Method and apparatus for reconfiguring a photonic TR beacon

A method of configuring an antenna array system having a beacon used to determine three-dimensional physical displacement of antenna elements of an antenna array, the method comprising:

• illuminating the antenna elements with a beacon signal produced by the beacon;
• producing a plurality of signals corresponding to the beacon signal as sensed by the antenna elements;
• determining a location of a test element of the antenna elements with respect to a reference element of the antenna elements based upon the plurality of signals using RF phase sensing technology;
• performing a beam-steering correction based upon the determined location of the test element with respect to the reference element to shape and point the beacon signal to more effectively illuminate the antenna elements;
• and
• powering the beacon with light.

A method of configuring an antenna array system having a beacon used to determine three-dimensional physical displacement of antenna elements of an antenna array, the method comprising:

• emitting a beacon signal comprising multiple simultaneous tones in UHF band and X-band from a beacon;
• illuminating the antenna elements with the beacon signal;
• producing a plurality of signals corresponding to the beacon signal as sensed by the antenna elements;
• amplifying the plurality of signals;
• modulating the amplified plurality of signals with a unique spinning rate corresponding to frequency offsets of the multiple simultaneous tones to produce phase-shifted signals;
• summing the phase-shifted signals to create a wrapped signal;
• down-converting the wrapped signal to create a mixed signal;
• digitizing the mixed signal to create a digitized signal;
• processing the digitized signal in a fast Fourier transform to produce an FFT signal;
• using the FFT signal to determine a phase difference between a first phase-shifted signal corresponding to the test element and a second phase-shifted signal corresponding to the reference element;
• unwrapping the phase difference to produce inertial location data;
• using the inertial location data to determine a location of a test element of the antenna elements with respect to a reference element of the antenna elements;
• determining a location of the beacon with respect to an inertial platform using transverse cameras and an inertial measurement unit;
• determining a location of the inertial platform with respect to a position on earth using at least one of a global positioning system, an attitude sensor, and a plurality of scatterers;
• based upon the determined location of the test element with respect to the reference element, performing at least one of a beam-steering correction to shape and point the beacon signal to more effectively illuminate the antenna array and an element correction to adjust directivity of the antenna elements;
• and
• powering the beacon with light.