Keysight Technologies has launched its new Phased Array antenna control and calibration solution, an innovative over-the-air (OTA) calibration and characterization solution that enables satellite designers to develop electronically scanned active arrays for satellite communications applications to test quickly build your designs during initial validation.
Modern satellite networks operate at higher frequencies and use active phased antenna systems that are driving ubiquitous connectivity and sensing requirements for next-generation satellite communications.
Phased array antennas use electronic means to direct beams to precise locations to improve overall reliability.
Testing these highly integrated systems is a complex and time-consuming task. Designers and manufacturers need rapid OTA testing to quickly and efficiently calibrate and verify the performance of phased arrays.
Keysight meets this need with a flexible measurement solution that improves pointing accuracy and sidelobe rejection to reduce the effects of interference in phased array antennas by optimizing the frequency, gain and phase response of elements assets of the antenna array.
Following are the benefits of Phased Array antenna calibration and control solution:
- Proprietary phased array calibration algorithms – Enables highly accurate measurement of gain and phase for a single phased array element under test in an indirect far-field test environment. When combined with rapid synchronization of radio frequency (RF) test instruments, antenna positioning system and phased array control hardware, these algorithms reduce phased array calibration times to minutes.
- Wide range of verification tests – Includes quick gain and phase calibration, effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP), radiation pattern versus beam sweep angle, beam sweep and range loss, cross-polarization isolation, gain compression, gain-over-noise temperature (G/T) and modulation distortion (magnitude of the error vector).
- Integrated Solution – Features a single, easy-to-use software interface that controls the antenna under test, Keysight's high-performance test instruments, and Keysight's compact antenna test range positioner and temperature control unit.
- Maximizes existing test chambers – Retrofits existing anechoic chambers with the addition of a PNA-X vector network analyzer and phased array antenna control and calibration solution.
The Phased Array antenna control and calibration solution is part of the Keysight antenna measurement toolset, which provides engineers with a comprehensive set of antenna measurement tools, including the option to provide a wide range of wireless antenna measurements. signaling, such as frequency response, polar or all-spherical antenna patterns, and associated post-processing software for 2D and 3D graphics.
“Phased array is an enabling technology in modern SatCom systems that provides critical capability over the satellite dish,” said Gregg Bell, general manager of aerospace and defense RF products at Analog Devices. “To overcome potentially longer test times and manufacturing complexity, Keysight offers this rapid test and calibration solution. We are proud to work with a partner that continually drives innovation and enables a significant reduction in development and recurring costs for these phased array antenna solutions.”
