A Simple Measurement Method for Estimation of Active Reflection Coefficient for Large Planar Array Antennas

Paper in proceeding, 2025

For large planar array antennas, one key performance metric is the active reflection coefficient of each radiating element. However, verifying this coefficient through measurement typically requires extensive S-parameter data, as all mutual couplings between ports must be accounted for. This process is not only time-consuming but also increases the risk of wear and tear on coaxial connectors-such as SMA-due to frequent connecting and disconnecting. In this paper, we propose a simplified method to estimate the active reflection coefficient using measurements of the embedded element radiation patterns, significantly reducing human effort and minimizing connector handling during network analyzer measurements.