Microstrip linear array of EMC dipoles with a corporate feed

The design of a microstrip linear array of electromagnetically coupled (EMC) dipoles with a corporate feed is described. In order to obtain a desired array pattern, the corporate feed is composed of various microstrip junctions which are shaped individually to acquire a specific current distribution in the output ports. The separation between two adjacent microstrip junctions or between one microstrip junction and one dipole is set very far away to avoid unnecessary interference. This results in a very huge dimension of the entire circuit and increases the difficulties in evaluation with the method of moments. Therefore, a compromise is made to evaluate the scattering parameters of each junction rigorously by the method of moments and integrate all the junctions using circuit theory. As an example, a five-element equispaced array with a 20-dB Dolph-Chebyshev pattern is designed to illustrate the developed design procedure. Mutual coupling among dipoles is discussed.<>