Evaluation of array antenna systems for global navigation satellite system applications using wave‐field synthesis in an over‐the‐air laboratory

Abstract

Antenna characterisation is usually performed by antenna pattern measurements in an anechoic chamber. Subsequently, a conducted test, the radiated two‐stage or the wireless‐cable method can be used for an overall system evaluation considering the measured patterns. In this study, the authors present a method to perform device tests for antenna arrays/smart antennas with and without the need of radiation pattern measurements, and they validate it experimentally. By using over‐the‐air tests in a virtual electromagnetic environment and wave‐field synthesis, the propagation environment can be realistically recreated in the region around a device‐under‐test. This allows for reproducible performance comparisons of different antennas or systems under identical propagation environment conditions. As a special application, they consider the controlled reception pattern antenna in a global navigation satellite systems environment in the presence of interferer signals.