Sectoral Side-lobe Suppression using Parks-McClellan Algorithm in a Planar Array

Side-lobe level control is an essential part of the array pattern synthesis. In case of a linear array that consists of N elements, N-2 side-lobes can be controlled individually. This deterministic relationship does not carry over to the planar array case. One of the existing solutions to overcome this problem is the collapsed distribution. In this paper, an efficient alternative method to control the side-lobe level in a planar array over a particular sector is proposed. This method utilizes an extension of Parks-McClellan algorithm to calculate the gain and phase distributions from a synthesized planar array radiation pattern. The technique combines the advantage provided by Parks-McClellan method and the principle of pattern multiplication in order to obtain control over a sector of side-lobes to the desired level. Results have been simulated for a rectangular planar array. The desired side-lobe level is obtained over a particular sector of interest.