How can I simulate 3D antenna array in CST?
Hi every one
I am building a 3D antenna array. I don't know how can I draw a patch array that mount on a hemispherical surface.
can anyone tell me its technique.
thanks a lot
Just extrude, also you can find in examples.
There could be several ways to do this, but most simulators allow extrusion from a planar curve, using another line as a path to get the thickness. In your case, the outline profile of your patch antenna is not actually on a flat surface, but a sphere. The edges of the patch could be "great circle" lines (shortest route between corners), or intersection lines of a patch antenna "projected" onto the sphere, but there may be another way.
One fast way to get such a patch is to define two spheres, with one being larger radius by the thickness of the patch antenna metal, made of PEC or metal, in a vacuum background. Then, define a cone, but do not leave it the default round cone. Instead, set the number of segments of the cone to be 4.
In the dialogue, you will be able to set the bottom and top radius values to be the same as that for the spheres. Use a variable like r_sphere1, and r_sphere2. You set the center to where the center of your sphere is, and the remaining (Z?) dimensions also to the same sphere radii.
So far, you have the shape of the metal on an empty sphere shape, hanging in space. It should now be obvious that you can use more spheres and cones to define the substrate and ground plane materials below that metal, or you can start with the ground plane first if you like.. The result should be a square-looking patch antenna forced onto a spherical surface.
If it has to be a rectangle, or some other arbitrary shape, there are a whole bunch of ways to cut, carve, subtract or intersect shapes from a hollow sphere. This one just seemed the easiest to visualize quickly.