MOMENTS-METHOD ANALYSIS OF A FINITE ARRAY OF ARBITRARY SHAPED MICROSTRIP PATCH RADIATING ELEMENTS

A full-wave model for the analysis of a finite array of arbitrary shaped, probe fed, microstrip elements is presented. The method of moments is used first to obtain a space-domain solution to the mixed potential integral equation (MPIE) for the isolated element in terms of linear ramp basis functions over triangular subdomains. A second order matrix equation for the array problem is then set up using characteristic current modes as basis functions. These converge rapidly and have orthogonality properties such that only the intermode coupling between separated elements need be computed-a relatively simple operation. Predicted and measured performance characteristics for a 37-element 8-GHz array of dual-mode patches are given which demonstrate the accuracy obtainable with this approach. (C) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.