Performance evaluation of sector antenna array for angle of arrival estimation

This paper describes the design, implementation and characterisation of a uniform circular sector antenna array which has been used for extracting various mobile radio channel parameters. The proposed set-up permits the extraction of angular information using a sectored antenna array configuration. In this paper, the potential capability of the sectored antenna array for DOA (direction-of-arrival) estimation is investigated. Measurements will be presented for an 8-element array in the 2 GHz band. The antenna array is characterised in terms of input return loss, array mutual coupling and azimuth complex radiation pattern. The issues concerning mutual coupling between the array elements is also discussed. Furthermore, the paper presents measurements made using the array with our parallel channel chirp sounder at UMTS frequencies to estimate DOA information.