Wideband arrays with variable element sizes

A new planar array architecture based on adding half-sized elements in between the other elements in order to extend the frequency by one octave is proposed and validated. This wideband array with variable element sizes (WAVES) antenna is shown by calculations and by measurements using Archimedean spirals to be the elements necessary to maintain a simple clean mainbeam and principal plane sidelobes below about -10 dB over two octaves. In spite of using a test antenna with a simple parallel feed and no impedance matching or isolation, the agreement between predicted and measured results is good.