Inventors:
Dayel R. Garneski - Long Beach CA
Assignee:
Hughes Aircraft Company - Los Angeles CA
International Classification:
H01Q 300
Abstract:
A method of identifying antenna-mode scattering centers in an aperture device or array from planar near field measurements. Antenna-mode scattering centers may be determined for aperture assemblies, phenomenological models of apertures, and antenna arrays comprising a feed and an array of antenna elements. The method uses a scanning probe and receiver for making near field measurements. A feed horn and signal source illuminates the device. An absorber is disposed between the device and the probe and this combination is illuminated. A first set of data is collected over a planar surface in a near field region of the device. The device is then illuminated with the absorber removed. A second set of data is collected over a planar surface in a near field region of the device. The difference between the first and second sets of data is determined to provide data indicative of the near field response of the probe to the near field scattered from the device. Data indicative of the scattered far field from the device is computed using a planar near-to-far-field transform.