A Near-Field Focused Phased-Array Antenna Design Using the Time-Reversal Concept for Weed Control Purpose

TL;DR

This paper introduces a phased-array antenna design utilizing the time-reversal concept to achieve near-field focus, specifically aimed at weed control, demonstrating high electromagnetic field strength and steerability at 5.8 GHz.

Contribution

The work applies the time-reversal concept to design a near-field focused phased-array antenna, showing its equivalence to ray optics and enabling enhanced field strength and steerability.

Findings

The antenna achieves maximum electric field strength at the near-field region.

Full-wave simulation validates high electromagnetic field strength.

The design maintains steerability near the antenna.

Abstract

Near-field focus (NFF) antennas have been recently used in several applications for different purposes. In this work, the time-reversal (TR) concept is used to shape the phase distribution of the phased array elements for the NFF of the electromagnetic field strength. It is shown that the TR concept is equivalent to the known ray optic method for the NFF. A slotted waveguide phased array antenna operating at 5.8 GHz is designed to provide the maximum electric field strength at the near-field region of the phased array. It is shown that the application of the full-wave simulation allows for an antenna design that provide high strength of the electromagnetic field and sufficient steerability even at near-field conditions close to the phased array antenna.