Transmit Beamforming Based on 4-D Antenna Arrays for Low Probability of Intercept Systems

This article has developed a new approach to combine transmit beamforming techniques and 4-D antenna array theory for simultaneously improving the detection and low probability of intercept (LPI) capabilities of radar. This new approach enjoys most of the advantages of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) and phased arrays, providing excellent detection and LPI capabilities. The essence of the proposed approach is to utilize a 4-D variable to extend the detection dimension and increase the signal uncertainty. Specifically, the flexible choices of a time-modulation scheme can greatly improve the detection and LPI capabilities of radar. The substantial improvements achieved by the proposed method compared with basic MIMO and phased-MIMO arrays are demonstrated by simulations through analyzing the corresponding beampatterns. In addition, a basic experiment with reference to transmit beampatterns of 4-D antenna arrays is presented to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

[1]  Ertugrul Aksoy,et al.  Thinned Nonuniform Amplitude Time-Modulated Linear Arrays , 2010, IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters.

[2]  Ares,et al.  Optimizing uniformly excited linear arrays through time modulation , 2004, IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters.

[3]  E. Bekele,et al.  Pulse-Shaping Strategy for Time Modulated Arrays—Analysis and Design , 2013, IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation.

[4]  Anjie Cao,et al.  Direction Finding of Linear Frequency Modulation Signal With Time-Modulated Array , 2019, IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation.

[5]  P. Rocca,et al.  Handling Sideband Radiations in Time-Modulated Arrays Through Particle Swarm Optimization , 2010, IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation.

[6]  Pavel Ginzburg,et al.  Partially coherent radar unties range resolution from bandwidth limitations , 2019, Nature Communications.

[7]  Jun Hu,et al.  A Study on Linear Frequency Modulation Signal Transmission by 4-D Antenna Arrays , 2015, IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation.

[8]  Wen-Qin Wang,et al.  Hybrid MIMO and Phased-Array Directional Modulation for Physical Layer Security in mmWave Wireless Communications , 2018, IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications.

[9]  Phillip E. Pace,et al.  Detecting and Classifying Low Probability of Intercept Radar , 2009 .

[10]  P. Rocca,et al.  Advanced Pulse Sequence Design in Time-Modulated Arrays for Cognitive Radio , 2018, IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters.

[11]  Chong He,et al.  Sideband Radiation Level Suppression in Time-Modulated Array by Nonuniform Period Modulation , 2015, IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters.

[12]  Shiwen Yang,et al.  Sideband suppression in time-modulated linear arrays by the differential evolution algorithm , 2002, IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters.

[13]  P. Rocca,et al.  Harmonic Beamforming in Time-Modulated Linear Arrays , 2011, IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation.

[14]  Shiwen Yang,et al.  Design of a Low Sidelobe Time Modulated Linear Array With Uniform Amplitude and Sub-Sectional Optimized Time Steps , 2012, IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation.

[15]  Paolo Rocca,et al.  Pattern synthesis in time-modulated linear arrays through pulse shifting , 2010 .

[16]  A. Tennant,et al.  Simultaneous control of sidelobe level and harmonic beam steering in time-modulated linear arrays , 2010 .

[17]  Franz Hlawatsch,et al.  The Wigner distribution : theory and applications in signal processing , 1997 .

[18]  Sergiy A. Vorobyov,et al.  Phased-MIMO Radar: A Tradeoff Between Phased-Array and MIMO Radars , 2009, IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing.

[19]  Anjie Cao,et al.  Direction Finding by Time-Modulated Linear Array , 2017, IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation.

[20]  Andrew Gerald Stove,et al.  Low probability of intercept radar strategies , 2004 .

[21]  David Lynch,et al.  Introduction to RF stealth , 2004 .

[22]  Yikai Chen,et al.  LPI Beamforming Based on 4-D Antenna Arrays With Pseudorandom Time Modulation , 2020, IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation.

[23]  Z. Nie,et al.  A Novel Electronic Beam Steering Technique in Time Modulated Antenna Array , 2009 .

[24]  Chong He,et al.  Efficiency Improvement of Time Modulated Array With Reconfigurable Power Divider/Combiner , 2017, IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation.

[25]  Shiwen Yang,et al.  Design of a uniform amplitude time modulated linear array with optimized time sequences , 2005, IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation.

[26]  Hong Gu,et al.  The analysis and design of modern Low Probability of Intercept radar , 2001, 2001 CIE International Conference on Radar Proceedings (Cat No.01TH8559).

[27]  Qing Huo Liu,et al.  Reducing the Number of Elements in Multiple-Pattern Linear Arrays by the Extended Matrix Pencil Methods , 2014, IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation.

[28]  Shiwen Yang,et al.  Direction of Arrival Estimation in Time Modulated Linear Arrays With Unidirectional Phase Center Motion , 2010, IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation.

[29]  B. Clark,et al.  A Method for Forming Distributed Beams in Time-Modulated Planar Arrays , 2018, IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation.

[30]  Paolo Rocca,et al.  Synthesis of monopulse time-modulated planar arrays with controlled sideband radiation , 2012 .

[31]  Ruilin Yao,et al.  Directional Modulation Based on 4-D Antenna Arrays , 2014, IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation.

[32]  Roberto Maneiro-Catoira,et al.  Time-Modulated Phased Array Controlled With Nonideal Bipolar Squared Periodic Sequences , 2019, IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters.