Reconfigurable Antenna Array Direction Finding System Based on a Fast Search Algorithm

• Main Authors: Chunxi Liu, Dongliang Peng, Zhikun Chen, Yong Wu, Binan Wang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-07-01
• Series: Sensors
• Subjects: reconfigurable antenna array; direction of arrival (DOA) estimation; microwave switches; fast DOA search algorithm
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/21/14/4729

In a traditional antenna array direction finding system, all the antenna sensors need to work or shut down at the same time, which often leads to signal crosstalk, signal distortion, and other electromagnetic compatibility problems. In addition, the direction-finding algorithm in a traditional system needs a tremendous spectral search, which consumes considerable time. To compensate for these deficiencies, a reconfigurable antenna array direction finding system is established in this paper. This system can dynamically load part or all of the antennas through microwave switches (such as a PIN diode) and conduct a fast direction of arrival (DOA) search. First, the hardware structure of the reconfigurable antenna is constructed. Then, based on the conventional spatial domain search algorithm, an improved transform domain (TD) search algorithm is proposed. The effectiveness of the system has been proven by real experiments, and the advantage of the system has been verified by detailed simulations.