Radar antenna array test platform
By utilizing a base and a sliding absorbing test box on a radar antenna array test platform, combined with a scale and pointer, the problem of high testing costs for radar antenna arrays has been solved, enabling rapid and accurate testing and debugging, and reducing manpower and financial costs.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- HEFEI DINGYUAN TECH CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2024-11-29
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-12
AI Technical Summary
In the current technology, testing of radar antenna arrays requires entering an expensive anechoic chamber, resulting in high human and financial costs and a cumbersome testing process.
Design a test platform including a base and a sliding absorbing test chamber. Use absorbing materials to form a simulated small dark chamber. The radiating unit is slidably positioned to the center of the radiating microstrip plate for testing. Precise positioning is achieved by using a scale and pointer.
It enables rapid and accurate testing of each radiation unit without entering the anechoic chamber, reducing testing costs, facilitating debugging and handling, and improving testing efficiency.
Smart Images
Figure CN224231861U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of antenna testing technology, specifically a radar antenna array testing platform. Background Technology
[0002] In the design and production of radar antenna arrays, the batch size is usually quite large. Each antenna array contains many radiating elements. Sometimes, not all of the radiating elements of the antenna array can meet the design requirements. Therefore, it is necessary to test and debug them before assembling them onto the radar.
[0003] When testing antenna arrays, significant external environmental interference often prevents achieving ideal conditions. Therefore, precise testing is typically conducted in an anechoic chamber constructed with absorbing materials. For example, Chinese invention patent CN111953429B discloses a phased array antenna testing system and method, where both the antenna array and the phased array antenna are housed within a microwave anechoic chamber, and testing is performed using instruments and transceivers. While this approach is effective, the construction cost of the anechoic chamber is substantial, renting one is expensive, and antenna testing and debugging are tedious processes. Repeatedly entering the anechoic chamber incurs significant human and financial costs, thus necessitating a solution. Utility Model Content
[0004] To address the technical problems existing in the prior art, this utility model provides a radar antenna array test platform. By utilizing a base and a sliding absorbing test box, a simulated small anechoic chamber is formed outside each radiating element of the antenna array under test, thereby effectively reducing the cost required for traditional anechoic chamber testing and facilitating the debugging and handling of the tested antenna array.
[0005] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides the following technical solution:
[0006] This utility model discloses a radar antenna array test platform, including a base and a test box; the base is used to horizontally place the antenna array to be tested, and the test box is slidably arranged on the base along the extension direction of the antenna array; the side of the test box near the base has a wave-absorbing groove for the antenna array to pass through when sliding, and a radiating microstrip plate is installed on the side of the test box away from the base. By sliding the test box, each radiating element of the antenna array can be positioned in the same vertical plane perpendicular to the sliding direction as the center point of the radiating microstrip plate.
[0007] As a further improvement to the above scheme, the test platform also includes a scale; the scale is fixed to the base and parallel to the extension direction of the antenna array; a pointer pointing to the scale is fixedly installed on one side of the test box, and the pointer and the center point of the radiating microstrip board are located in the same vertical plane perpendicular to the sliding direction.
[0008] As a further improvement to the above scheme, the test platform also includes columns for reducing the vertical distance between the radiating element and the radiating microstrip board; the two columns are fixed at both ends of the base, and the end face of each column away from the base constitutes the support end for the horizontally placed antenna array.
[0009] As a further improvement to the above solution, the column and base are detachably fixed.
[0010] As a further improvement to the above solution, the inner wall surface of the absorbing groove is provided with absorbing material.
[0011] As a further improvement to the above solution, the test platform also includes a slide rail fixed to the base, and a slider is fixedly installed on the side of the test box near the base. The slider slides in cooperation with the slide rail to realize the sliding arrangement of the test box on the base.
[0012] As a further improvement to the above scheme, two slide rails are arranged side by side, with the test box suspended directly above the middle of the two slide rails.
[0013] As a further improvement to the above scheme, the radiating microstrip board is snapped into a pre-reserved slot on the test box, and a connector is welded onto the radiating microstrip board; wherein, the antenna interface and connector of the antenna array are respectively connected to two ports of the vector network analyzer via cables.
[0014] As a further improvement to the above scheme, a strip-shaped opening is provided on the base for the cables of the antenna array to pass through.
