Optimization-Based Sidelobe Control in Reduced Complexity Hardware-Combined Architectures

Phased arrays have become a fundamental technology in modern communication systems, including millimeter-wave 5G networks and Low Earth Orbit satellite links, where radiation pattern control is essential for spectral efficiency. In this context, an optimization-based framework under explicit angular constraints is proposed for beam synthesis. Based on the construction of the sidelobe steering matrix, formulations involving sidelobe energy minimization, the \L_1\-norm, and the minimax criterion are analyzed within a unified framework. The approach is further extended to reduced-complexity subarray architectures, enabling a systematic investigation of performance--complexity trade-offs. Results show that the relative behavior of the optimization criteria is largely preserved under subarray constraints, achieving effective sidelobe suppression with reduced hardware complexity. Among the considered methods, the sidelobe energy formulation provides the best trade-off between performance and computational cost. Finally, a weight precomputation strategy is adopted to enable real-time operation by implementing efficient lookup tables (LUTs) in large-scale phased array systems.