Welcome to the AMTA paper archive. Select a category, publication date or search by author.
(Note: Papers will always be listed by categories. To see ALL of the papers meeting your search criteria select the "AMTA Paper Archive" category after performing your search.)
Accurate antenna measurements at sub-millimeter frequencies are very challenging. Especially the phase measurement accuracy is usually limited by the mechanical accuracy of the measurement equipment. The measurement techniques used, and the measurement results of a dual reflector feed system (DRFS) at 650 GHz are presented in this paper. Planarity error compensation technique was used that enabled accurate correction to the measured phase pattern without accurate pre-existing information of the planarity error of the planar near-field scanner. The measured DRFS beam agrees well with the simulated and the achieved measurement accuracy is good.
Now-a-days, far-field ranges are being used to measure antenna radiation patterns. Two main types of ranges used are used for these measurements: direct and indirect illumination. In either case, the accuracy of the measurement is dependent upon the quality of the range quiet-zone fields. In direct illumination, phase and amplitude taper cause discrepancies in the fields. For indirect illumination, only amplitude taper must be accounted for. Additionally, stray signals and cross-polarization will further distort the quiet-zone fields and lead to measurement errors. This new methodology starts with the measured antenna data and a priori knowledge of the incident fields and estimates an Effective Aperture Distribution (EAD). The EAD compensates for these sources of error and can be used to predict the far-field radiation pattern of the antenna under test. Analytical results are presented for taper and stray signal analysis.
As new antenna designs reach higher frequencies and smaller sizes, traditional large scale antenna chamber systems become ill-suited for measurement. External mixing, room-sized chambers, and expensive test equipment add large costs and burden to antenna measurement systems. A smaller, more cost effective system is proposed. Using the bipolar planar scanning technique developed at UCLA, a portable and movable millimeter-wave antenna chamber is currently under development. The chamber is being designed to fit on the end of a standard optical table and enjoys the space-saving and accuracy inherent to the bipolar planar configuration. Simple construction of the chamber will allow relatively easy assembly and disassembly and allow movement of the chamber from one table to another, if needed. Antenna of diameters up to 40cm can be accommodated and scan planes of up to ~160cm can be measured. Millimeter-wave frequencies from around 30GHz to 67GHz can be measured. Antennas measured will use planar near-field to far-field techniques. In particular, the post-process will follow the OSI/FFT method and will incorporate the phase retrieval techniques developed for the bipolar configuration. These phase-less measurements will allow the use of scalar millimeter-wave test equipment with much lower cost than comparable vector test equipment.
This paper discusses design aspects related to a tiltable lightweight near-field scanning system for use at sub-millimeter frequencies. It addresses design issues as they relate to accuracy and scanner distortions from multiple causes. Calibration methods to measure and correct for anticipated and unanticipated errors are briefly addressed. Actual test results are presented. The tiltable scanner being discussed was designed for the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) [1] and is being used by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) [2]. It has many other applications by virtue of its light weight (approx. 120 lbs) and ability to be oriented at different angles. These include flight-line testing and other in-situ antenna test applications.
The CTIA (The Wireless Association – www.ctia.org) were the first to publish a widely accepted test plan for antenna performance testing of “live” mobile phones[1]. The test plan describes the use of phantom heads and involves recording transmitted power and receiver sensitivity information over a full sphere to derive parameters such as Total Radiated Power (TRP) and Total Integrated Sensitivity (TIS). The test plan, has until now, assumed that testing is performed in the far-field at test distances greater than 2D2/.. For typical mobile phone frequency and device test diameters (assumed 300mm in the CTIA test plan), this has not been a constraint. However, as such testing evolves to include the various versions of IEEE 802.11 combined with new devices such as larger laptops and other consumer electronics, a far-field test requirement would lead to very large test facilities. Using experiments and rigorous simulations, this paper will show that for the commonly accepted performance criteria, the far-field requirement is unnecessarily strict. A minimum distance requirement based on the geometry and probe pattern is proposed which will ensure that the performance parameters (TRP, TIS, and others) are obtained with insignificant loss of accuracy.
