Multichannel receiver system and method for multichannel receiver monitoring

A method for multichannel receiver monitoring, comprising:

• receiving each of a first plurality of received signals on a corresponding first input of a corresponding one of a second plurality of receiver circuits connected to a corresponding one of a third plurality of input lines;
• receiving a reference signal on a first mixer input of an upconversion mixer;
• receiving a local oscillator signal on a corresponding second input of said corresponding one of said second plurality of receiver circuits and on a second input of said upconversion mixer;
• providing an upconverted reference signal on an output of said upconversion mixer;
• coupling said upconverted reference signal into said first plurality of received signals using a fourth plurality of directional couplers;
• providing each of a fifth plurality of downconverted output signals on a corresponding output of said corresponding one of said second plurality of receiver circuits;
• generating difference phase values for at least two of said fifth plurality of downconverted output signals comprising a downconverted reference signal;
• and
• determining a phase variation between said difference phase values.

A radar system, comprising a multichannel receiver system, wherein the multichannel receiver system comprises:

• a first plurality of receiver circuits, wherein each receiver circuit comprises
• a first input connected to a corresponding one of a second plurality of input lines, each input line arranged to provide a corresponding one of a third plurality of received signals,
• a second input connected to a local oscillator arranged to provide a local oscillator signal, and
• an output arranged to provide a corresponding one of a fourth plurality of output signals;
• and
• an upconversion mixer having
• a first mixer input for receiving a reference signal;
• a second mixer input connected to said local oscillator;
• and
• a mixer output providing an upconverted reference signal to a fifth plurality of directional couplers, each directional coupler connected to said corresponding one of said second plurality of input lines.