Antenna Radiation Pattern Measurement System

Importance of Understanding Antenna Radiation Patterns Measurement Technique System Overview System Programming Measurement Procedure Results

Antenna Radiation Patterns

Roadmap for Antenna Designers Quick picture of antenna overall response Selection of the antenna for the improved system performance Optimization of antenna for specific application

E-Plane Pattern of a Dipole

H-Plane Pattern of a Dipole

Measurement Technique

Single-Axis-Rotation Technique

HP8753C Network Analyzer Transmitting Antenna

HP8561A Spectrum Analyzer Receiving Antenna

Transmitter Setup

Receiver Setup

AT6250 Servo Controller

Measurement System

Positioner

Plotter

Servo Motor

Laptop Computer

Measurement System
HP8753C Network Analyzer AUT HP8753C Spectrum Analyzer

Servo Motor

AT6250 Servo Controller Board

GPIB

To Serial Port (pin 8) Computer Laptop

System Programming

Positioner Programming (Motion Architect)

LabVIEW Programming

Positioner Programming (Motion Architect)

Rotate the antenna under test (AUT) 360, with an increment of 1 per step. Generate a High and a Low signal at the OUTPUT terminal of the AT6250 Servo Controller board for every 1 increment.

LabVIEW Programming
Block 1

Acquire signal strength of the AUT from Spectrum Analyzer (Block 1)

Monitor the High and Low signal at AT6250 servo controller board (Block 2) Generate the angular position of the AUT and plot the radiation pattern (Block 3)

Block 2

Block 3

Synchronization
AT6250 OUTPUT 2 Sec

High (5 V) Low (0 V)
1 2 360

LabVIEW
Signal Strength of the AUT from Spectrum Analyzer

Acquire Data

Angular Position of the AUT

360

Measurement Procedure
Polarization Plane Alignment of Tx and Rx Antennas

Transmitter Configuration

Receiver Configuration

LabVIEW Configuration

Compumotor Configuration

Tests and Results

Dipole (500 MHz) UWB Antenna Omni Directional Antenna Horn Antenna

Dipole Antenna
Designed at 500 MHz but operated at 1.43 GHz

Transmitting Horn

Measured E- Plane Pattern

Theoretical E- Plane Pattern

Dipole (AUT)

UWB Radio Antenna

Reverse Bow-Tie Antenna operated at 2.4 GHz
Measured H-Plane Pattern

Transmitting Horn

Reverse Bow-Tie Antenna

Omnidirectional Antenna
Measured E-Plane Pattern Theoretical E-Plane Pattern

Transmitting Horn

Measured H-Plane Pattern

Theoretical H-Plane Pattern

Omni Directional Antenna

Horn Antenna

Transmitting and Receiving Horn Antennas

Measured E-Plane Pattern

Theoretical H-Plane Pattern