RCS Compact Range Focal Plane Array Antenna Feed Design Concept

A method is presented for choosing complex weights of a Focal Plane Array so its radiation pattern is matched to the optics of a given Compact Range. In the method, a simulated plane wave arriving from the quiet zone impinges on a numerical model of the reflector. The Focal Plane Array is placed near, but intentionally offset from, the reflector’s focal point, and then Computational Electromagnetics are used to evaluate the Beam Waist Function at each array element location. The computational complexity of large parabolic reflectors is usually prohibitive, but this method exploits the large focal lengths of CRs to sparsely model reflectors, and produces a tractable solution even at millimeter wavelengths. Some practical aspects of Focal Plane Arrays are also discussed.