Design and prototype development of an optimum symmetrical number system direction finding array
Publisher: Naval Postgraduate School; Available from National Technical Information Service
Published: 1997
Place of publication: Monterey, Calif; Springfield, Va
Language: eng
Number of pages: 85
Subjects: RADIO DIRECTION FINDERS; ANTENNA ARRAYS
Description: One method of estimating the direction of an electromagnetic source is based on phase comparison. In this thesis the design and fabrication of a prototype antenna to demonstrate a new DF antenna architecture is described. Four antenna elements are grouped into three pairs with element spacing according to a set of symmetrical number system pairwise relatively prime moduli (m1 = 3, m2 = 4, m3=5). The phase difference between each pair of elements is a symmetrical folding waveform that is determined using a mixer. The output voltage from each pair is amplitude analyzed using a small comparator ladder. In each channel, the symmetrically folding waveform, folds in accordance with the channel modulus and thus, only requires a precision according to that modulus. A high resolution DF is achieved after the N different SNS moduli are used and the results of these low-precision channels are recombined to yield the direction of arrival. The frequency of operation of the prototype is 8.5 GHz. Results based on measured and simulated data are resented.
Notes: Thesis advisors, Phillip E. Pace, David C. Jenn.

AD-A331 816.

Thesis (M.S. in Electrical Engineering)--Naval Postgraduate School, March 1997.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 83).