Small computer interactive near field measurements for directive antennas

Attention is given to the disk operated technique of the Air Force Avionics Laboratory near field measurement system. The facility provides rapid observation of measured near field data and rapid on-line antenna pattern prediction. The prediction is achieved by a so-called collapsing technique to determine an equivalent one-dimensional near field and to predict a single cut pattern. It has been shown that a few cuts can determine a close approximation to the far field pattern. The technique serves to significantly reduce measurement time when the required far field information is less than the complete volumetric patterns.