MODAL CONTROL OF REFLECTOR SURFACES USING FAR-FIELD POWER MEASUREMENTS

The far-field power received from a transmitting reflector antenna was maximized by varying the shape of the reflector surface. The shape of the reflector surface was controlled by a modal autofocus method which deformed the membrane sequentially into the full range of its natural modes of vibrations. The convergence time was shown to depend on the scan time associated with a natural mode of vibration, the number of cycles the algorithm underwent before convergence, and the desired resolution of the surface shape. A numerical example illustrates the method presented. (C) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.