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Thinning of Sierpinski fractal array antennas using bounded binary

fractal-tapering techniques for space and advanced wireless applications
V.A. Sankar Ponnapalli a , ∗, P.V.Y. Jayasree b
a Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Sreyas Institute of Engineering and Technology, Hyderabad 500068, India
b Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, GITAM (Deemed to be University), Visakhapatnam 530045, India

Received 18 May 2017; accepted 21 December 2017

Available online xxxx

Abstract

Fractal arrays are repetitive-geometry-based smart arrays having impressive array factor properties. However, the performance of these arrays
degrades owing to their large number of antenna elements at higher expansion levels. This research work presents the thinning of Sierpinski fractal
arrays while keeping an applicable balance between all array factor properties by using two types of bounded binary-fractal-tapering techniques
known as Sierpinski and Haferman carpet anti-diagonal tapering techniques. Approximately 22% to 50% of antenna elements are thinned in each
successive iteration of the Sierpinski fractal array with the proposed tapering techniques.
⃝c 2018 The Korean Institute of Communications Information Sciences. Publishing Services by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under
the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Keywords: Sierpinski fractal array antenna; Thinned arrays; Array factor properties

1. Introduction sponge, and hexagonal FAAs. This expansion is undesirable

because the size of the antenna plays a vital role in satellites
Fractal array antennas (FAAs) are large antenna apertures
and other space communication systems [6–9]. All exceptional
having multiband and multi-beam behaviors. These antennas
properties such as frequency independent, thinning, rapid beam
and array antennas find applications in both the civilian and
forming algorithms, and excellent array factor properties of
military fields owing to their optimum properties such as
these arrays depend on the fractal geometrical methodology or
high gain, multi-beam, less side-lobe levels [1,2], and ultra-
shape [10]. Thinning of fractal arrays can also be achieved with
wideband behavior [3]. Thinned arrays are becoming popular
the above-mentioned conventional techniques, but the basic
because of their improved array factor properties with some
geometric design methodology or shape after the application of
percentage of removed elements and this can lead to the ease
these techniques cannot be assured. Hence, a particular or the
of practical implementation of the proposed system. Thinning
customized technique is needed for the thinning of these arrays,
of antenna elements can be achieved with an empirical for-
i.e., the proposed optimized or tapered techniques should obey
mula, optimization techniques, and statistical or deterministic
the fractal nature.
density tapering techniques [4,5]. Antenna elements increase
Some of the fractal arrays are thinned arrays by their geomet-
with successive iterations (p) and expansion factors (S) in every
ric nature, which is why the Sierpinski carpet and Cantor sets
FAA. However, the expansion of antenna elements is very high
are considered for the thinning of conventional antenna arrays.
in some fractal antenna arrays such as the Sierpinski, Menger
These types of hybrid arrays have achieved excellent thinning
∗ Corresponding author. percentage with balanced array factor properties [11]. Some
E-mail addresses: sankar.p@sreyas.ac.in (V.A. Sankar Ponnapalli), reports investigated the thinning of fractal antenna arrays with
pvyjayasree@gitam.edu (P.V.Y. Jayasree).
Peer review under responsibility of The Korean Institute of Communica- fractal distribution of currents like the Morse–Thue, and the
tions Information Sciences. one count distribution functions [12,13]. A modified iterative
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icte.2017.12.006
2405-9595/⃝ c 2018 The Korean Institute of Communications Information Sciences. Publishing Services by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the
CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Please cite this article in press as: V.A. Sankar Ponnapalli, P.V.Y. Jayasree, Thinning of Sierpinski fractal array antennas using bounded binary fractal-tapering techniques for space and advanced wireless
applications, ICT Express (2018), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icte.2017.12.006.
2 V.A. Sankar Ponnapalli, P.V.Y. Jayasree / ICT Express (
Fourier transform technique is discussed in [14] for the thinning
of any type of antenna arrays with abated side-lobe levels,
and the synthesis of thinned circular and square arrays is
investigated to validate the proposed hybrid IFT techniques.
Iterative FFT techniques are also used for the thinning of FAAs
such as the Sierpinski fractal array antennas; these techniques
achieved better side-lobe levels and less mutual coupling losses
with an excellent percentage of thinning [15]. The spatially
tapered sunflower array has been proposed to decrease the
complexity of satellite communication systems. In this method,
approximately one-third of the elements were thinned with
reduced side-lobe level and beam width [16].
Satellite and other space communication systems require
low profile antenna arrays with better array factor proper-
ties. Hence, this article introduced the bounded binary-fractal-
tapering techniques for the thinned FAA’s. The Sierpinski
FAA has been considered for the validation of the proposed
technique. The remainder of this article is organized as follows:
Section 2 introduces and explains the proposed fractal-density-
tapering methods; Section 3 explains the Sierpinski fractal
antenna array and design equations; Section 4 discusses the
results, and the conclusions are presented in Section 5.
2. Bounded binary fractal tapering techniques
Generally, the tapering of an array antenna involves switch-
ing off some of the antenna elements with the given amplitude
distribution function. In fractal tapering, the switching off of
elements should depend on the fractal concept. This means
that the input current distribution should be fractal distribu-
tion of current. This article proposes novel bounded binary-
tapering techniques for the thinning of FAA’s. Basically fractal
arrays are thinned array antennas, but the number of antenna
elements increases with successive iterations and expansion
factors. Hence, fractal arrays require further thinning of antenna
elements without degrading the multiband and ultra wide band
behavior. The anti-diagonal Sierpinski and Haferman carpet
bounded binary-fractal tapering techniques are introduced and
applied to the Sierpinski FAA. Basically, conventional density-
tapering allows for the thinning of antenna elements without
disturbing the array factor properties of the fully-populated ar-
ray, but these conventional-tapering techniques are not suitable
for FAA’s due to their lower taper efficiency. Like fractal ge-
ometrical shapes, fractal density tapering techniques also obey
the self-similar nature. Owing to this repetitive nature, fractal-
density tapering can help to achieve better taper efficiency and
gain without disturbing the basic multiband behavior of the
fractal arrays.
2.1. Sierpinski anti-diagonal bounded binary-fractal tapering
The anti-diagonal of the Sierpinski matrix sequence was
proposed by Roger L. Bagula. The proposed tapering technique
is based on the Sierpinski carpet matrix and is an example of
the pure fractal sequence of the bounded nature; this means that
the Sierpinski fractal sequence up to the nth iteration obeys the
self-similar nature. In this case up to five iterations have been
Please cite this article in press as: V.A. Sankar Ponnapalli, P.V.Y. Jayasree, Thinning of Sierpinski fractal array antennas using bounded binary fractal-tapering techniques for space and advanced wireless
applications, ICT Express (2018), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icte.2017.12.006.
) –
considered for the thinning of the Sierpinski array antenna. The
length of this sequence equals approximately the total number
of antenna elements in the considered array antenna or fractal
array antenna. Because of the bounded repetitive nature of this
sequence, the complexity of the power dividers reduce taper
efficiency is better and thinning rate is maintained compared
to the conventional technique. Generally, the reduction in the
antenna elements of an array by thinning will shrink the gain.
This decrease in the gain is balanced in the proposed method
because of antenna elements of the bounded fractal nature.
The generalized Sierpinski fractal matrix and anti-diagonal
sequence of this matrix from first to n-iterations are shown
below. Sierpinski matrix for first iteration ( p = 1) and corre-
sponding anti-diagonal sequence is given by,
The Sierpinski matrix for the second iteration ( p = 2) and the
corresponding anti-diagonal sequence is given by,
The Sierpinski matrix for the nth iteration ( p = n) and the
corresponding anti-diagonal sequence is given by,
2.2. Haferman carpet anti-diagonal bounded binary-fractal
tapering
The Haferman carpet anti-diagonal sequence is an example
of semi-fractal sequence; this means that the sequence up to the
nth iteration need not follow the fractal nature. The Haferman
matrix is a modified form of the Sierpinski matrix. This tapering
technique is derived from the Haferman matrix. The number of
‘ON’ elements in this tapering technique for each iteration can
be described by the formula below,
1 [
(−1) p 5 p+1 + 9 p+1
]
(1)
14
This sequence also extended up to five successive iterations
for the thinning of the array antenna. Owing to the expansion
behavior of this sequence, approximately half of the antenna
elements were thinned in all the iterations, and the thinning
percentage was maintained. The complexity of the Sierpinski
 V.A. Sankar Ponnapalli, P.V.Y. Jayasree / ICT Express ( ) – 3

fractal array design can be reduced drastically due to this low-

profile tapering nature. The generalized Haferman matrix and
its anti-diagonal sequence up to the nth iteration are shown
below. The Haferman matrix for the first iteration ( p = 1) and
its corresponding anti-diagonal sequence is given by,

Haferman matrix for second iteration ( p = 2) and correspond-

ing anti diagonal sequence is given by,

Fig. 1. Fourth iteration Sierpinski carpet array for an expansion factor of

three [6].

4. Discussion on results
This paper describes the application of fractal density-
tapering techniques for the thinning of the Sierpinski FAA
Haferman carpet matrix for nth iteration ( p = n) and corre- without degrading the performance of its original counterpart.
sponding anti-diagonal sequence is given by, The performance of the fractal-tapered Sierpinski arrays is
computed for four iterations ( p = 1, 2, 3, 4) and compared
with the fully populated Sierpinski antenna arrays. The array
factor of the fully populated Sierpinski fractal array by an
expansion factor of three for four iterations has been analyzed.
The beam width and side lobes of the fully populated Sierpinski
fractal array decreased with increasing iterations and maintain
the recognizable wider side-lobe level angles. Among the four
iterations, a wider beam width of 34◦ without any side lobes is
3. Design equations of Sierpinski fractal antenna array
observed in the first iteration, a fine narrow beam width of 0. 6◦
The Sierpinski carpet fractal array is one of the famous with −10.9 dB side-lobe level is observed in the last iteration,
fractal arrays in the family of Sierpinski arrays. The geometrical and a wider side-lobe level angle of 15. 1◦ and a lesser side lobe
formation of this array for four iterations is shown in Fig. 1, of −19.2 dB are observed in the second and third iterations
and the array factor equations [1,8] are represented in (2). Gen- respectively. The geometrical construction of Sierpinski anti-
erally, FAA’s are generated recursively with their sub arrays; diagonal bounded binary tapered array and these properties are
therefore, this array is also generated recursively with an eight- almost the same as the fully populated Sierpinski FAA. Except
element sub-array generator having half wavelength distance in the first iteration, 22% to 25% of thinning was achieved
between each antenna element. in all other iterations. Owing to the expansion nature of the
P 2 4
1 ∏∑∑ Sierpinski anti-diagonal tapering, thinning is not achieved in
AF p (θ, φ) = p Imn E (2) the first iteration. In the second iteration 16 antenna elements
8 p=1 m=1 n=1
were thinned out of 64 elements with a wider side lobe level
p−1 [√mπ (sin θ cos(φ−φ )−sin θ cos(φ −φ ))]
E = ejS mn 0 0 mn
(3) angle of 15. 1◦ and −13.5 dB side-lobe level. In the third and
mn − 1 π fourth iterations, 112 antenna elements were thinned out of 512
φmn = ( ) (4) and 1024 elements were thinned out of 4096 antenna elements
m 2
where, p is the iteration number (four simultaneous iterations respectively, with nearly the same array factor properties of
are considered in paper), S is the expansion level of the its original counterpart. In this case also fine beam width of
Sierpinski antenna array (it describes the number of elements 0. 6◦ was also observed at the fourth iteration on 25% of the
for every iteration), n is the total number of elements for each thinned antenna elements. The average thinning percentage of
iteration, θo and φo are the steering angles, and m is the total the Sierpinski anti-diagonal tapered Sierpinski fractal antenna
number of concentric rings. The array factor equation for the array is 18%.
Sierpinski carpet antenna array will not be the same of general Array factor properties of Haferman carpet anti-diagonal
Sierpinski square fractal array because it is generated by the tapered array with 50% of thinning achieved at all iterations
concept of switching off the center antenna element of a 3 × 3 ( p = 1, 2, 3, 4). Actually, in the Sierpinski anti-diagonal
square antenna array. tapering thinning is not achieved in the first iteration, but in
Please cite this article in press as: V.A. Sankar Ponnapalli, P.V.Y. Jayasree, Thinning of Sierpinski fractal array antennas using bounded binary fractal-tapering techniques for space and advanced wireless
applications, ICT Express (2018), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icte.2017.12.006.
4 V.A. Sankar Ponnapalli, P.V.Y. Jayasree / ICT Express ( ) –

Table 1
Array factor properties and thinned elements of fully populated, Sierpinski anti diagonal tapered and Haferman carpet anti-diagonal tapered Sierpinski fractal
antenna arrays.
Iterations (P) 1 2 3 4
Total No. of elements 8 64 512 4096
No. of tinned elements & percentage N/A N/A N/A N/A
HPBW (◦ ) 34 09 2.4 0.6
Fully populated Sierpinski fractal antenna array
SLL angle (◦ ) 66.3 15.1 4.5 1.2
SLL(dB) −6.5 −13.7 −19.2 −10.9
No. of tinned elements & percentage 0 (0%) 16 (25%) 112 (22%) 1024 (25%)
HPBW (◦ ) 34 09 2.4 0.6
Sierpinski anti-diagonal tapered array
SLL angle (◦ ) 66.3 15.1 4.5 1.2
SLL (dB) −6.5 −13.5 −19.2 −10.9
No. of tinned elements & percentage 4 (50%) 32 (50%) 256 (50%) 2048 (50%)
HPBW (◦ ) 34 9.2 2.4 0.6
Haferman carpet anti-diagonal tapered array
SLL angle (◦ ) 66.3 16 4.7 1.2
SLL (dB) −6.5 −13.0 −19.2 −11

this case nearly half of the antenna elements thinned in the
first iteration with better array factor properties. In the second
iteration some degradation was observed in the side lobe and
beam width with the wider 16◦ side lobe level angle. The third
and fourth iterations also achieved nearly the same array factor
properties as the fully populated array with 50% of thinning.
The average thinning percentage of this tapering technique is
50%. The performances of the fully populated and proposed
tapered Sierpinski FAA’s with four iterations are tabulated in
Table 1.
5. Conclusions
This article illustrates the Sierpinski and Haferman carpet
anti-diagonal tapering techniques for the thinning of fractal
array antennas. The proposed bounded binary-fractal-tapered
arrays demonstrate better behavior than the fully populated
Sierpinski fractal array in terms of all array factor properties
and percentage of thinning. The Sierpinski anti-diagonal ta-
pering technique has achieved better array factor properties
and thinning; however, this technique did not maintain the
thinning percentage for all iterations. The Haferman carpet anti-
diagonal tapering technique achieved a higher and constant
thinning percentage than the Sierpinski anti-diagonal tapering
for all iterations of the Sierpinski fractal array. The prac-
tical implementation of these tapering techniques is simple
because of their good tapering efficiency, low profile and binary
values of amplitude weights. These bounded binary-fractal-
tapering techniques may result in novel comprehensions into
the analysis and synthesis of antenna arrays with pioneering
characteristics that are used in space communications, multi
frequency wireless LANs, multi-input–multi-output radars, and
other advanced wireless communications.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest in this
paper.
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Please cite this article in press as: V.A. Sankar Ponnapalli, P.V.Y. Jayasree, Thinning of Sierpinski fractal array antennas using bounded binary fractal-tapering techniques for space and advanced wireless
applications, ICT Express (2018), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icte.2017.12.006.