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Unit 7: Arrays in Visual Basic

An array calculator, on the other hand, would have to allow you to specify (almost) any
number of radiators in different layouts and then tell you what the overall performance is.
With our first design we started off with the following two premises:
• anything is possible and
• an array is a bunch of antennas
To design an array, therefore, you first need to know what your elemental antenna looks
like. After that you can decide how many you want and how they should be laid out.
In many ways, arrays are just like antennas. Hence we thought it would be great to
incorporate the array design workflow into the existing antenna design workflow, in other
words: make arrays work just like antennas.
The user would design an elemental antenna, like a patch or a dipole. He could then choose
to make an array of it, either by specifying the number of elements in the x- and y-directions
or allowing Magus to tell him the number of elements needed, their positions and their
excitations.
The first prototype (shown in the image below) was drawn up in Balsamiq and put in front
of five users. In the next blog I will write on what the usability tests told us but have a look
at the prototype so long and write down (or comment) what you thought about it. Click on
the image below to enlarge.

Array tool: Prototype

Questions
1. How to use Array antennas in the Magus database?
2. Explain the concept of Array tool prototype.

7.4 Summary

• Array occupy space in memory.

• Array can have multiple dimensions.

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