Automatic Time Domain Antenna Range

For companies engaged in the development of new antenna designs, antenna measurement systems represent a huge initial cost, and a significant barrier to entry into the market. Antenna measurement systems typically use a frequency domain Vector NetworkAnalyzer (VNA) and anechoic chamber or large outdoor range. The cost of such systems starts at around $300,000, which is more than most small companies can afford. When characterizing ultra-wideband (UWB) antennas, the cost of frequency domain measurementsis even greater, because the data must be taken at many frequencies, which requires additional time.To address these cost and time issues, a new technology is now available that allows one to measure the characteristics of antennas in the time domain. Such time domain antenna ranges will have one-quarter the cost of a conventional range. They willprovide meaningful measurements over two decades of bandwidth, in either the frequency or time domain. They will also be readily stowed and deployed as required.During Phase I we assembled a prototype automated antenna measurement system. The system features full computer control both of the orientation (azimuth and elevation) of the antenna under test, and of data acquisition by a digital sampling oscilloscope.During Phase II, we will refine the physical package to make it compact, rugged, and easy to set up, stow, and transport. We will also enhance the software to provide full system automation, including data acquisition sequencing, and complete signalprocessing, to provide online, near-real-time recovery of antenna response data in time and frequency domains. We will automatically deconvolve the system response from the measured response. At the end of Phase II, we will be able to sell commercially aturnkey, fully field-deployable system, covering a broad frequency range. The accuracy of the new time domain automated antenna range will be demonstrated to be comparable to that of conventional ranges.