ANTENNA CALIBRATION

• US 20100253571A1
• Filed: 08/08/2008
• Published: 10/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BAE Systems Plc
• Original Assignee: BAE Systems Plc
• Inventors: Scott, Michael Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 8,085,189 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/174
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/267 Phased-array testing or checking devices

Abstract

The present invention relates to antenna calibration for active phased array antennas. Specifically, the present invention relates to a built in apparatus for autonomous antenna calibration

Accordingly, the present invention provides an antenna array comprising: a plurality of calibration antennas mounted around the array; wherein the calibration antennas have overlapping ranges such that the entire array face of the antenna array is within range of at least once calibration and each pair of calibration antennas is in range of a common area of the array face.

Claims

1. An antenna array comprising:

a plurality of calibration antennas mounted around the array;

wherein the calibration antennas have overlapping ranges such that the entire array face of the antenna array is within range of at least once calibration and each pair of calibration antennas is in range of a common area of the array face.

2. An antenna array according to claim 1, comprising four calibration antennas.

3. An antenna array according to claim 2, wherein the calibration antennas are low directivity antennas.

4. An antenna array according to claim 3, wherein the calibration antennas are open waveguide antennas.

6. An antenna array according to claim 1, wherein the calibration antennas are low directivity antennas.

7. An antenna array according to claim 1, wherein the calibration antennas are open waveguide antennas.

8. An antenna array according to claim 2, wherein the calibration antennas are open waveguide antennas.

5. (canceled)