foreword
1. Beam scanning of array antenna
2. HFSS array antenna model
3. Simulation solution setting skills
4. Beam scanning method 1: variable scanning parameters
5. Beam scanning method 2: custom weight table
Pay attention to "Electromagnetic Society" and make electromagnetic simulation no longer complicated!

foreword

The beam scanning of the antenna is divided into mechanical scanning and electrical scanning. Compared with the former, the latter has obvious advantages in scanning speed, number of beams, beam shape, etc., and is more flexible in control. This paper introduces two simulation methods for radio beam scanning in HFSS.

Key words: array antenna, radio beam scanning

1. Beam scanning of array antenna

An array antenna is an integrated system composed of multiple antenna units. Through beam scanning technology, the relative phase and amplitude between antenna units can be changed to control the direction and shape of the beam. In areas such as radar, communications and navigation, higher signal quality and better target tracking can be achieved.

In beam scanning, each antenna element of the array antenna can be regarded as a transmitter or receiver, and the control of the transmitting beam can be realized by changing the phase difference and amplitude between them. Beam scanning technology allows the antenna elements to be programmed as desired to achieve different beam directions and shapes.
insert image description here

2. HFSS array antenna model

This article omits the modeling process of the array antenna, and takes the dipole array antenna that comes with HFSS as an example for demonstration. The path of the model file is located in \AnsysEM\Win64\Examples\HFSS\Antennas in the AnsysEM installation disk directory;
insert image description here

As shown in the figure below, the array antenna model has a trough reflector and consists of five printed dipole antenna elements;
insert image description here

3. Simulation solution setting skills

When using HFSS for radiator simulation, if you want to see the S parameters of the feed port and save the field results, it is recommended to set two Frequency Sweeps at the same time: one SPara_Sweep using Interpolating scanning, and one Field_Sweep using Discrete scanning (choose individual Save Field for important frequency points can greatly reduce the size of the simulation file);
insert image description here

4. Beam scanning method 1: variable scanning parameters

Set variables for the amplitude and phase of the port, and realize beam scanning by scanning parameters;
insert image description here

Animation of beam scanning effect;
insert image description here

5. Beam scanning method 2: custom weight table

In addition to the above operations, you can also customize the weight table. This method is suitable for automated operations. The manual operation method is as follows;

The beam encoding is set to the variable Beam;
Scan parameters for beam encoding Beam;
Use if statement to set, such as if(Beam1,1, if(Beam2,1.1, if(Beam==3,1.5,0)))W, stands for: Beam=1, Magnitude=1W; Beam=2, Magnitude=1.1W; Beam=3, Magnitude=1.5W;
Animation of beam scanning effect;