Calibrated Free-Space Microwave Measurements With an Ultrawideband Reflectometer-Antenna System

Author

Zhao, Min ; Shea, Jacob D. ; Hagness, Susan C. ; Van der Weide, Daniel W.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electr. & Comput. Eng., Wisconsin Univ., Madison, WI

Volume

16

Issue

12

fYear

2006

Firstpage

675

Lastpage

677

Abstract

We present a 3-12 GHz compact mixer-based reflectometer (CMR) and horn antenna system, and demonstrate its use in detecting backscatter signals with a free space calibration procedure. We evaluate the frequency-domain performance of the CMR-antenna system for measuring the complex reflection coefficient of a dielectric slab and compare it with that of a commercial vector network analyzer (VNA)-antenna setup. Time-domain responses are also investigated, and show the effectiveness of this calibration method. This low-cost, compact system eliminates the need for traditional mechanical standards and a VNA, is effective in reducing reflection artifacts, and allows for flexibility in the placement of reference planes; thus it is well suited for array-based imaging applications

Keywords

calibration; horn antennas; microwave measurement; microwave reflectometry; 3 to 12 GHz; array-based imaging; backscatter signals detection; compact mixer-based reflectometer; complex reflection coefficient; dielectric slab; free space calibration; free-space microwave measurements; frequency-domain performance; horn antenna system; time-domain responses; ultrawideband reflectometer-antenna; Antenna measurements; Backscatter; Calibration; Dielectric measurements; Horn antennas; Microwave measurements; Reflection; Reflector antennas; Signal detection; Ultra wideband technology; Antennas; biomedical imaging; calibration; micro wave measurements; reflectometer; ultrawideband (UWB);

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Microwave and Wireless Components Letters, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1531-1309

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/LMWC.2006.885625

Filename

4020331