Multiplexed Pulsed Transmit and Receive RF Measurement System for Active Phased Array Testing
Authors: Kim Hassett, Bruce Williams
Publication: AMTA 2011
Copyright Owner: NSI-MI Technologies
Radar antennas are typically required to operate in using various transmit and receive conditions, depending on the particular radar mode. In active antenna applications, these modes may require different antenna operating parameters, which currently dictate testing the antenna independently in transmit and receive using different test system configurations. In testing highly-integrated active arrays, electrical and thermal considerations make it desirable to test the antenna in its nominal Tx/Rx (Transmit/Receive) operating mode as opposed to transmit-only or receive-only. An extension to the NSI Panther 9100 RF measurement system has been developed to support multiplexed transmit and receive, pulse-mode measurements with different measurement parameters during the course of a single data acquisition. This capability allows pulsed transmit and receive tests to be interleaved using a single measurement setup, reducing overall test time