MODAL CONTROL OF REFLECTOR SURFACES USING FAR-FIELD POWER MEASUREMENTS

The far-field power received from a transmitting reflector antenna was maximized by varying the shape of the reflector surface. The shape of the reflector surface was controlled by a modal autofocus method whic h deformed the membrane sequentially into the full range of its natura l modes of vibrations. The convergence time was shown to depend on the scan time associated with a natural mode of vibration, the number of cycles the algorithm underwent before convergence, and the desired res olution of the surface shape. A numerical example illustrates the meth od presented. (C) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.