[0015] As a further improvement to the above solution, the test platform also includes a support frame; the base is fixedly installed on the support frame.
[0016] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are:
[0017] 1. This invention utilizes a base and a sliding absorbing test chamber to form a movable, simulated miniature anechoic chamber outside each radiating element of the antenna array under test. This allows for rapid positioning of the radiating element directly beneath the radiating microstrip board for testing. After testing one radiating element, the test chamber can be moved at known intervals to quickly position and test the next radiating element without shutting down the system. This effectively reduces the cost of traditional anechoic chamber testing and facilitates the debugging and handling of the tested antenna array.
[0018] 2. This utility model allows operators to manually observe scales and pointers on the base and test box respectively, which serve as the basis for the above positioning. It can also be combined with the known distribution spacing of radiation units to further improve the efficiency of non-stop testing. Attached Figure Description
[0019] Figure 1This is a front view of a certain type of antenna array (a total of 14 radiating elements).
[0020] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the radar antenna array test platform in an embodiment of this utility model.
[0021] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the base and support frame and other components.
[0022] Figure 4 for Figure 2 A three-dimensional structural diagram of components such as the test chamber.
[0023] In the diagram: 101, base; 102, scale; 103, column; 104, slide rail; 105, support frame; 106, strip-shaped opening; 201, test box; 202, slider; 203, absorbing groove; 204, radiating microstrip board; 205, connector; 206, pointer; 3, antenna array; 301, radiating element; 302, antenna interface. Detailed Implementation
[0024] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.
[0025] Please see Figures 2 to 4 This embodiment provides a radar antenna array test platform, including a base 101 and a test box 201, and may also include a scale 102, a column 103, a slide rail 104 and a support frame 105.
[0026] The base 101 is used to horizontally place the antenna array 3 to be tested. In this embodiment, the antenna array 3 is located on the top of the base 101, and the base 101 is fixed on the support frame 105 below. Both the base 101 and the support frame 105 can be made of wood, which is lightweight and easy to move.
[0027] Of course, in some embodiments, the antenna array 3 can also be placed at the bottom or side of the base 101, and the position of the test box 201 needs to be adjusted accordingly. The advantage of this arrangement is that the test platform can be flexibly deployed in the required location, such as a wall or ceiling. It should be noted that when the antenna array 3 is located at the bottom or side of the base 101, the base 101 needs to be equipped with fixing components for the antenna array 3, such as suction cups or clamps.
[0028] The test box 201 is slidably arranged on the base 101 along the extension direction of the antenna array 3; the test box 201 has an absorbing groove 203 on the side near the base 101 for the antenna array 3 to pass through. The inner wall surface of the absorbing groove 203 can be set with absorbing material by bonding or vapor deposition to simulate a small anechoic chamber.
[0029] A radiating microstrip board 204 is snapped onto the side of the test box 201 away from the base 101 via a pre-reserved slot, and a connector 205 is soldered to the center point of the radiating microstrip board 204. The antenna interface 302 of the antenna array 3 and the connector 205 are respectively connected to two ports of the vector network analyzer via cables. By sliding the test box 201, the center point of the radiating microstrip board 204 can be positioned in the same vertical plane as each radiating element 301 of the antenna array 3.
[0030] The scale 102 is fixed to the upper surface of the base 101 by screws, located near one side of the test box 201, and the scale 102 is parallel to the extension direction of the antenna array 3; a pointer 206 that points vertically to the scale 102 is fixedly installed on one side of the test box 201, and the pointer 206 and the center point of the radiating microstrip plate 204 are located in the same vertical plane.
[0031] It should be noted that the spacing of the radiating elements 301 on the antenna array 3 is known or even uniformly fixed during the production stage. Since the test conditions require the radiating elements 301 to be located directly below the radiating microstrip board 204, and the radiating microstrip board 204 and the scale 102 are in the same position in the vertical plane, the test box 201 can be moved precisely according to the required spacing of the radiating elements 301 to be tested, in conjunction with the scale 102 and the pointer 206.
[0032] The support column 103 is used to reduce the vertical distance between the radiating element 301 and the microstrip board, thereby making the test more accurate. At least two supports 103 are bolted to the base 101 and are arranged in a straight line. The end face of each support column 103 away from the base 101 forms a support end for the horizontally placed antenna array 3. Multiple supports 103 of different heights can be selected to adapt to different models of antenna array 3.
