A Millimeter-Wave Antenna Amplitude and Phase Measurement System

We describe the design and application of a system for measuring the magnitude and phase of antenna radiation patterns in the 182-194 GHz frequency range. A heterodyne receiver comparing antenna and reference signals is designed from readily available components and incorporated into a 12-m anechoic chamber. The chamber is used with or without a compact-range reflector for compact-range or far-field measurement of antennas up to 0.6 m in diameter. The measured phase variation of the system, when idle, averages 0.3° over 227 s and 4.5° over 30 min. The amplitude stability is better than ±0.15 dB over a 63-h period. Verification of the system is obtained through comparison with other measurements and calculated results on horn and pillbox antennas. The applications of the system are illustrated through its use in characterizing the magnitude and phase radiation patterns of a new beam-scanning pillbox antenna for a 186-GHz imaging system.