Near-field qualification methodology

A methodology that is a combination of analysis, computer simulation, component certification, self-tests, and comparison tests is presented for the accuracy qualification of near-field antenna measurement ranges. The analysis uses closed-form equations to establish upper-bound far-field determination errors due to near-field measurement errors. Computer simulation is used to model the specific near-field measurement errors associated with the near-field measurement system components. The closed-form equations and computer simulations are used to form a near-field error budget for each of the near-field measurement system components. A near-field system component certification is undertaken to measure the near-field measurement system component error and establish that they are within the error budget