US 2013/0154887 A1 · ANTENNA TESTING ENCLOSURES AND METHODS FOR TESTING ANTENNA SYSTEMS THEREWITH

Abstract

Antenna enclosure apparatus are provided that may be used to verify the signal path integrity, amplitude and/or phase of a single antenna or multiple antennas of direction finding (DF) antenna array and associated electronics without interference of external signals such as ground interference signals present when an aircraft-based antenna is tested on the ground. An individual antenna test enclosure may in one embodiment be provided as an antenna hood having a cavity dimensioned for internally receiving an antenna, such as an aircraft external blade antenna. The cavity of the antenna enclosure may be lined with a RF absorbing material inside the enclosure to allow for RF path testing with substantially no “ringing”, so that accurate phase and gain testing of a received antenna and its RF signal path may be accomplished.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A method for testing one or more radio frequency antennas, the method comprising:

providing one or more antennas and a corresponding RF signal path coupled to each of the antennas;
providing one or more antenna test enclosures, each of the antenna test enclosures corresponding to one of the antennas and being configured to receive one of the antennas when positioned therein, each of the antenna test enclosures comprising a RF feed configured to radiate a RF test signal, the RF feed being configured as a continuous feed structure that completely encircles the antenna in at least one plane when the antenna is positioned within the antenna test enclosure;
positioning each of the one or more antennas within a corresponding one of the one or more antenna test enclosures so that the continuous feed structure of the RF feed completely encircles the antenna in at least one plane;
providing a RF test signal to each given one of the one or more antenna test enclosures to cause the RF feed of the given antenna test enclosures to radiate the RF test signal to a corresponding one of the one or more antennas;
and
measuring the response to the RF test signal provided to each of the one or more antenna antennas and the RF signal path corresponding to each of the one or more antennas.

3 more elements

A system for testing one or more radio frequency antennas and a corresponding RF signal path coupled to each of the antennas, the system comprising:

one or more antenna test enclosures, each of the antenna test enclosures corresponding to one of the antennas and being configured to receive one of the antennas when positioned therein, each of the antenna test enclosures comprising a RF feed configured to radiate a RF test signal, the RF feed being configured as a continuous feed structure that completely encircles the antenna in at least one plane when the antenna is positioned within the antenna test enclosure;
and
test circuitry configured to provide a RF test signal to each given one of the one or more antenna test enclosures to cause the RF feed of the given antenna test enclosures to radiate the RF test signal to a corresponding one of the one or more antennas.

An antenna test enclosure configured to receive a radio frequency antenna when positioned therein, the antenna test enclosure comprising a RF feed configured to radiate a RF test signal, the RF feed being configured as a continuous feed structure that completely encircles the antenna in at least one plane when the antenna is positioned within the antenna test enclosure.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Antenna testing enclosures and methods for testing antenna systems therewith

Life of this patent

Antenna testing enclosures and methods for testing antenna systems therewith

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24