Antenna Pattern File Format

The file format for each user-defined antenna file consists of two parts: a parameter description section and a data section. For configurations containing multiple antennas, each antenna’s pattern must be saved in a separate ascii text file.

Parameter Description Section

Data Section

Sample Antenna File in Real-imaginary Format

Parameter Description Section

The parameter description section defines the parameters and ranges for the data section entries.

All the phi-theta angles defined in the parameter section below follow the spherical coordinate system shown in the graphic. The slice of theta = 90 and phi from [-180 180] represents the horizontal slice passing through the center of the sphere.

begin_<parameters>

format free // can be others in the future for extension

phi_min 0 // the minimum phi angle to save in the file

phi_max 360 // the maximum phi angle to save in the file

phi_inc 5 // the increasing step for phi, the phi sampling points should be equal separation

theta_min 0 // the minimum theta angle to save in the file

theta_max 180 // the maximum theta angle to save in the file

Note: Although the file format is designed for a 3D pattern, it also supports a 2D pattern. For a 2D pattern, theta_min and theta_max should have the same value.

theta_inc 5 // the increment size for phi; the theta sampling points should have equal separation

complex // antenna gain must always be complex when used with the PXB, expressed either in magnitiude, phase format or real, imaginary format

mag_phase // the data file is given in magnitude - phase format

pattern gain // pattern must always be expressed in units of gain when used with the PXB

magnitude dB // magnitude is given in linear or in dB

direction degrees //phi and theta are given in degrees or radians

phase degrees // phase is given in degrees or in radians

polarization theta_phi // polarization type, theta_phi means vertical and horizontal polarization. It is the only polarization type currently supported with the PXB.

NetInputPower 0.002482195 // this parameter is not used in the current code

end_<parameters>

Data Section

The data section follows the parameter section.

If the complex data is given as “mag_phase” type, the data should be in the following order:

Theta-angle // degrees or radians, determined by parameter “direction”

Phi-angle // degrees or radians, determined by parameter “direction”

Theta-gain // dB or linear, determined by parameter “magnitude”

Phi-gain // dB or linear, determined by parameter “magnitude”

Theta-Phase // degrees or radians, determined by parameter “phase”

Phi-Phase //degrees or radians, determined by parameter “phase”

If the complex data is given as real_imag type, the data should be in the following order:

Theta-angle //degrees or radians, determined by parameter “direction”

Phi-angle //degrees or radians, determined by parameter “direction”

Real part of Theta-gain

Imaginary part of Theta-gain

Real part of Phi-gain

Imaginary part of Phi-gain

Sample Antenna File in Real-Imaginary Format

The following sample file is in real-imaginary format.

begin_<parameters>

format free

phi_min 0

phi_max 350

phi_inc 10

theta_min 0

theta_max 0

theta_inc 5

complex

real_imag

pattern gain

magnitude dB

maximum_gain 0

phase degrees

direction degrees

polarization theta_phi

end_<parameters>

Note: The column headings below are shown for illustration purpose only. Do not include the headings in the actual antenna pattern file.