An Efficient and Generalized Auto-Design Methodology for Complicated Beamforming Networks

To deal with different beamforming network (BFN) design tasks, a generalized auto-design methodology is developed by the following three steps. First, a structure reconfiguration is performed by using a binary design matrix assisted with different reconfiguration functions. Then, to speed up the component design, the homotopy continuation (HC) method is exploited to form a partial database. A mapping technique ensures the partial database to be expanded to the complete database, which covers the whole feature space. An inverse model is well trained based on the complete database to generate the physical parameters of multiple couplers. Finally, the optimal distributed phase compensation is decided by minimizing the total phase shift value of phase shifters. For the demonstration, two different waveguide BFNs are designed. In addition, this work discussed the potential of using the proposed methodology to design BFNs with a more complex configuration or BFNs in other materials. The results prove that the proposed methodology allows an automatic and simultaneous generation of multiple physical structures, which can improve the BFN’s electrical performance or meet different physical specifications (PS). Considering many possible problems in a BFN design, the proposed methodology is generalized to different classes of BFNs. Moreover, the component design can be finished within a shorter time than existing algorithms.