Abstract
In this paper, an array processing technique is proposed for the vertical linear array to generate flat-top ring-shaped cells in the High-Altitude Platforms cellular system. This new cell design will improve the power distribution and carrier-to-interference ratio (CIR) over the cell area through two weighting functions applied to a vertical linear array; the first is responsible for the flat-top design and the second smoothes the radiation pattern and reduces the sidelobe levels. The resulted power pattern has a uniform distribution over the cell stripe area with as small as 0.25 dB ripples and a uniform CIR values greater than 43 dB within the cells which reduces the processing burden needed for power control and increases the immunity to propagation problems.