# US 10,309,999 B2 · Compact test range system with adjustable feed horn locations > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,309,999 B2 - Document ID: US10309999B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/726,884 - Filed: 2017-10-06 - Published: 2019-04-11 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2017-10-06 - Assignees: The Boeing Company - Applicants: The Boeing Company - Inventors: Douglas P. Morgan; Baird E. Perry; Sean Michael Raffetto - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10309999B2 ## CPC - G01R 29/10: Radiation diagrams of antennas - H01Q 19/132: {Horn reflector antennas; Off-set feeding} - H01Q 13/02: Waveguide horns - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) ## Abstract A compact test range system for testing an article located within a test zone comprises a reflector defining a surface and a focus, a feed horn configured to emit radio waves, one or more processors, and a memory coupled to the processor. The radio wave includes an infinite number of rays, where the rays of the radio wave include an uppermost ray, a middle ray, and a lowermost ray directed towards the surface of the reflector. The memory stores data comprising a database and program code that, when executed by processors, causes the compact range test system to receive as input a plurality of field tilt angles. In response to receiving the field tilt angles, the system determines three points of intersection between the uppermost radio wave, the middle radio wave, and the lowermost radio wave that correspond to a first test position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A compact test range system for testing an article located within a test zone, the compact test range system comprising: a reflector defining a surface and a focus; a feed horn configured to emit a radio wave including an infinite number of rays, wherein the rays of the radio wave include an uppermost ray, a middle ray, and a lowermost ray directed towards the surface of the reflector; one or more processors; and a memory coupled to the one or more processors, the memory storing data comprising a database and program code that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the compact range test system to: receive as input a plurality of field tilt angles; in response to receiving the plurality of field tilt angles, determine three points of intersection between the uppermost ray, the middle ray, and the lowermost ray at a first field tilt angle, wherein the three points of intersection define a triangle; determine a centroid of the triangle; and set the centroid of the triangle as a first test position of the feed horn, wherein the first test position is offset in an x-direction and a y-direction from the focus of the reflector, and the first field tilt angle corresponds to the first test position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The compact test range system of claim 1, wherein the uppermost ray, the middle ray, and the lowermost ray reflect off of the surface of the reflector to create a flat phase front within the test zone. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The compact test range system of claim 1, wherein the first field tilt angle is measured between a y-axis of the compact test range system and an imaginary line, and wherein the imaginary line is normal to the rays of the radio wave. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The compact test range system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of field tilt angles are based on a specific type of testing to be performed by the compact test range system. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The compact test range system of claim 1, comprising an actuator in communication with the one or more processors, and wherein the compact test range system further comprises a feed path rail. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The compact test range system of claim 5, wherein the one or more processors determine a plurality of test positions that are each offset from the focus of the reflector, and wherein the feed horn is steered into the plurality of test positions along the feed path rail by the actuator. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The compact test range system of claim 1, comprising a plurality of feed horns each in communication with the one or more processors, wherein the plurality of feed horns are each positioned at a unique location that is offset in both the x-direction and the y-direction from the focus of the reflector. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The compact test range system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of feed horns are activated one at a time by the one or more processors. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The compact test range system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of feed horns are each activated one by one for a period of time, wherein the period of time is enough for activation of the plurality of feed horns to appear instantaneous to an ordinary observer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The compact test range system of claim 1, wherein the feed horn is either a low gain feed horn or a high gain feed horn. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The compact test range system of claim 1, wherein the compact test range system is a prime-focus compact range testing system. ### Claim 12 A method for testing an article within a test zone by a compact test range system, the method comprising: receiving, by a computer, a plurality of field tilt angles, wherein the computer is in communication with a feed horn; emitting, by the feed horn, a radio wave including an infinite number of rays, wherein the rays of the radio wave include an uppermost ray, a middle ray, and a lowermost ray towards a surface of a reflector; in response to receiving the plurality of field tilt angles, determining three points of intersection between the uppermost ray, the middle ray, and the lowermost ray of a first field tilt angle by the computer, wherein the three points of intersection define a triangle; determining, by the computer, a centroid of the triangle; and setting the centroid of the triangle as a first test position of the feed horn, wherein the first test position is offset in an x-direction and a y-direction from a focus of the reflector, and the first field tilt angle corresponds to the first test position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, comprising reflecting the uppermost ray, the middle ray, and the lowermost ray reflect off of the surface of the reflector to create a flat phase front within the test zone. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, comprising measuring the first field tilt angle between a y-axis of the compact test range system and an imaginary line, and wherein the imaginary line is normal to the rays of the radio wave. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method claim 12, wherein the plurality of field tilt angles are based on a specific type of testing to be performed by the compact test range system. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, comprising placing an actuator in communication with the computer, wherein the compact test range system further comprises a feed path rail. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, comprising determining a plurality of test positions that are each offset from the focus of the reflector by the computer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, comprising steering the feed horn into the plurality of test positions along the feed path rail by the actuator. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, comprising placing a plurality of feed horns in communication with the computer, wherein the plurality of feed horns are each positioned at a unique location offset in both the x-direction and the y-direction from the focus of the reflector. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, comprising activating each of the plurality of feed horns one at a time by the computer.