Sonic microwave-antenna simulator

A simulator is described which generates and transmits beams of audible sound energy which are mathematically similar to those generated in a microwave system. The simulator´s transmitting elements form a phased array that electronically focuses and steers coherent sonic beams allowing microwave antenna pattern generation to be studied acoustically in a laboratory environment. Each of the transmitting elements is independently software controllable in amplitude and phase. This flexibility permits a wide range of antenna patterns to be simulated. Independent phase control of each individual transmitting element also allows the simulator to be focused at any point in space. Focusing the simulator to a point in its near field allows far-field antenna patterns to be generated close to the array for ease of measurement.