The measurement of complex antenna transfer functions for ultra-wideband antennas in a compact range

Abstract

Ultra-wideband (UWB) communications technology increasingly plays an important role in modern communications systems. The complex antenna transfer function (CATF) of an UWB antenna provides valuable information that can be used for better UWB channel and communication system designs. Currently only the two-antenna and three-antenna measurement techniques are used to measure the transfer function and impulse response of UWB antennas. In this paper a modified version of the gain-transfer method is presented to enable the characterization of UWB antennas using a compact antenna test range facility (CATR). A double-ridged guide horn (DRGH) antenna is used as UWB transfer-standard and the CATF of the transfer-standard is determined a priori using full-wave simulations. The gain-transfer method to measure the CATF of UWB antennas in a CATR is illustrated with two test cases. In the first test case the measured CATF of an ETS-LINDGREN DRGH antenna was verified with numerical data from a FEKO model of the antenna. The second case compares the CATF of an UWB circular disc monopole antenna measured in a CATR to measured data using