Multi-purpose configurable range for antenna testing up To 220 GHz

NIST has developed a multi-purpose test range for performing several types of antenna testing including spherical, cylindrical, and planar near-field scanning, as well as extrapolation measurements. This range uses a commercial, off-the-shelf, six-axis robot and a laser tracker to accomplish highly accurate positioning that allows scanning up to 220 GHz. Near-field measurements require positioning accuracies on the order of 0.01 to 0.02 wavelengths. We have evaluated the positioning capability of the robot and performed spherical near-field measurements at 183 GHz. We have performed spherical farfield and extrapolation measurements from 112 - 125 GHz. In addition, position data are acquired continuously using the laser tracker, which allows us to compensate for position errors in software. We report on the results of these measurements.