Shared Aperture Sparse Array Antenna for Wide Band Applications

A proposal for the use of array antennas in wide band applications is formulated. An approach ensuring wide band features of the aperture in conjunction with moderate band radiators is advocated. For illustrating this concept, two moderate band sub-arrays, operating at different frequencies, are employed for covering a fractional bandwidth of 35%. A combinatorial technique is applied for thinning the sub-arrays, while preserving acceptable radiation properties. The two resulting sub-arrays being sparse allows them to be interwoven such that to share a common aperture.