Antenna Array Radiation Pattern Determination via Dual-Distance Amplitude Probes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining the radiation pattern of antenna arrays in wireless communication devices are complex due to the difficulty in measuring phase values, which are more challenging than amplitude measurements, and often require phase information to calculate the far field.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that use amplitude-only measurements by positioning probes at two different distances from the antenna array, allowing for the calculation of the far field using an extended Plane Wave Based Fast Irregular Antenna Field Transformation Algorithm, enabling the determination of the radiation pattern without phase measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If phase measurements are used to calculate the far field from near field measurements, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts only the necessary amplitude information from the near field measurements, discarding the complex phase measurement requirement. By using two different measurement distances, the system can calculate the far field pattern using only amplitude data, thereby simplifying the measurement system while maintaining calculation accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the measurement parameter from phase to amplitude by utilizing measurements at two different distances. This parameter transformation allows the far field calculation to be performed using amplitude-only data, reducing the complexity of the measurement system while preserving the essential information needed for accurate far field determination.
2Ease of operation
If simple amplitude-only probes are used, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention adds the dimension of measurement distance by performing measurements at two different distances from the antenna array. This dimensional addition compensates for the loss of phase information, allowing amplitude-only probes to provide sufficient data for accurate far field calculation through the extended transformation algorithm.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and system for determining the radiation pattern of an antenna array (1) comprising a plurality of antenna elements (2,3) based on a provided test signal, the system comprising a number of probes for measuring a magnitude of the signals emitted by the antenna elements when driven with the test signal in a first surface (5) and in a second surface (6) or for radiating the test signal to the antenna elements from the first surface (5) and the second surface (6), wherein with the probes radiating the test signal the antenna elements receive the signal emitted by the probes and provide respective measured magnitudes, wherein a first distance (D1) of the first surface to the antenna elements is smaller than a second distance (D2) of the second surface to the antenna elements, and a pattern calculation unit for calculating the radiation pattern of the antenna array based on the measured magnitudes.