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The reflective properties of a flat circular plate and a long thin wire are discussed in connection with the quality and calibration of the quiet zone (QZ) of a compact antenna test range. (CATR). The flat plate has several applications in the CATR. The first is simple pattern analysis, which indicated errors as function of angle in the QZ, the second uses the plate as a standard gain device. The third application makes use of the narrow reflected beam of the plate to determine the direction of the incident field. The vertical wire has been used to calibrate the direction of the polarization vector. The setup of an optical reference with a theodolite and a porro prism in relation to the propagation direction of the incident field is presented as well.
A method for obtaining the individual element excitations of an array antenna from measured radiation patterns is presented. Applications include element failure diagnosis, phased array antenna calibration, and pattern extrapolation. The measured far-field information is restricted to visible space which does not always contain the entire Fourier domain. A typical example is phased array antennas designed for large scan angles. A similar problem arises during near-field testing of planar antennas in which case the significant far-field domain is restricted by the scanning limitations of the near-field test facility. An iterative procedure is then used which is found to converge to the required solution. The validity of the approach has been checked both using the theoretical radiation patterns and real test cases. Good results have been obtained.
The Dassault Electronique flexible near-field antenna test facility, ARAMIS, has been used for test and calibration of state-of-the-art active phased-array antennas which were designed for military SATCOM operation. The 14-month successful program dramatically emphasized the benefits of a flexible antenna test facility such as ARAMIS. These benefits are the following: • Flexibility o Far-field mode (test of radiating elements and modules) o Planar near-field mode (test of sub-arrays and complete antenna) o High-resolution field mapping mode o Array Element testing • Speed: quick mode switching, “on the fly” multiplexed acquisition • Versatility: calibration of a module, a sub-array and the antenna; radiation patterns; gain; faulty element detection • Productivity: a single indoor facility performing different types of measurements, integrated software Test results gathered during this program and showing the ARAMIS contribution are presented.
Accurate near-field cross-polarization measurements on circularly polarized (CP) antennas at millimeter-wave frequencies require well-characterized probes with low axial ratios. We have recently obtained and calibrated dual-port CP horns for use as near-field probes at frequencies of 40-50 GHz. These horns have axial ratios which are 0.3 dB or less over a 10% frequency bandwidth. With these good axial ratios the difference between vector and scalar probe correction is usually small. Additional advantages of the dual-port probes are the need for only a single alignment, more accurate knowledge of the relative phase between two ports of the same probe, and the ability to obtain both main and cross polarized data during one scan. The axial ratios of the dual port CP probes are also better than those of single-port CP Probes. In this paper we present some gain, axial ratio, and pattern measurements for these probes and show that they give accurate cross-polarization measurements.
The near field technique has grown from experimental systems of the early 1960s to sophisticated accepted means of testing antennas. Several schemes have been employed, namely planar, cylindrical and spherical scanning. The spherical scanning system chosen for one of the near field ranges at GE Aerospace is different from most near field systems in that the test antenna remains stationary while the probe is made to scan over a surface of an imaginary sphere surrounding it. The sampled field is corrected for positional, phase and amplitude errors and transformed to the far field. Radiation patterns, gain, EIRP, group delay and amplitude response were measured for a shaped beam communications antenna.
Antenna engineers recognize that the planar near-field method for calibrating antennas provide accurate pattern and gain measurements. Bothe the pattern and gain measurements require some degree of probe position accuracy in order to achieve accurate results. This degree of accuracy increases for antennas that have structured near-field patterns. These are antennas in which the amplitude and phase change rapidly over a very small position change in the near-field scan plane. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has recently measured an antenna with a very structured near-field pattern. This measurement was performed using a new probe positioning system developed at NIST. This measurement will be discussed and results will be presented showing how slight probe position errors alter the antenna pattern and gain.
The extraneous signals that perturb antenna patterns can be found and identified by a method known as “longitudinal translation at selected points”. The method is usually applied to certain selected angular points on the antenna pattern. With this technique the composite pattern – consisting of the direct-path signal and the reflection signal – is measured at a series of translation distances along the axis of the antenna range. By utilizing both the amplitude and phase of the received signal, one can remove the signal that results from stray reflection and retain the desired direct path signal. The result is an improved and more accurate version of the pattern. In this presentation I review this technique as specifically applied to compact range antenna measurements, and apply it to several patterns, to demonstrate the method.
This paper describes the techniques applied to a fully automatic computer controlled, HP8510 based, range gated digital data acquisition system used to provide scale modeled large aperture synthesis, evaluation of aircraft blockage effects, array patterns, element cancellation ratios, as well as providing a large accurate data base for radar simulation exercises.
A technique is presented for the measurement of antenna patterns, in which a long, thin wire is moved past the antenna aperture while the changes in reflection coefficient at the antenna feed are recorded. By suitable processing of these data, the antenna pattern can be calculated.
A microwave holographic analysis system is shown to have successfully resolved the surface deformations on an 8' symmetric Cassegrain reflector antenna known to have significant surface deformation problems. The technique is based on the Fourier transform relationship between the aperture field of an antenna and its radiated far-zone field. A signal processing technique dubbed "pattern simulation and subtraction" is discussed that increases the resolution in the transformed aperture domain by removing unwanted signals from the aperture distribution. Measurements taken on the Cassegrain reflector at 11 GHz in the OSU-ESL Compact Range provided excellent amplitude and phase stable data to be processed by the holographic analysis system. Surface deformation profiles generated by this system were then compared to an optical measurement of the main reflector surface. Excellent agreement was obtained with a worst case deviation in the adjusted profiles being 0.05 ?.
An overview of results are presented for far field pattern, antenna gain and antenna temperature measurements of reflector antennas in several frequency bands. The pattern and gain measurements were taken in the compact range at The Ohio State University. The dynamic range available, which gives the ability to take a full 360 degree pattern, and the relatively high speed at which data is collected, are major advantages for pattern and gain measurements in the compact range. In a series of related measurements an 8-foot diameter Cassegrain reflector was used for antenna temperature measurements under clear weather conditions in an outdoor environment.
In the last few years, the interest in millimeter wave systems, like radars, seekers and radiometers has increased rapidly. Though the size of narrow-beamwidth antennas in the 60-200 GHz range is limited to some 20 inches, an accurate far-field antenna test range would need to be very long. The achievement of precision antenna pattern measurements with a 70' or even longer transmission length requires the use of some power that is hardly available and expensive. A cost-effective and more accurate solution is to use a lab-sized compact range that presents several advantages over the classical so-called far-field anechoic chamber: - Small anechoic enclosure (2.5 x 1.2 x 1.2 meters) meaning low cost structure and very low investissement in absorbing material. No special air-conditioning is needed. This enclosure can be installed in the antenna laboratory or office. Due to the small size of the test range and antennas under test, installation, handling and operation are very easy. For spaceborne applications, where clean environment is requested, a small chamber is easier to keep free of dust than a large one. - The compact range is of the single, front fed, paraboloid reflector type, with serrated edges. The size and shape of the reflector and serrations have been determined by scaling a large compact range of ESD design, with several units of different size in operation. The focal length of 0.8 meter only accounts in the transmission path losses and the standard very low power millimeterwave signal generators are usable to perform precision measurements. The largest dimension of the reflector is 1 meter and this small size allows the use of an accurate machining process, leading to a very high surface accuracy at a reasonable cost. The aluminum alloy foundry used for the reflector is highly temperature stable. - Feeds are standard products, available from several millimeter wave components manufacturers. They are corrugated horns, with low sidelobes, constant and broad beamwidth over the full waveguide band and symmetrical patterns in E and H planes. - The compact range reflector, feeds and test positioner are installed on a single granite slab for mechanical and thermal stability, to avoid defocusing of the compact range. - A micro-positioner or a precision X Y phase probe can be installed at the center of the quiet zone. Due to their small size, these devices can be very accurate and stable. Due to the compactness of this test range, all the test instrumentation can be installed under the rigid floor of the enclosure and the length of the lossy RF (waveguide) connections never exceeds 1 meter.
This paper discusses the results of a recent study on the UHF performance of a Harris Shaped Compact Range. The design process for the dual polarized, 70% bandwidth UHF feedhorn is summarized. Measured data is presented for primary feedhorn patterns and for one-way CW field probe measurements with open-ended waveguide. The measured data is overlaid with computer predictions to validate the modelling tools and the measurement procedures. The automated quiet zone characterization procedure for amplitude and phase is also discussed.
Performance verification of an adaptive array requires direct, real-time sampling of the antenna pattern. For a space-qualified array, measurements on a far-field range are impractical. A compact range offers a protected environment, but lacks a sufficiently wide field of view. Conventional near-field measurements can provide antenna patterns only indirectly. This paper shows how far-field antenna patterns can be obtained in a relatively small anechoic chamber by focusing a phased array in the near-field. The focusing technique is based on matching the nulls of far-field and near-field antenna patterns, and is applicable to conformal or nonuniform phased arrays containing active radiating elements with independent amplitude and phase control. The focusing technique was experimentally verified using a 32-element, linear, L-band array. Conventionally measured far-field and near-field patterns were compared with focused near-field patterns. Very good agreement in sidelobe levels and beamwidths was achieved.
A special purpose 80 element linear phased array antenna was aligned using an iterative phase cycling method. First, the array was aligned to yield maximum main-beam power in the reactive near-field zone and then in the far-field zone. A record of the phase-shifters settings achieved for each zone was kept for use as look-up table during operation. In situ electronic main-beam steering was performed to compare sidelobe performance for the two cases. This report describes the measured results obtained using the phased cycling alignment procedure and compares the measured one-way radiation pattern for the two distance conditions.
Scatter from the nearby obstacles on a pattern test range has been removed by synthesizing a short pulse with 16 CW measurements. With suitable weighting, a low time-sidelobe pulse, is synthesized to remove scatter to close as 25' for a 32' low sidelobe UHF array. In addition to the pulse results, equivalent CW data is extracted with an FFT from frequency to time, truncation, and in inverse FFT back to individual frequencies. The time samples provide considerable insight into the source of reflections at the range. The procedure gives good agreement with CW patterns taken in another manner. It does so with a minimum of range modification, and operates at very low sidelobe levels.
In this paper the initial construction and validation phase for a new elevated outdoor antenna range is described. The facility is designed to provide excellent pattern, gain and reflection measurements in the 20 MHz to 40 GHz frequency range for apertures and arrays up to D = 16 feet in length. Shown in detail is a physical description of the facility and equipment, an error budget and the results of field probing and antenna measurements. A discussion of the results shows a facility capable of antenna measurements at S/N levels of 60 dB providing a dynamic range of over 40 dB with error levels less than plus-or-minus 0.44 dB. Throughout the discussion, special attention is given to the full automation of the range in Phase 2 and its possible use for radar cross section measurements.
In an industrial park, a clear area sufficient for antenna measurements is very hard to find and even more difficult to justify. The solution to this problem was to use the roof of a large industrial building. To avoid the reflections from industrial stacks used for air conditioning and spray booths and to provide a flat surface sufficient for good ground reflection operation, an elevated ground reflection antenna range was constructed. The range consists of a ground screen 40 feet by 110 feet mounted on a metal framework 14 feet high. A telescopic source antenna tower is located at one end of the range, and an azimuth-over-elevation antenna positioner with a model tower is located on a raised platform at the other end of the range. The range was evaluated using a lightweight field probe and the experimental data compared to calculated data derived from the NEC-BSC2 computer code. An analysis was made of the probe data defining the sources of extraneous energy and their possible reduction. Pattern comparison data is given to illustrate the correlation between the field probe data and the actual uncertainty experienced in making UHF antenna pattern measurements on the elevated ground reflection range. Finally, planned physical improvements to the range are discussed.
At Southwest Research Institute, an automated antenna performance evaluation system has been developed for evaluation of mast-mounted direction finder antennas. This system utilizes a dual-channel receiving system and IF processor with off-line antenna pattern analysis software. Antennas are mounted on a test range which includes computer-controlled antenna positioners, test frequency transmitters, and a data acquisition equipment group. Amplitude and phase data is digitized and recorded for automated off-line antenna performance evaluation. The evaluation software provides a Fourier analysis of the antenna patterns which characterize distortion, alignment, relative phase relationships, amplitude mismatch, and bearing deviations (from theoretical values) for each antenna array.
The Vulnerability Assessment Laboratory (VAL) anechoic chamber at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico was reconfigured and refurbished during the last part of 1988. This paper will be a facility description of the state-of-the-art Special Electromagnetic Interference (SEMI) investigation facility. Electromagnetic susceptibility and vulnerability investigations of US and, in some cases, foreign weapon systems are conducted by the EW experts in the Technology and Advanced Concepts (TAC) Division of VAL. EMI investigations have recently been completed on both the UH-50A BLACKHAWK and AH-64A Apache helicopters in the chamber. The paper will cover the facility's three anechoic chambers, shielded RF instrumentation bay, computer facilities for EM coupling analyses, and the myriad of antenna, antenna pattern measurement, amplifier, electronic, and support instrumentation equipment for the chambers. A radar cross section measurement and an off-line RCS data processing station are also included in the facility.