1. Overview
Suchantennafar-field measurementsystemis
anautomatic measurementsystemwhichis basedonintelligent
instrument and PC(or Industrial Computer),withthe
abilityofdatacollection, analysis and processing. Test
system takes main monitoring computer as the core,
and automatically completes antenna far-field measurement
task, by conducting and controlling the same functional
peripheral equipments, such as vector network analyzer,
receiver positioner, polarization positioner and etc. Main
monitoring computer transmits
control signals into positioner'scontroller via RS-232 interface,
to control antenna polarization matchand direction axis
rotation through connector; meanwhile, it controls vector
network analyzer (which meets amplitude & phase test
requirements of antenna, and has computer programmingcontrol
function) via IEEE-488, and collects the
amplitudesignaloftested antenna. The test software can also
analyze the radiation characteristic parameters of antenna far
field, obtaining a series of parameters, such as antenna
gain, Front-Back Ratio, half-power point beamwidth,
zeroposition, each sidelobe width,each sidelobe location and
related level value. Meanwhile,the above parameters can be
displayed on CRTor output through the printer. Sincethe system
software adopts modular structure, operators just need to type
the required parameters according to menuprompt, and then it
will start automatic measurement, analysis and calculation,
and get a high-precisionresultquickly.
2. SystemblockdiagramofAntennafar-field measurementsystem
3. High setup test field
As shown in Fig. 1.2, on flat ground, install the
receiving/transmitting antenna on top of the cement tower or
adjacent high building, make the first zero point of the
transmitting antenna pattern point to the ground reflection point,
thus the ground reflection is reduced. The distance between two
antennas is determined by the far-field condition. The high test
field is suitable for parameter testing of the antennas with larger
physical dimension. The measuremeant below may reduce or eliminate
the reflection of the surrounding environment.Select the rational transmitting antenna directivity factor to minimum the side-lobe level.
Clear visual obstructions between two antennas.
Take measures to change the reflection wave direction or absorb the
reflected energy for the obstructions in the field and the surface
reflected wave.
Adopt signal processing technology, e.g., frequency modulation or
short pulse wave emission.