Method and apparatus for calibrating antenna apparatus and testing an antenna connected thereto

• US 6,310,579 B1
• Filed: 05/12/2000
• Issued: 10/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Radio Frequency Systems Incorporated (Amphenol Corporation)
• Inventors: Meredith, Sheldon K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHEN, SHIH CHAO
• Application Number:
  US09/570,101
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: G01/R.124, 343/703, 324/601, 324/645, 455/67.1, 455/129, 455/115
• US Class Current: 343/703
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 27/06 Measuring reflection coefficients; Measuring standing-wave ratio
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 29/10 Radiation diagrams of antennas

Abstract

A method and apparatus for calibrating an antenna apparatus and testing an antenna connected thereto is provided. The calibration is conducted without an antenna connected to establish a baseline return loss calibration coefficient. Thereafter, after an antenna is connected, a test may be conducted to measure the performance of the antenna on the antenna site apparatus. The calibration process includes measuring a leakage signal, measuring an average of the magnitude of a ripple output of the reflection signal over a frequency range to determine the baseline return loss calibration. Thereafter, if the antenna is connected and the test signal is again swept over frequency, then a new ripple factor is determined for the antenna and a new mean output voltage for Vant is determined. By comparing the new average output voltage for Vant and the baseline return loss calibration, one can determine information about the performance of the antenna.

Claims

1. A method for testing an antenna for a voltage standing wave, comprising the steps of:

(A) calibrating the antenna by

(i) providing a first calibration signal to a directional coupler,

(ii) measuring a first reflected signal without an antenna connected,

(iii) connecting the antenna,

(iv) providing a second calibration signal,

(v) varying the frequency of the second calibration signal, and

(vi) determining a calibrated result; and

(B) testing the antenna by

(i) providing a test signal,

(ii) measuring the test result, and

(iii) comparing the test signal to the calibrated result to determine the voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR).