Beamforming antenna, measurement device, antenna measurement system and method

Measurement device for measuring properties of a beamforming antenna via calibration signals emitted by antenna elements of the beamforming antenna, each antenna element coupled by a unique one of a plurality of signal processing chains to a different one of a plurality of signal output interfaces of the signal generator, each of the signal processing chains defining a unique signal transmission path between each one of the signal output interfaces of the signal generator and an input of each one of the antenna elements, the measurement device comprising:

• a plurality of couplers each configured to transmit an incoming signal exiting the unique signal transmission path of a signal processing chain of the signal processing chains, the incoming signal comprising calibration signals, the couplers operable to couple out a fraction of the incoming signals provided to the antenna element and provide the signal fractions to a switch for selecting one of the signal fractions;
• a measurement receiver configured to receive the signal fractions of the incoming signals comprising the calibration signals, the measurement receiver configured to receive the signal fractions as selected by the switch, and
• a property determination module that is coupled to the measurement receiver and that is configured to determine properties of each of the signal processing chains for each individually identifiable one of the antenna elements of the beamforming antenna based on unique signatures of the received calibration signals.

Method for measuring properties of a beamforming antenna, the method comprising:

• generating, by a signal generator, for each one of a plurality of antenna elements of the beamforming antenna a respective calibration signal having a unique signatures,
• transmitting the calibration signals via signal processing chains to the antenna elements, each signal processing chain coupled to and defining a unique signal transmission path between an unique one of the antenna elements and an unique of one of a plurality of signal output interfaces of the signal generator;
• emitting the generated calibration signals via the antenna elements of the beamforming antenna,
• coupling, by couplers connected to each signal processing chain, out fractions of the signals provided to the antenna elements;
• individually selecting, via a switch connected to outputs of the couplers, a selected signal fraction from the signal fractions provided by the couplers,
• receiving the selected signal fraction that include the calibration signals at a measurement device, and
• determining properties of signal processing chain of the beamforming antenna based on the received calibration signals within the selected signal fraction.