NSI-MI Technologies’ line of Active Antenna Load Management (AALM) products maintains the anechoic integrity of a test environment while managing the radiation load when testing active antennas with on-board amplifiers than can generate significant RF power. By forming a tight RF shield, or “load box”, around the antenna perimeter, users can test in a controlled indoor production environment. Customizable with varying sizes and options, several load boxes can be built and stacked together to test multiple primary and secondary arrays for added versatility.  

PRODUCT FEATURES:

  • Production phased array antenna testing 
  • RF power monitoring and control 
  • Compact radiation test environment 
  • Ensures facility and personnel safety

Active antennas that contain on-board amplifiers can generate significant RF power that is radiated during testing. The control of this radiation is not only a human safety consideration, but also requires test environment management which can affect the validity of test data if done poorly. For active antennas that are also phased arrays with beam steering ability, this environmental control becomes more complex and often more critical.

NSI-MI Technologies offers a series of active antenna load management (AALM) products to address this need. The AALM forms an RF test enclosure and allows users to test their active antennas in a controlled indoor production environment. These test enclosures can be unshielded or customized to form a tight RF shield around the antenna perimeter. Multiple RF test enclosures of varying sizes can be built and stacked together to test multiple primary and secondary arrays, if needed. Testing can consist of an ON/OFF test at full power, or a more complex test of antenna features during production.

OPTIONS FOR THE AALM PRODUCTS INCLUDE:

  • An integrated gain standard for quick antenna gain verification
  • One or more RF sensors for power level verification of the antenna
  • High power RF absorber (with optional forced air cooling)
  • Honeycomb air vents equipped with exhaust air fans
  • EMI gasket to ensure RF attenuation to safe levels
  • RF and motion safety monitor
  • Fire monitoring and suppression system
  • RF safety shutoff system
  • Infrared camera for power level monitoring

 

Diagram

Description automatically generated

 

For more information about the Active Antenna Load Management, go to https://www.nsi-mi.com/products/Active-Antenna-Load-Management