US 12,216,146 B1Granted

Portable antenna measurement

OwnerJames M. Downey, Marie T. Piasecki +1inventors

InventorsJames M. Downey, Marie T. Piasecki, Bryan L. Schoenholz

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Abstract

A portable antenna measurement system is disclosed. The antenna measurement system can include a robotic arm with an antenna probe on one end, a laser tracker, a vector network analyzer, and a computing device. The computing device can receive input from the laser tracker identifying the position of an antenna and other objects in the environment and generate a scan surface around an antenna under test. The computing device can instruct the robotic arm to move the antenna probe into positions in the scan surface to acquire radiation measurements. If portions of the scan surface are unreachable by the robotic arm, the robotic arm can be repositioned, and measurements can be resumed. The network vector analyzer can acquire and save measurements. An antenna pattern can then be generated based on point measurements and output for display.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A portable antenna measurement system, comprising:

a mobile base;
a lift portion attached perpendicular to the mobile base and extending vertically;
a collaborative robotic arm connected at a first end to the lift portion;
an antenna probe affixed to a second end of the collaborative robotic arm, wherein the antenna probe is configured to measure antenna performance at particular locations reachable by the robotic arm;
a measurement control system in communication with the mobile base, lift portion, and the robotic arm;
a path plan component in the measurement control system;
wherein the path plan identifies points to perform measurements and includes pauses for repositioning the robotic arm using the mobile base when the robotic arm is unable to locate any unmeasured reachable points;
a robotic control component in the measurement control system for generating and communicating commands based on the path plan to the mobile base, lift portion, and the robotic arm regarding position and orientation to drive the antenna probe affixed to the second end of the robotic arm.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/486,017Filed 27 Sep 2021 · us provisional application
Priority: 25 Sep 2020
Granted: 4 Feb 2025
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

G01R 29/0878
Characterised by constructional or functional features: sensors; antennas; probes; detectors
G01R 29/10
Measuring electromagnetic field characteristics: radiation diagrams of antennas
H01Q 1/28
Adaptation for use in or on movable bodies: adaptation for use in or on aircraft, missiles, satellites, or balloons
G01R
Measuring electric variables

Family

Application63/083,340Us provisional application · filed 25 Sep 2020
US 12,216,146 B1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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