BENCH-TOP MEASUREMENT METHOD, APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR PHASED ARRAY RADAR APPARATUS CALIBRATION
First Claim
1. A method for determining scattering parameters for an operational phased array radar antenna subarray comprising:
- measuring for a reference subarray that includes a dipole component but not a beamformer component values for a plurality of reference electromagnetic parameters;
measuring for an operational phased array radar antenna subarray that includes the dipole component and thee beamformer component values for a plurality of operational electromagnetic parameters; and
calculating from the values for the plurality of operational electromagnetic parameters and the values for the plurality of reference electromagnetic parameters beamformer scattering parameters for the operational phased array radar antenna subarray.
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Abstract
A method for determining beamformer scattering parameters for a plurality of phased array radar antenna subarrays that each include a radiating (e.g., dipole) component and a beamformer component provides for obtaining for the plurality of phased array radar antenna subarrays a plurality of electromagnetic measurements at a plurality of ports. Analogous electromagnetic measurements are obtained for a reference subarray including a radiating component but absent a beamformer component. The plurality of phased array radar antenna subarray electromagnetic measurements and the reference subarray electromagnetic measurements provide a plurality of beamformer scattering parameter values for the plurality of phased array radar antenna subarrays that may be used in modeling and calibrating a phased array radar apparatus that may be assembled from the plurality of phased array radar antenna subarrays.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for determining scattering parameters for an operational phased array radar antenna subarray comprising:
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measuring for a reference subarray that includes a dipole component but not a beamformer component values for a plurality of reference electromagnetic parameters; measuring for an operational phased array radar antenna subarray that includes the dipole component and thee beamformer component values for a plurality of operational electromagnetic parameters; and calculating from the values for the plurality of operational electromagnetic parameters and the values for the plurality of reference electromagnetic parameters beamformer scattering parameters for the operational phased array radar antenna subarray. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for calibrating a phased array radar apparatus comprising:
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measuring for a reference subarray that includes a dipole component but not a beamformer component reference array port parameter signals for the reference subarray; measuring for each of a plurality of operational phased array radar antenna subarrays that each include the dipole component and the beamformer component a corresponding plurality of operational array port parameter signals for the plurality of operational phased array radar antenna subarrays; calculating for the plurality of operational phased array radar antenna subarrays a corresponding plurality of calculated beamformer parameters from the reference array port parameter signals and the plurality of operational phased array antenna subarray port parameter signals; and using the plurality of calculated beamformer parameter values for the plurality of operational phased array radar antenna subarrays in a general electromagnetic analysis model to determine modeled radar performance characteristics for a phased array radar apparatus assembled from the plurality of operational phased array radar antenna subarrays. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A test apparatus comprising:
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an array of test ports that terminate with an array of test dipoles that mate with an array of dipoles on a phased array radar antenna subarray; and means for energizing one of the test ports with an external signal while measuring a response to the external signal at the remainder of the test ports. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A test system comprising:
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a test apparatus comprising; an array of test ports that terminate with an array of test dipoles that mate with an array of dipoles on a phased array radar antenna subarray; and means for energizing one of the array of test ports with an external signal while measuring a response to the external signal at the remainder of the test ports; and a computer programmed for calculating values for beamformer scattering parameters from the external signal and the response to the external signal. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification