Focal arc radiation pattern measurements
Abstract
A technique for obtaining the antenna far-field radiation pattern of microwave antennas is described. This technique allows the use of a chamber and is based on focusing the phased array that is being tested and moving a test probe on a focal arc. It is found possible to reduce the distance required to measure the far-field radiation pattern of an array by close to an order of magnitude. This reduction results from swinging the probe antenna on an arc that approximates the perfect focal arc defined by r = R0 cos theta. A probe of this arc gives no quadratic or defocusing error. The dominant error term now becomes the cubic error term or coma. The principal advantage is the capability of obtaining good far-field radiation patterns of phased-array antennas in an indoor chamber quickly and with relatively inexpensive conventional test equipment.
- Publication:
-
Microwave Journal
- Pub Date:
- March 1992
- Bibcode:
- 1992MiJo...35...95F
- Keywords:
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- Antenna Radiation Patterns;
- Microwave Antennas;
- Far Fields;
- Test Facilities;
- Communications and Radar