[0033] Two slide rails 104 are arranged side by side and are fixed to the upper surface of the base 101. Four sliders 202 are fixedly installed on the side of the test box 201 near the base 101. Each pair of sliders 202 slides in cooperation with one of the slide rails 104 to enable the test box 201 to slide suspended on the base 101.
[0034] In addition, a strip-shaped opening 106 is provided on the base 101 for the cable of the antenna array 3 to pass through, so that the cable will not cause interference due to the sliding of the test box 201.
[0035] In practical use, the antenna array 3 under test is placed on the column 103 of the test platform, ensuring that the antenna array 3 is horizontal. The pointer 206 is used to locate the target position on the scale 102, ensuring that the center point of the radiating element 301 and the radiating microstrip board 202 are on the same vertical plane. Then, the antenna interface 302 and connector 205 are connected to ports one and two of the calibrated vector network analyzer, respectively. On the instrument, S11 and S22 are selected for testing standing wave ratio, S12 for testing amplitude, and S21 for testing phase. The signal enters the radiating element 301 of the antenna array 3 through the cable from the vector network analyzer and is emitted from the radiating element 301. After being received by the radiating microstrip board 204 on the test box 201, it flows through the cable back into the vector network analyzer. The data is then read and recorded, showing the amplitude, phase, and standing wave value of each radiating element 301 at the center position of the radiating microstrip board 204, thus completing the test. Then, based on the spacing of each radiating element 301 of the antenna array 3, the test box 201 can be moved directly to the next radiating element 301 for testing using the coordination of the pointer 206 and the scale 102, which greatly reduces the manpower and financial costs of going to the anechoic chamber for testing.
[0036] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model, but the protection scope of the present utility model is not limited thereto. Any equivalent substitutions or changes made by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present utility model, based on the technical solution and the inventive concept of the present utility model, should be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.
Claims
1. A radar antenna array test platform, characterized in that, The test chamber includes a base (101) and a test box (201). The base (101) is used to horizontally place the antenna array (3) to be tested. The test box (201) is slidably arranged on the base (101) along the extension direction of the antenna array (3). The test box (201) has a wave-absorbing groove (203) on the side near the base (101) for the antenna array (3) to pass through when sliding. A radiating microstrip plate (204) is installed on the side of the test box (201) away from the base (101). By sliding the test box (201), each radiating element (301) of the antenna array (3) can be positioned in the same vertical plane perpendicular to the sliding direction as the center point of the radiating microstrip plate (204).
2. The radar antenna array test platform according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a scale (102); the scale (102) is fixed to the base (101) and parallel to the extension direction of the antenna array (3); a pointer (206) pointing to the scale (102) is fixedly installed on one side of the test box (201), and the pointer (206) and the center point of the radiating microstrip plate (204) are located in the same vertical plane perpendicular to the sliding direction.
3. The radar antenna array test platform according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a column (103) for reducing the vertical distance between the radiating unit (301) and the radiating microstrip plate (204); the two columns (103) are fixed at both ends of the base (101), and the end face of each column (103) away from the base (101) forms the support end for the horizontally placed antenna array (3).
4. A radar antenna array test platform according to claim 3, characterized in that, The column (103) and the base (101) are detachably fixed.
5. A radar antenna array test platform according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner wall surface of the absorbing groove (203) is provided with absorbing material.
6. A radar antenna array test platform according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, It also includes a slide rail (104) fixed to the base (101), and a slider (202) is fixedly installed on the side of the test box (201) near the base (101). The slider (202) and the slide rail (104) slide together to realize the sliding arrangement of the test box (201) on the base (101).
7. A radar antenna array test platform according to claim 6, characterized in that, Two slide rails (104) are arranged side by side, and the test box (201) is suspended directly above the middle of the two slide rails (104).
8. A radar antenna array test platform according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The radiating microstrip board (204) is snapped into the slot reserved on the test box (201), and a connector (205) is soldered on the radiating microstrip board (204); wherein, the antenna interface (302) and the connector (205) of the antenna array (3) are respectively connected to the two ports of the vector network analyzer through cables.
9. A radar antenna array test platform according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The base (101) has a strip-shaped opening (106) through which the cable of the antenna array (3) passes.
10. A radar antenna array test platform according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, It also includes a support frame (105); the base (101) is fixedly installed on the support frame (105).