Real-time calibration of a phased array antenna integrated in a beam steering radar

A system for real-time calibration of a phased array antenna integrated in a beam steering radar, comprising:

• a transceiver configured for injecting a signal to the phased array antenna;
• a transmit antenna configured for generating a phase shifted and amplified signal from the injected signal;
• a receive antenna configured for transmitting the phase shifted and amplified signal to the transceiver for measurement;
• and
• a plurality of couplers configured for receiving the calibration signal from the transceiver and transmitting the phase shifted and amplified signal to the transceiver.

A method to calibrate a phased array antenna integrated in a beam steering radar, comprising:

• injecting a calibration signal at a plurality of transmit calibration couplers in the phased array antenna during operation of the beam steering radar, the calibration signal at a frequency different than a frequency of operation of the beam steering radar;
• applying a phase shift to the calibration signal with an active phase shifter;
• generating a phase shifted signal based on the phase shift;
• sampling the phase shifted signal at a receive calibration coupler;
• generating an output signal based on the sampling of the phase shifted signal;
• measuring the output signal;
• and
• determining a phase correction for the phased array receive antenna based on measured output signal.