US 5,396,255 A · Automated far field antenna pattern test facility

Abstract

An antenna test and measurement system (100) performs measurements of the transmitted or received signal strength of a vehicle mounted transmit or receive antenna (102) with respect to all aspects of the system with respect to the vehicle mounted antenna, and vehicle state parameters (131, 139), i.e., position and attitude, are simultaneously recorded (185, 186). The antenna measurements are correlated with the state parameter measurements such that variations in the measured signal strength caused by changes in vehicle state are apparent. A graphical display (189, 190) of antenna signal strength and vehicle state parameters are presented for the entire 360.degree. azimuth of an antenna test so that variations in the signal strength caused by changes in vehicle state parameters may be identified. The graphical display of antenna signal strength may be modified based on variations in vehicle state parameters such that the graphical display indicates the antenna signal strength had the variations in vehicle state not occurred. Antenna signal strength data and vehicle state information is telemetered (122, 171, 175, 178, 181) from the vehicle carrying the antenna to the antenna test and measurement system. A graphical display of antenna signal strength versus antenna altitude (FIGS. 5 and 7) is provided for determining the optimum altitude for antenna pattern measurements, and calculation of antenna isotropic (FIG. 10) is provided for verification of antenna performance.

Claims12

Dependent claims

An antenna test and measurement system for measuring the antenna pattern of a vehicle mounted test antenna configured for either transmitting RF signals provided by a transmitter or receiving RF signals and thereafter providing the received RF signals to a receiver, the system comprising:

a vehicle mounted test section having:
means for measuring RF power being transmitted into or being received by the test antenna, and for providing power level signals indicative thereof;
means responsive to signals indicative of aircraft attitude and position for providing vehicle state signals indicative thereof;
and
vehicle mounted telemetry means responsive to said power level signals and said vehicle state signals for transmitting encoded signals indicative thereof;
a portable test section having:
means for receiving RF signals transmitted by the test antenna and for transmitting RF test signals for receipt by the test antenna;
analysis means connected to said means for receiving for providing antenna pattern signals indicative of the frequency and amplitude of signals received by said means for receiving;
portable telemetry means for receiving said encoded signals transmitted by said telemetry means;
and
signal processing means responsive to said encoded signals and said antenna pattern signals for creating correlated, time sequenced records of said encoded signals and said antenna pattern signals.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Automated far field antenna pattern test facility

Life of this patent

Automated far field antenna pattern test facility

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12