Method and apparatus for calibrating an antenna array
First Claim
1. A method for determining the errors in the orientation coordinates of an antenna array in a known location using radio waves from one or more sources having known positions, the antenna array comprising at least two antennas, the orientation of the antenna array being with respect to a reference coordinate system established by a reference unit, the method comprising the steps:
- placing the antenna array in one or more specified orientations relative to a reference coordinate system;
measuring the phase of each radio wave received by each of the antennas in the antenna array from the one or more radio-wave sources for each orientation of the antenna array;
determining the errors in the array orientation coordinates using the measured phases.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention is a method and apparatus for determining the errors in the orientation coordinates of an antenna array and the spacings of the antennas in the array using radio waves from one or more sources having known positions and an inertial system, the antenna array comprising at least two antennas. The method comprises the steps of placing the antenna array in one or more specified orientations relative to a reference coordinate system, measuring the phase of each radio wave received by each of the antennas in the antenna array from the one or more radio-wave sources for each orientation of the antenna array, and then determining the errors in the array orientation coordinates using the measured phases. The method also includes determining the errors in the spacings of the antennas in the array and determining the errors in the orientation coordinates of the reference coordinate system, in both cases using the measured phases. The invention also includes apparatus for practicing the method utilizing an inertial system for maintaining the reference coordinate system.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method for determining the errors in the orientation coordinates of an antenna array in a known location using radio waves from one or more sources having known positions, the antenna array comprising at least two antennas, the orientation of the antenna array being with respect to a reference coordinate system established by a reference unit, the method comprising the steps:
-
placing the antenna array in one or more specified orientations relative to a reference coordinate system; measuring the phase of each radio wave received by each of the antennas in the antenna array from the one or more radio-wave sources for each orientation of the antenna array; determining the errors in the array orientation coordinates using the measured phases. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. An apparatus for determining the errors in the orientation coordinates of an antenna array using radio waves from one or more sources having known positions, the antenna array comprising at least two antennas, the apparatus comprising:
-
a reference unit; an orientation unit on which the antenna array is mounted, the orientation unit assuming an orientation relative to the reference unit in accordance with an orientation input; a phase measuring unit which measures the phase of each radio wave received by each of the antennas in the antenna array from the one or more radio-wave sources; a computer which provides a sequence of one or more predetermined orientation inputs to the orientation unit and obtains the measured phases for each orientation of the orientation unit from the phase measuring unit, computer determining the errors in the array orientation coordinates using the measured phase. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification