi-Uda array with five endfire elements