Low-Cost Antenna Efficiency Measurement System for Smart System Antenna Efficiency Characterization

摘要

A key design challenge for wireless smart systems is maximizing the efficiency of the antenna to make optimal use of the limited power available. Anechoic chamber facilities provide a gold standard for antenna efficiency measurement but they are large and expensive and may not be available to a large number of researchers in the field of wireless systems. This paper proposes an alternative solution using a low-cost, bench-top antenna efficiency measurement system that is tailored for use in wireless smart system applications and based upon the Wheeler Cap method. Design details regarding hardware and software development are presented in detail. Efficiency measurements using the proposed system are then compared with calibrated anechoic chamber measurements and the key findings are summarized.