Mini compact range for automotive radar antenna testing

The overall physical dimensions of an antenna measurement facility depend on the largest expected test antenna, typically in the lower frequency band. On the other hand, dimensional tolerances are driven by the high frequencies, where antennas tend to be small. Thus, combining such requirements leads to choose a large and mechanically very accurate test facility in order to meet the electrical and mechanical requirements, which normally is a costly solution. Another approach could be to consider multiple test facilities, each dedicated to a certain category of antennas. For instance, the mini compact ranges proposed by ORBIT/FR offer a complete, self-contained compact range test system targeting smaller aperture antennas. The system´s small size, portability and characteristics make it well-suited for automotive radar. In this paper, a mini compact range for automotive radars is proposed as an alternative to the far-field or near-field measurement system. The compact ranges offer higher measurement speed, no need for building a separate anechoic chamber, easy operation, mobility and ruggedness.