In this paper a circular planar near-field scan region is considered as an alternative to the commonly used rectangular boundary. It is shown how the selection of this alternative boundary can reduce test time and also to what extent the alternative truncation boundary will affect far-field accuracy. It is also shown how well known single dimensional filter functions can be applied over a two-dimensional region of test and how these attenuate the truncation effect. The boundary and filter functions are applied to measured data sets, acquisition time reduction is demonstrated and the impact on far-field radiation pattern integrity in assessed.
We use a rotating dihedral to determine the cross-polarization ratios of radar cross section measurement systems. Even a small amplitude drift can severely degrade the calibration accuracy, since the calibration relies on accurate determination of polarimetric data over a large dynamic range. We show analytically how drift introduces errors into the system parameters, and outline an analytic procedure to minimize the in.uence of drift to estimate system parameters with greater accuracy. We show that only very limited information about the drift is needed to provide measured system parameters accurate to second order in the error-free parameters. Higher-order accuracies can be achieved by using more detailed information about the drift. We use simulations to explain and illustrate the analytic development of this theory. We also show that, using cross-polarimetric measurements on a cylinder, we can recover the exact system parameters. These .ndings show that we can now calibrate polarimetric radar cross section systems without the large uncertainties that can be introduced by drift.
For many years now, General Dynamics has described the development, characterization, and performance of an image-based circular near-field-to-far-field transformation (CNFFFT) for predicting far-field radar cross-section (RCS) from near-field measurements collected on a circular path around the target. In this paper, we consider the CNFFFT algorithm as an azimuthal filtering process and develop a formulation capable of transforming data that is not measured over a full 360º. Such a formulation has applications in measurement scenarios where collection of a complete rotation is not practical. As part of the development, we provide guidelines for the near-field data support required to achieve a desired accuracy in the sub-360º CNFFFT result. Numerical simulations are provided to demonstrate that the results of this partial-rotation formulation are consistent with the full-circle CNFFFT results presented in past papers.
In a FF antenna range the DUT mechanical Boresight can be aligned with the Range Boresight simply by using a Boresight scope to transfer the DUT mechanical Boresight to the Range coordinate system. This is not applicable to a PNF Range; hence, another transfer device and different transfer methods are required. This paper describes the development, testing and referencing of an existing PNF range to a reference optical cube that serves as the coordinate system transfer device. The optical measurement system employs an automated total station Theodolite system, incorporating true 3D positioning of the NF probe along defined axes of movement. The data collected is processed to best fit a straight line defining the vector representing the axis. The scanning PNF plane is defined with high accuracy, by a geometrical representation of two (or more) axes in that plane. Thus, the scan plane coordinate system was transferred by auto collimation methods to the reference optical cube. A second optical cube must be placed on the AUT to be used as a reference for its mechanical Boresight. When the AUT is set up for testing, the coordinate systems are transferred from each cube to the other by means of co-collimation using a temporarily positioned Theodolite combination.
A new algorithm for the amplitude-only characterization of Compact Antenna Test Ranges (CATRs) is presented. The algorithm applies a successful strategy to retrieve the missing phase of the field in the quiet zone. Particular care is devoted to facing the issue of the typically large electrical dimensions of CATRs and to obtaining the necessary accuracy by the use of an “efficient” representation of the radiated field. This is accomplished through a Jacobi-Bessel expansion of the aperture field which allows to keep low the overall number of unknowns and to improve the accuracy and the reliability of the algorithm. The presented numerical analysis, based on realistic CATR simulations by means of GRASP8-SE, shows the feasibility of the algorithm to estimate amplitude and phase of the quiet zone field within an acceptable accuracy.
A large rolled edge compact range system featuring a 12’H x 16’W quiet zone has been designed, fabricated, installed, and tested in a large aerospace test facility. During the program, a high precision alignment methodology was utilized in conjunction with electromagnetic prediction capability to verify both mechanical and electrical performance while still under trial assembly conditions at the factory. A coherent laser radar (CLR) was utilized to measure the reflector surface on a very fine grid, and the electromagnetic (EM) quiet zone performance was calculated from the raw CLR data using a Physical Optics (PO) model. Despite extremely high surface accuracy of the panels, this evaluation methodology highlighted systematic alignment errors in the reflector system, and guided the process of correcting these errors to achieve a final factory verification assembly for the entire 20’H x 24’W reflector system of better than 0.001” over the quiet zone section of the reflector, and 0.004” rms over the entire reflector. This procedure was also utilized for the on-site installation to achieve alignment of the reflector to an AUT positioning system using the CLR, as the positioning system and chamber were already existing and operational. Thus, it was required to align the reflector to the positioning system, and not the positioning system to the reflector as is usually the case. A unique vertical carousel feed system was also aligned using this procedure. Predicted EM results were again used to finalize alignment on site prior to quiet zone field probe evaluation. This paper summarizes the overall alignment and EM evaluation process, and presents results for the installed compact range reflector system.
This paper presents a generalized nonlinear interpolation technique for generating 3D antenna radiation patterns from 2D cross sections. The motivation for this work is that most of the patterns provided by antenna manufacturers are only available as vertical and horizontal cross sections. Accurate propagation calculations, however, require gain values at arbitrary orientations, corresponding to points on a 3D gain surface. After reviewing the current methods of generating such a gain surface, we find that linear interpolation algorithms seem the most promising, even though they can often lead to pronounced mathematical artifacts. To overcome these shortcomings a new nonlinear algorithm is proposed. The new approach mitigates, and in most cases eliminates, the artifacts produced by linear interpolation weights. The new method is fast, yields smooth, more realistic surfaces that are consistent with the vertical and horizontal cuts, exhibits diminished mathematical artifacts, and improves the accuracy of propagation calculations of radio frequency signals. Representative examples from the application of the new algorithm to cellular base station antenna patterns will be presented.
This paper presents the design, development and testing of an inverted Stewart platform for suspending and positioning targets during RF antenna and signature testing. Previous string target support systems use multiple string attachment point configurations that do not allow the target roll or pitch to be modified during the azimuthal data collection. This presentation will discuss an in-house development of a scale model target support system that allows for high accuracy simultaneous target roll and pitch positioning. The inverted Stewart platform also offers unique stability of the target by damping out the torsional pendulum motion typically encountered in conventional string support systems. In this paper we will also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the string support concepts and provide design guidance for a building an inverted Stewart platform support system. If possible, a simple squat calibration standard will be measured to assess the quality and precision of this novel support system.
Spherical near-field measurements have become a common way to assess performance of a wide variety of antennas. Published reports on range error assessments for spherical near-field ranges however are not very common. This is likely due to the perceived additional complexity of the spherical near-field measurement process as compared to planar or cylindrical measurement techniques. This paper will establish and demonstrate a simple procedure for characterizing the performance of a spherical near-field range. The measurement steps and reporting can be largely automated with careful attention to the test process. We will summarize the process and document the accuracy of a spherical near-field test range at NSI using the same NIST 18 terms commonly used for planar near-field measurements.
The measurement of the radiation patterns of the PLANCK Radio Frequency Qualification Model (RFQM) is one of the most important elements of the verification of the PLANCK telescope. PLANCK is one of the scientific missions of the European Space Agency and is devoted to observe the Cosmic Microwave Background radiation, with unprecedented accuracy. The satellite payload consists of two state-of-the-art, cryogenically cooled instruments sharing a dual reflector telescope with 1.5 m aperture and covering the frequency range from 27 GHz to 1000 GHz. As a key part of the telescope verification logic, the radiation patterns of the RFQM has been measured in the Alcatel Alenia Space Compact Antenna Test Range (CATR) at four frequencies (30, 70, 100 and 320 GHz) using representative flight feed horns of the focal plane unit. This paper presents the test logic, the measured radiation patterns, the custom-made instrumentation set-up, the correction techniques used and the final link to the Flight Model verification.
Adaptive array based antenna pattern comparison technique is presented in this paper. In the method, the antenna pattern of the antenna under test (AUT) is measured several times at different positions in the quiet-zone. The corrected antenna pattern is obtained by taking a weighted average of the measured patterns. An array synthesis algorithm is used to obtain averaging weights at the different rotation angles of the AUT. In addition, the weights are adapted specifically for the AUT. The adaptive array correction technique is demonstrated in a hologram based compact antenna test range (CATR) at 310 GHz. The demonstration is based partly on the measurements and partly on the simulations. For verification, the accuracy provided by the method is compared to the accuracy provided by the uniform weighting.
Hand-made scale models in antenna measurements have been used since the late 1940s. Today, aircraft models are fabricated using a stereolithography (SLA) process and the Computer Aid Design (CAD) for manufacturing the full size aircraft. This is the fabrication method used for the V-22 1/15th scale model. Once the SLA machine is programmed, these models are very inexpensive to produce. In this paper, antenna patterns measured on the V-22 scale model are compared with antenna patterns measured on the aircraft in-flight. Comparison of the patterns shows high correlation. Figure 1 V-22 Aircraft
Position uncertainty in antenna measurements is unavoidable. This is due in part to mechanical inaccuracy in the fixturing and positioning equipment. For many classes of antenna, there is also not an obvious choice of reference point, due to lack of a well-defined phase center. It has been shown [1] that a UWB transfer function measurement, taken either in the time or frequency domain, is highly sensitive indicator of antenna displacement. Extraction of the linear phase from the transfer function data results in a uniquely defined distance for any given pair of antennas in a given orientation. When a two- or three-antenna measurement using identical antennas is performed, the result is a unique reference plane for the antenna. Unlike the phase center, is not tied to a particular frequency. Here, using frequency domain measurements of monopoles, ridged horns, and an end-fed biconical antenna, we show that distances can be extracted with a high degree of repeatability. Resolution on the order of 1 part in 5,000 can be obtained in a 4-meter chamber with measurements extending to 20 GHz. Thus, variation in the extracted distance should be a highly sensitive indicator of positional inaccuracy.
In antenna measurements, the orientation of the antenna under test (AUT) is very important. The orientation here refers to the antenna placement in a plane perpendicular to the incident wavefront. For a linear polarized antenna, the antenna should be oriented parallel to the co-polarized component of the incident fields. A small error in the orientation can lead to a drop in the measured gain and an increase in the measured cross-polarization level. In the case of a circularly polarized antenna, it is not obvious how the antenna should be oriented. If the quiet zone fields (incident wavefront) have no cross-polarized component, then the orientation does not affect the measured data. However, when the quiet zone fields have a cross-polarized component, which is true for almost all test ranges, the measured gain and cross-polarized level can vary significantly with the antenna orientation. In this paper, the measured data is used to show the effects of antenna orientation on a circularly polarized antenna. The reason for the variations in the measured data with antenna orientation is discussed. A simple method to improve the measurement accuracy is presented.
The time delay behavior of antennas is of high importance for high accuracy localization and navigation systems. Next to the investigation of the receiving antennas, the transmitting antennas are of substantial interest, too. In the application envisioned these antennas are small dipoles integrated in a battery powered miniaturized transmitter system. The method described in this paper is based on the measurement of the time difference of arrival of a broadband signal in a synchronized setup. This setup consists of the transmitter under test which transmits a bursted sequence of the localisation waveform. The receiving side of the measurement system consists of two antennas, where one works as a reference antenna (with fixed position in relation to the transmitter) and the other works as “classical” probe antenna. Two synchronized tuners and data acquisition systems determine the time difference of arrival of the signal. Detailed measurements of different transmitters have been performed in the 2.45 GHz ISM band and will be presented.