© Dassault Systèmes | 2/28/2020 | ref.

: 3DS_Document_2019

Antenna Array

CST Studio Suite

Simulation by Groups
 Introduction
 In CST Studio Suite the Array Task offers three excitation options for full array projects:
1. Simultaneous excitation – all the ports are excited together with the specified weight distribution.
2. Sequential excitation – each element port is sequentially excited and farfields are combined in a result
template with the specified weight distribution.
© Dassault Systèmes | 2/28/2020 | ref.: 3DS_Document_2019

3. Group sequential excitation – same as the previous option except that only reference elements of
each group will be excited.
 Simultaneous excitation is very good if you are interested in a few scan angles.
 Sequential excitation requires the full S-matrix to be calculated and can require a lot
more computation time. The advantage is that it is done once and post-processing can
be used to quickly reconstruct the array farfield with any desired excitation list.
 In this study we will focus on the simulation-by-groups approach, highlighting the
benefits as well as the areas of caution.

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 Array by Groups
 In this study, let us consider a 5G small cell array with 60 stacked patch
elements.
© Dassault Systèmes | 2/28/2020 | ref.: 3DS_Document_2019

 Using Array by groups approach, it is possible to divide the antenna

elements in a group i.e. we can define certain number of groups for the
full array project where we have the possibility to define a reference
element to be excited in each groups.

 The assumption is that all the elements in the group have the same
embedded pattern and therefore only one element is excited to get the
reference pattern.

 While choosing the reference element to excite in a group, one has to

have a good understanding of the antenna element behavior.

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 Create Array Task
© Dassault Systèmes | 2/28/2020 | ref.: 3DS_Document_2019

1
Start with the single antenna element
and create an Array Task

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Create Array Task
 Create Array Task – Defining groups
© Dassault Systèmes | 2/28/2020 | ref.: 3DS_Document_2019

Create Baseline with sequential

excitation and different Zone
configurations for result comparison.

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_

R
+
Keys
Shortcut
Create Array Task – Defining groups
 Simulation-by-Groups Approach
How accurate is this approach for a 60 element array?

1 2 3 4
© Dassault Systèmes | 2/28/2020 | ref.: 3DS_Document_2019

5 Groups 13 Groups 17 Groups 32 Groups

10% simulation time* 25% simulation time* 30% simulation time* 50% simulation time*

* With reference to the sequential excitation of the full array consisting of 60 elements.

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 Simulation-by-Groups Approach
How accurate is this approach for a 60 element array?

Directivity, φ = 0°
Baseline*
© Dassault Systèmes | 2/28/2020 | ref.: 3DS_Document_2019

θ [°]

* Baseline refers to sequential excitation Beam scanned to φ, θ = 0°

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 Simulation-by-Groups Approach
How accurate is this approach for a 60 element array?

Directivity, φ = 0°
Baseline*
© Dassault Systèmes | 2/28/2020 | ref.: 3DS_Document_2019

5 Groups
13 Groups
17 Groups

θ [°]

* Baseline refers to sequential excitation Beam scanned to φ, θ = 0°

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 Simulation-by-Groups Approach
How accurate is this approach for a 60 element array?

Directivity, φ = 0°
Baseline*
© Dassault Systèmes | 2/28/2020 | ref.: 3DS_Document_2019

5 Groups
13 Groups
17 Groups
32 Groups

θ [°]

* Baseline refers to sequential excitation Beam scanned to φ, θ = 0°

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 Simulation-by-Groups Approach Baseline
Group sets 1-3
Group set 4
How accurate is this approach for a 60 element array?

Directivity, φ = 0° Directivity, φ = 45°

© Dassault Systèmes | 2/28/2020 | ref.: 3DS_Document_2019

Beam scanned to Beam scanned to

φ = 0°, θ = 45° φ = 45°, θ = 60°

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 Points to Remember
 There is no single grouping scheme that can simply be applied in a generic way.
It also requires some insight into the radiation and coupling properties, to be able
to get the most efficient grouping layout.
© Dassault Systèmes | 2/28/2020 | ref.: 3DS_Document_2019

 Grouping pattern and the reference element location varies depending on the
antenna element characteristics and various other factors such as
 Element geometry
 Coupling between the elements
 Array layout (size and relative placement of elements)
 Scanning requirements etc…

 The best way to proceed is to investigate the antenna element thoroughly before
simulating a full array with grouping configuration.

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 Simulation-by-Groups – Larger Array Example
429 element Ku-band uplink SATCOM array

9 element pattern calculations give good

approximation of full array performance.
© Dassault Systèmes | 2/28/2020 | ref.: 3DS_Document_2019

9 Groups

Zero padding

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 Simulation-by-Groups – Larger Array Example
429 element Ku-band uplink SATCOM array

9 element pattern calculations give good

approximation of full array performance.
© Dassault Systèmes | 2/28/2020 | ref.: 3DS_Document_2019

9 Groups

Zero(co-pol)
Realized gain paddingin dBi vs θ [°]

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