A new technique for feeding a cylindrical array

A new technique for exciting a cylindrical array is described. It uses a Butler matrix and a simple switching matrix for exciting only that sector of the array that contributes to formation of a desired radiation pattern. It accomplishes full circumferential coverage with fewer active components, reduced complexity, and better performance than other matrix methods for exciting cylindrical arrays. An array of elements is configured so that contiguous elements spanning an active angular sector of are excited simultaneously to form a radiation pattern. This paper considers the case in which a quadrant array is excited by an -way power divider and an Buffer matrix. Pattern selection or rotation is accomplished by phasers and 1P4T switches. Continuous full circle rotation of the radiation pattern requires switching operations in addition to linear control of the phasers.