Low sll aesa taper calibration
AssigneeRockwell Collins, Inc.
InventorsJames B. West, Connor C. McBryde
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for calibrating ESAs calculates a taper based on ESA element coordinates, and stores the taper as a vector matrix of gain values. The gain values are normalized by accounting for known losses by measuring a central element at minimum attenuation. The normalized gain is then a reference for every other element in the array. The other elements are then measured at various attenuations to identify an attenuation to produce the desired gain. The measurements are performed according to a bisection algorithm. Attenuation may be embodied in a set of digital register values.
Claims20
A method for calibrating electronically scanned array antennas (ESAs) comprising:
- calculating an amplitude taper based on a set of electronically scanned array (ESA) radiating elements;
- storing the taper as a vector of gain values;
- normalizing the gain values;
- determining an attenuation value for each radiating element to approach the normalized gain within a predefined threshold of accuracy;
- and
- storing the attenuation register values as a vector.
A computer apparatus for calibrating and electronically scanned array (ESA) antenna comprising:
- at least one processor in data communication with a memory storing processor executable code for configuring the at least one processor to:
- calculate an amplitude taper based on coordinates of radiating elements in the ESA;
- store the taper as a vector of gain values;
- normalize the gain values;
- determine an attenuation value for each radiating element to approach the normalized gain within a predefined threshold of accuracy;
- store the attenuation register values as a vector;
- and
- calculate a probe correction and phase calibration.
An electronically scanned array (ESA) antenna comprising:
- a plurality of radiating elements;
- at least one processor in data communication with the plurality of radiating elements and a memory for storing processor executable code, the at least one processor configured to drive the plurality of radiating elements,
- wherein the processor is configured to apply calibration settings to any signal configuring the plurality of radiating elements, the calibration settings determine by:
- calculate a taper based on coordinates of each radiating element;
- store the taper as a vector of gain values;
- normalize the gain values;
- determine an attenuation value for each radiating element to approach the normalized gain within a predefined threshold of accuracy;
- and
- store the attenuation values as a vector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.