Advanced Diagnostics on a Large Array by the Equivalent Current Technique

• Main Authors: Scialaequa, L., Scattone, F., Giacomini, A., Foged, L.J., Mioc, F.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Subjects: 5G mobile communication; Analytical models; Antenna measurements; Current measurement; Horn antennas; Prototypes; Three-dimensional displays
• ISSN: 2474-2740
• DOI: 10.23919/AMTA52830.2021.9620592

Diagnostic techniques are crucial in antenna development and testing to enhance the Device Under Test (DUT) performances and identify the cause of possible failures in the qualification process. Among different approaches [1]-[8], it has been demonstrated that the equivalent currents method (EQC) [8]-[9], implemented in [10], is one of the most efficient for investigations in various application areas [11]-[13]. Indeed, the generality of the 3D reconstruction surface enclosing the DUT is a key feature, it ensures that this technique is unique and highly suitable for diagnostics, respect to traditional methods based on plane wave expansion. To handle electrically large problems, the EQC method has been initially based on a Fast Multipole Method (FMM) [14]. The recent advent of 5G technologies has led to an increasing need in terms of antenna electrical dimensions. Therefore, a novel technique based on a Nested Skeletonization Scheme (NSS) has been implemented to guarantee a further reduction of memory requirements and computational time. The new capability has been demonstrated in the past for a patch array antenna [15]. In this paper the diagnostic capabilities of the EQC approach are applied to an early prototype of an electrically large array antenna for 5G antenna measurements applications [16]