The document describes the development of an automated antenna measurement system at Virginia Tech using LabVIEW. To address multipath distortion issues, the system uses time-domain signal processing techniques and an anechoic chamber to filter out reflected signals. LabVIEW software controls hardware and processes data to provide sophisticated and accurate antenna pattern measurements 30 times faster than previous systems. This LabVIEW-based system provides state-of-the-art measurement capabilities comparable to expensive commercial systems.
The document describes the development of an automated antenna measurement system at Virginia Tech using LabVIEW. To address multipath distortion issues, the system uses time-domain signal processing techniques and an anechoic chamber to filter out reflected signals. LabVIEW software controls hardware and processes data to provide sophisticated and accurate antenna pattern measurements 30 times faster than previous systems. This LabVIEW-based system provides state-of-the-art measurement capabilities comparable to expensive commercial systems.
The document describes the development of an automated antenna measurement system at Virginia Tech using LabVIEW. To address multipath distortion issues, the system uses time-domain signal processing techniques and an anechoic chamber to filter out reflected signals. LabVIEW software controls hardware and processes data to provide sophisticated and accurate antenna pattern measurements 30 times faster than previous systems. This LabVIEW-based system provides state-of-the-art measurement capabilities comparable to expensive commercial systems.
The document describes the development of an automated antenna measurement system at Virginia Tech using LabVIEW. To address multipath distortion issues, the system uses time-domain signal processing techniques and an anechoic chamber to filter out reflected signals. LabVIEW software controls hardware and processes data to provide sophisticated and accurate antenna pattern measurements 30 times faster than previous systems. This LabVIEW-based system provides state-of-the-art measurement capabilities comparable to expensive commercial systems.
by Kevin Mescher, The Virginia Tech from the direct University Antenna Laboratory signal. However, we can The Challenge: Creating a state- reduce multipath of-the-art automated antenna distortion effects by measurement facility at Virginia Tech. using a large, open The Solution: Using LabVIEW to outdoor test site for provide a convenient way to accurately the antenna range or measure antenna performance. by taking measurements Introduction inside an anechoic As a result of the growth in wireless chamber. An communications, the design and testing of anechoic chamber antennas takes on renewed importance. has walls that absorb One of the important performance RF radiation, characteristics of antennas is their radiation reducing the pattern. These patterns are plotted to reflected signals. An The measurement screen of the Range Runner program shows the antenna describe how power radiation varies with outdoor test site radiation patterns. direction around the antenna. usually requires a While traditional antenna measurement large open area, systems employ analog devices and often several acres or more. Both outdoor the processing. methods, movement toward digital systems ranges and anechoic chambers are We are completing a new anechoic is slowed by the cost of new instrumentation. expensive to build and operate. chamber that uses modern digital As a compromise, many systems have The Virginia Tech antenna range is on instrumentation based on a vector replaced the analog data output with digital the roof of a campus engineering network analyzer. In anticipation of the output, usually using a PC for data building, which provides a secure open new chamber, we updated Range Runner acquisition and data processing. space. However, it also has objects that to operate with the network analyzer. A can create multipath distortion. We new version of the LabVIEW-based chose LabVIEW software for digital data software is much faster – it can collect collection and display control on the 36,180 data points in five minutes, a Using LabVIEW, we have antenna range. We can apply LabVIEW speed increase of about 30 times. With created a sophisticated, signal-processing techniques to the the new software, we can also calibrate pattern measurement data to reduce the the network analyzer, and take more state-of-the-art, automated antenna range multipath distortion effects. To types of measurements. measurement system. mitigate the multipath distortion effects, we used time-domain processing of the Results received signals. Using LabVIEW, we have created a Multipath Distortion sophisticated, state-of-the-art, automated A major difficulty encountered when trying Hardware Control Software antenna measurement system. This to measure antenna patterns is a We wrote a LabVIEW-based program system is equivalent to commercial phenomenon called multipath distortion, in called Range Runner to handle all the software that can cost tens of thousands of which unwanted reflections of the hardware control for the Virginia Tech dollars. LabVIEW made all this possible transmitted signal arrive at the antenna outdoor antenna range. It measures the by providing a convenient way to control under test and interfere with the direct antenna radiation pattern and provides hardware, process the data, and provide a signal. The multipath distortion signal pattern printouts via a laser printer. It also user-friendly interface for the program.1 distorts the measured antenna pattern. has the ability to perform automated Another characteristic of multipath time-domain processing, which filters For more information, contact distortion is that all the reflected signals reflected signals out of the measured Dr. W.L. Stutzman, Director, Antenna Group, arrive at the test antenna with a time delayed pattern by giving the user full control over Virginia Tech University, 627 Whittemore Hall, Blacksburg, VA 24061, tel (540) 231-6834.
