TEST ZONE FIELD COMPENSATION

Test zone field (TZF) compensation increases antenna pattern measureme nt accuracy by compensating for extraneous fields created by reflectio n and scattering of the range antenna field from fixed objects in the range and by leakage of the range RF system from a fixed location in t he range. TZF compensation can be used on fixed line-of-sight (static) far-field, compact, and near-field ranges. Other compensation techniq ues are seldom used in practical measurement situations because they a re limited in the amount of compensation they provide. These technique s do not adequately model the type of extraneous field present in the range or require increased measurement time and equipment necessary to implement the technique. TZF compensation overcomes these limits as f ollows. The TZF is measured over a spherical surface encompassing the test zone using a low gain probe. The measured TZF is used in subseque nt antenna pattern measurements to compensate for the effects of extra neous fields. TZF compensation theory is presented and demonstrated us ing measured data.