Test Mode Anechoic Chamber Characterization

The free-space characterization of an anechoic chamber is presently accomplished by conducting difficult and tedious RF measurements of the interference field intensity levels. Anechoic chambers are characterized after initial construction to determine the quiet zones where the creation of free-space conditions is being attempted. When systems under test (SUT) are placed in the chamber, degradation of the quiet zone occurs and generally characterization of the chamber must be re-accomplished. Chamber characterization with the SUT is usually the most time-consuming and a very costly part of the test activities in anechoic chamber facilities. This Phase I proposal is to determine the feasibility of developing an accurate computer software model to simulate and predict the RF environment of anechoic chambers. The analytical tool will have capability which has application for characterization of any anechoic chambers containing any size SUT. The proposed solution takes advantage of an in-being Airborne Antenna Pattern Prediction Program (A2P3) desktop workstation to provide the required capability. With integration of other codes which provides accurate scattering models for the chamber anechoic surfaces, an enhanced A2P3 will provide an all digital model measurement tool to characterize the noise level, locate quiet zones, and hot spots in large anechoic chambers with or without SUT installed. This capability will greatly enhance anechoic chamber testing by accomplishing characterization with greater accuracy, automating characterization tests, and substantially reducing the overall characterization time and cost. The proposed approach allows the characterization tasks to be accomplished on a user-oriented workstation by test engineers without extensive knowledge of RF measurements techniques or the inter-working of the various codes utilized in the all digital characterization models. The resulting Test Mode Anechoic Chamber Characterization Analysis Tool will be an invaluable, cost-effective asset to support anechoic chamber testing activities.