Virtual array based APC for a tri-reflector CATR

Usually, the stray signals from antenna test environment and compact antenna test range (CATR) system may cause errors in the measured patterns. In order to improve the measurement accuracy of a specific antenna test system, the techniques about antenna pattern correction for mitigating the effects of these stray signals are required. In this paper, a two-unit virtual array method and its extended three-unit version have been used to correct the measured antenna pattern for an existing tri-reflector CATR system, and some simulated results are presented. It is shown that the method performs well in compensating the measurement errors caused by the quiet zone distortions, also the deviations that come from a specific interference source. Considering the sampling accuracy of the actual antenna test system, the effects of different sampling intervals also have been discussed.