Computer Simulation Technology AG (CST) and MAGUS (Pty) Ltd (MAGUS) are developing new tools for linear antenna arrays including feed networks, to launch with the newest version of Magus' flagship product Antenna Magus. These features will be previewed at European Microwave Week (EuMW) 2013 at booth #103.
Engineers involved with planar arrays often estimate the performance of the array from single elements, using array synthesis methods to determine the number of elements required, their spacing and the relative excitations. Although this approach provides a good starting point, it does not include a number of practical effects, such as mutual coupling, or the influence of the feed network - and indeed, the actual layout of the feed network.
Antenna Magus, the antenna design tool from MAGUS, already includes tools for selecting suitable topologies from a design database, adjusting these topologies to fit the design requirement, and for constructing arrays of elements with the correct excitation. The upcoming update introduces a new feature: parametric models which include physical feed-network layouts.
The tool allows a feed network to be synthesized either as part of a patch array design (the N-by-1 microstrip patch array with corporate feed), or in isolation to be used with arbitrary antenna elements. The feed network uses practical microstrip lines, and the network topology is automatically adjusted according to the number of elements. The feed network models can be exported into the 3D EM simulation tool CST MICROWAVE STUDIO(r) (CST MWS) and their behavior simulated and optimized as necessary using the full-wave solvers available in CST MWS. With this new feature, CST and MAGUS hope to allow feed effects to be considered earlier in the design flow, and streamline the antenna simulation workflow. It is envisaged that further planar array models will be included in later Antenna Magus releases.
These new features will be among those presented at EuMW, at booth #103. For the full schedule of booth presentations, please see http://www.cst.com/EuMW.
