Implementation of Low-Cost Large-Spacing Phased Array Key Methodology for Grating Lobe Suppression (Invite)

High costs, energy consumption, and complexity are the most significant reasons hindering the application of phased arrays in civilian sectors in recent years. A feasible solution is to reduce the number of elements within a fixed aperture, evolving a half-wavelength array into a large-spacing array. However, this simultaneously introduces grating lobes at each scanning angles. To this end, Computational Electromagnetic Laboratory (CEMLAB) at University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC) has carried out related research since 2013. Starting from the generalized pattern multiplication theorem, they analyzed the mechanism of lobes formation in relation to the position vectors of the array element. Subsequently, they developed theoretical methods for grating lobe suppression in low-cost large-spacing scanning arrays using techniques such as null steering, special regular arrangements, and aperiodic configurations. Finally, the development trend of grating lobe suppression in large-spacing array is predicted in the conclusion.