Array built in test
First Claim
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1. Apparatus comprising:
- a) an antenna having at least two antenna elements, each having a signal port;
b) at least two means each for producing an RF signal, each means coupled to the signal port of one of the at least two antenna elements;
c) a directional coupler having a direct input port and a direct output port and a coupled port, said directional coupler having its direct input port connected to the signal port of one of the antenna elements and its direct output port connected to one of the means for producing an RF signal; and
d) means for observing the signal level at the coupled port of the directional coupler.
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Abstract
Built in test circuitry for an array transmitter. The circuitry includes a directional coupler with directivity equal to the mutual coupling between adjacent antenna elements. The direct input port of the coupler is connected to the antenna element and the direct output port of the coupler is connected to the circuitry generating the signal transmitted by the antenna element. The coupled port of the coupler feeds a detector which in turn provides an input to a control circuit. This circuit can be controlled to test, for each antenna element, the RF power driving each antenna element, the effective power radiated from each element, and the operation of the phase shifter coupled to each antenna element.
37 Citations
13 Claims
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1. Apparatus comprising:
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a) an antenna having at least two antenna elements, each having a signal port; b) at least two means each for producing an RF signal, each means coupled to the signal port of one of the at least two antenna elements; c) a directional coupler having a direct input port and a direct output port and a coupled port, said directional coupler having its direct input port connected to the signal port of one of the antenna elements and its direct output port connected to one of the means for producing an RF signal; and d) means for observing the signal level at the coupled port of the directional coupler. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of testing a system for transmitting RF signals of the type having an array antenna with a plurality of elements with a phase shift circuit connected to each antenna element, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) measuring the strength of a signal comprising the combination of the signal applied to a first antenna element for transmitting and the signal transmitted by a second antenna element as received at the first antenna element; b) changing the phase of a signal applied to one of the antenna elements; and c) repeating the step of measuring and comparing the change of signal strength with a known value. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification