Fast determination of the element excitation of an active phased array antenna

The far field radiation pattern of an active phased array antenna is determined by the excitation of its elements. The amplitude and phase of this excitation can be adjusted in an active phased array and have to be properly set in order to obtain a desired far field pattern. This report describes a fast and easy method to determine this element excitation: the electric field in terms of amplitude and phase has to be measured in only one direction of interest of the far field of the antenna as a function of the element's amplitude and phase settings. The method is called the Element Excitation Method (EEM). Both theoretical and practical aspects can be found in this report. The method proved to be very useful in the alignment of the amplitude and phase settings of the elements of an active phased array at C-band.