Horn antennas for use in a radio frequency anechoic test chamber
A horn antenna configured for use in a radio frequency (RF) anechoic test chamber is provided. The horn antenna includes one or more conductive radiating elements. The horn antenna further includes an electromagnetic interference (EMI) suppressing material covering at least a portion of a surface of the one or more conductive radiating elements such that the EMI suppressing material at least partially suppresses a surface current associated with the surface of the one or more conductive radiating elements during a test operation.
1. A horn antenna configured for use in a radio frequency (RF) anechoic test chamber, the horn antenna comprising:
a plurality of conductive radiating elements; and
an electromagnetic interference (EMI) suppressing material covering at least a portion of a surface of the plurality of conductive radiating elements such that the EMI suppressing material at least partially suppresses a surface current associated with the surface of the plurality of conductive radiating elements during a test operation, the EMI suppressing material being attached to the surface of the plurality of conductive radiating elements via an adhesive backing of the ENE suppressing material,
wherein the EMI suppressing material comprises an elastomeric material comprising silicon rubber, and
wherein the elastomeric material further comprises ferrite deposited throughout the silicon rubber and metal nanoparticles deposited throughout the silicon rubber.
2. The horn antenna of claim 1 , wherein the EMI suppressing material at least partially suppresses the surface current associated with the surface of the plurality of conductive radiating elements during the test operation such that a side lobe level of a radiation pattern associated with the horn antenna is reduced.
3. The horn antenna of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of conductive radiating elements comprise:
a first conductive radiating element and a second conductive radiating element, the first conductive radiating element and the second conductive radiating element each having a horizontal polarization.
4. The horn antenna of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of conductive radiating elements further comprise:
a third conductive radiating element and a fourth conductive radiating element, the third conductive radiating element and the fourth conductive radiating element each having a vertical polarization.
5. The horn antenna of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of conductive radiating elements have a curved horn shape.
6. The horn antenna of claim 1 , wherein the horn antenna is operable over a range of frequencies spanning from 0.5 gigahertz (GHz) to 18 GHz.
7. The horn antenna of claim 1 , wherein a relative permittivity of the EMI suppressing material is in a range from about 15 to about 45.
8. The horn antenna of claim 1 , wherein a relative permeability of the EMI suppressing material is in a range from about 1 to about 6.
9. The horn antenna of claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the EMI suppressing material is between about 1 millimeter and about 5 millimeters.
10. A system for obtaining data indicative of performance of a test antenna positioned within a RF anechoic test chamber, the system comprising:
a test antenna disposed within the RF anechoic test chamber; and
a horn antenna disposed within the RF anechoic test chamber, the horn antenna configured to obtain data indicative of performance of the test antenna, the horn antenna comprising:
a plurality of conductive radiating elements; and
an electromagnetic interference (EMI) suppressing material covering at least a portion of a surface of the plurality of conductive radiating elements of the horn antenna such that the EMI suppressing material at least partially suppresses a surface current associated with the surface of the plurality of conductive radiating elements of the horn antenna when the horn antenna is obtaining the data indicative of performance of the test antenna, the EMI suppressing material being attached to the surface of the plurality of conductive radiating elements via an adhesive backing of the EMI suppressing material,
wherein the EMI suppressing material comprises an elastomeric material comprising silicon rubber, and
wherein the elastomeric material further comprises ferrite deposited throughout the silicon rubber and metal nanoparticles deposited throughout the silicon rubber.
11. The system claim 10 , wherein the EMI suppressing material at least partially suppresses the surface current associated with the surface of the plurality of conductive radiating elements such that a side lobe level of a radiation pattern associated with the horn antenna is reduced during a test operation.
12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of conductive radiating elements comprise:
a first conductive radiating element and a second conductive radiating element, the first conductive radiating element and the second conductive radiating element each having a horizontal polarization.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of conductive radiating elements further comprise:
a third conductive radiating element and a fourth conductive radiating element, the third conductive radiating element and the fourth conductive radiating element each having a vertical polarization.
14. An open-boundary horn antenna configured for use in a radio frequency (RF) anechoic test chamber, the open-boundary horn antenna comprising:
at least two conductive radiating elements; and
an electromagnetic interference (EMI) suppressing material covering at least a portion of a surface of one or more of the at least two conductive radiating elements such that the EMI suppressing material at least partially suppresses a surface current associated with the surface during a test operation, the EMI suppressing material being attached to the surface of the at least two conductive radiating elements via an adhesive backing of the EMI suppressing material,
wherein the EMI suppressing material comprises an elastomeric material comprising silicon rubber, and
wherein the elastomeric material further comprises ferrite deposited throughout the silicon rubber and metal nanoparticles deposited throughout the silicon rubber.
15. The open-boundary horn antenna of claim 14 , wherein the at least wo conductive radiating elements comprises:
a first conductive radiating element and a second conductive radiating element, the first conductive radiating element and the second conductive radiating element each having a horizontal polarization; and
a third conductive radiating element and a fourth conductive radiating element, the third conductive radiating element and the fourth conductive radiating element each having a vertical polarization.
16. The system of claim 15 , further comprising:
one or more control devices operatively coupled to at least one of the test antenna or the horn antenna for tuning at least one of the test antenna or the horn antenna to a desired frequency.