Farfield calibration method used for phased array antennas containing tunable phase shifters
First Claim
1. A method for calibrating a phased array antenna containing a plurality of electronically tunable phase shifters each of which is coupled to a column of radiating elements, said method comprising the steps of:
- characterizing, without having any prior phase shift versus tuning voltage data, each of the electronically tunable phase shifters;
calculating phase offsets for each column of radiating elements using a farfield antenna range and the characterized data for each of the electronically tunable phase shifters; and
using the calculated phase offsets in a calibration table to adjust the tuning voltage of each of the electronically tunable phase shifters to cause the columns of radiating elements to yield a uniform beam.
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Abstract
A method for calibrating a phased array antenna and the calibrated phased array antenna are described herein. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method for calibrating a phased array antenna containing a plurality of electronically tunable phase shifters each of which is coupled to a column of radiating elements includes the steps of: (a) characterizing, without having any prior phase shift versus tuning voltage data, each of the electronically tunable phase shifters; (b) calculating phase offsets for each column of radiating elements using a farfield antenna range and the characterized data for each of the electronically tunable phase shifters; and (c) using the calculated phase offsets in a calibration table to adjust the tuning voltage of each of the electronically tunable phase shifters to cause the columns of radiating elements to yield a uniform beam.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for calibrating a phased array antenna containing a plurality of electronically tunable phase shifters each of which is coupled to a column of radiating elements, said method comprising the steps of:
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characterizing, without having any prior phase shift versus tuning voltage data, each of the electronically tunable phase shifters;
calculating phase offsets for each column of radiating elements using a farfield antenna range and the characterized data for each of the electronically tunable phase shifters; and
using the calculated phase offsets in a calibration table to adjust the tuning voltage of each of the electronically tunable phase shifters to cause the columns of radiating elements to yield a uniform beam. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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6. A method for calibrating a phased array antenna containing a plurality of electronically tunable phase shifters, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) positioning a receiver away from the phased array antenna such that the receiver can receive energy emitted from the phased array antenna;
(b) setting each of the electronically tunable phase shifters in the phased array antenna to a random phase;
(c) successively applying a plurality of tuning voltages to a first one of the electronically tunable phase shifters coupled to a first column of radiating elements in the phased array antenna to control the phase shift provided for the first column of radiating elements;
(d) measuring phase and amplitude of a signal transmitted from the first column of radiating elements in the phased array antenna to the receiver for each tuning voltage applied to the first electronically tunable phase shifter;
(e) determining phase shift versus tuning voltage data for the first column of radiating elements;
(f) repeating steps (c), (d) and (e) for each column of radiating elements after resetting each of the electronically tunable phase shifters to the random phase; and
(g) using the determined phase shift versus tuning voltage data to adjust the phase shift for each of the electronically tunable phase shifters to yield a uniform phase front at an aperture of the phased array antenna.
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12. A phased array antenna containing a plurality of electronically tunable phase shifters each of which is coupled to a column of radiating elements, said phased array antenna is calibrated by performing the following steps:
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(a) positioning a receiver away from the phased array antenna such that the receiver can receive energy emitted from the phased array antenna;
(b) setting each of the electronically tunable phase shifters in the phased array antenna to a random phase;
(c) successively applying a plurality of tuning voltages to a first one of the electronically tunable phase shifters coupled to a first column of radiating elements in the phased array antenna to control the phase shift provided for the first column of radiating elements;
(d) measuring phase and amplitude of a signal transmitted from the first column of radiating elements in the phased array antenna to the receiver for each tuning voltage applied to the first electronically tunable phase shifter;
(e) determining phase shift versus tuning voltage data for the first column of radiating elements;
(f) repeating steps (c), (d) and (e) for each column of radiating elements after resetting each of the electronically tunable phase shifters to the random phase; and
(g) using the determined phase shift versus tuning voltage data to adjust the phase shift for each of the electronically tunable phase shifters to yield a uniform phase front at an aperture of the phased array antenna. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification