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Method and system for characterizing an array antenna using near-field measurements

  • US 9,331,751 B2
  • Filed: 08/05/2014
  • Issued: 05/03/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2014
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for calibrating an array antenna using near-field antenna measurements, the method comprising:

  • for a first antenna element in an antenna under test (AUT);

    obtaining a received signal at the first AUT antenna element from an antenna probe assembly comprising multiple probe elements, by transmitting from the antenna probe assembly at each of multiple known probe locations in a near-field of the AUT;

    obtaining a received signal at each the multiple known probe locations by transmitting from the first AUT antenna element to the antenna probe assembly at each of the multiple known probe locations;

    combining the received signals to generate a combined signal for the first antenna element, wherein combining the received signals includes combining the signal in a manner that de-correlates multi-path in the combination result;

    processing the combined signal to generate a calibration coefficient for the first AUT antenna element; and

    performing remote boundary condition (RBC) testing to reduce or eliminate temporal instability in the calibration test equipment used during the array calibration to isolate temporal instability within the AUT, wherein performing RBC testing includes inserting first, second and third boundary conditions, one at a time, at a specific point in the calibration test equipment and performing corresponding measurements to establish a phase reference,wherein the multiple known probe locations associated with the first AUT antenna element lie on one of the following;

    a plane for planar near-field metrology, a cylindrical surface for cylindrical near-field metrology, and a spherical surface for spherical near-field metrology.

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