Method for accurate auto-calibration of phased array antennas
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsJulio A. Navarro, Richard N. Bostwick, Kerri Scott, Paul Norris, James Blair
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Abstract
A method and apparatus is disclosed that is capable of verifying on site the health, calibration and integrity of individual phased array modules of a phased array antenna system and, in certain cases, enabling the phased array antenna system to overcome element failures by use of a beam-steering computer. The present disclosure provides a test probe or RF radiator in or adjacent the antenna array for supplying and receiving test and calibration signals.
Claims19
A method for receive array calibration of a phased array antenna system, wherein the phased array antenna system comprises a plurality of antenna elements, a beamsteering computer, and a calibration probe, comprising the steps of:
- (a) generating a broadband, bi-phase modulated input signal;
- (b) exciting the calibration probe with the input signal;
- (c) setting one of the plurality of antenna elements to receive;
- (d) receiving the input signal radiated from the calibration probe at the antenna element set to receive;
- (e) demodulating the received signal and analyzing it with the beamsteering computer to determine the health of the antenna element;
- and
- (f) repeating the steps (c)-(e) for each remaining antenna element.
A method for transmit array calibration of a phased array antenna system, wherein the phased array antenna system comprises a plurality of antenna elements, a beamsteering computer, and a calibration probe, comprising the steps of:
- (a) generating a broadband, bi-phase modulated input signal;
- (b) setting one of the plurality of antenna elements to transmit;
- (c) exciting the antenna element set to transmit with the input signal;
- (d) receiving the input signal radiated from the antenna element set to transmit at the calibration probe;
- (e) demodulating the received signal and analyzing it with the beamsteering computer to determine the health of the antenna element;
- and
- (f) repeating the steps (c)-(e) for each remaining antenna element.
A phased array antenna system with built-in test capability, comprising a beam forming network comprised of a plurality of individual antenna elements and individual control circuits for each individual antenna element;
- a calibration probe;
- an input source providing a modulated signal;
- and
- a beamsteering computer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.