Phased array radio frequency (RF) built-in-test equipment (BITE) apparatus and method of operation therefor
First Claim
1. A radio frequency (RF) Built-In-Test-Equipment (BITE) apparatus for performing failure detection for a phased array antenna, said RF BITE apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of antenna elements in said phased array antenna, wherein a certain amount of mutual coupling occurs between individual pairs of antenna elements, wherein said certain amount of mutual coupling for at least one of said individual pairs of antenna elements is stored in a mutual coupling table, said mutual coupling table being established during a calibration procedure;
a plurality of transmit/receive modules (TRMs), wherein each one of said plurality of TRMs is coupled to one of said plurality of antenna elements;
an illuminating means coupled to each one of said plurality of transmit/receive modules; and
a controller coupled to each one of said plurality of TRMs and to said illuminating means, said controller for detecting failure modes in said phased array antenna using a cluster search procedure, wherein said controller causes one element in a cluster of said plurality of antenna elements to operate as a transmitting element, causes one other element to operate as a receiving element, processes a detected signal level from a detector in a TRM coupled to said one other element, and uses said detected signal level to identify failure modes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Failure detection in a phased array antenna system is accomplished using a cluster-oriented detection scheme and a mutual coupling test signal injection technique. RF BITE TRM (110) is connected to an RF BITE port (120) on an illuminating means (140). Illuminating means (140) provides a uniform input signal level to many TRMs (150). Each TRM (150) is connected to an antenna element (210). Controller (170) causes one element (220) in a cluster to operate in a transmit mode and causes other elements (230) to operate in a receive mode. Internal detectors in TRMs (150) are used to detect signal levels, and these detected signal levels are used to identify failure modes. This cluster search method operates well for many types of phased arrays including rectangular and triangular lattices, planar and conformal apertures, single frequency and shared aperture types.
85 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A radio frequency (RF) Built-In-Test-Equipment (BITE) apparatus for performing failure detection for a phased array antenna, said RF BITE apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of antenna elements in said phased array antenna, wherein a certain amount of mutual coupling occurs between individual pairs of antenna elements, wherein said certain amount of mutual coupling for at least one of said individual pairs of antenna elements is stored in a mutual coupling table, said mutual coupling table being established during a calibration procedure; a plurality of transmit/receive modules (TRMs), wherein each one of said plurality of TRMs is coupled to one of said plurality of antenna elements; an illuminating means coupled to each one of said plurality of transmit/receive modules; and a controller coupled to each one of said plurality of TRMs and to said illuminating means, said controller for detecting failure modes in said phased array antenna using a cluster search procedure, wherein said controller causes one element in a cluster of said plurality of antenna elements to operate as a transmitting element, causes one other element to operate as a receiving element, processes a detected signal level from a detector in a TRM coupled to said one other element, and uses said detected signal level to identify failure modes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for operating a failure detection system in a phased array antenna wherein each one of a plurality of transmit/receive modules (TRMs) is coupled to one of a plurality of antenna elements in said phased array antenna, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) commanding at least one TRM to operate in a transmit mode; b) determining a first cluster said first cluster identifying a list of nearest neighbors from said plurality of TRMs to operate in a receive mode; c) identifying a first TRM in said first cluster; d) commanding said first TRM to operate in receive mode; e) commanding other TRMs in said first cluster to operate in standby mode; f) obtaining a first detected signal level from said first TRM, wherein said first detected signal level is a measure of radio frequency (RF) energy that has been received at said first TRM due to mutual coupling between an antenna element coupled to said first TRM and another antenna element coupled to said at least one TRM operating in said transmit mode; g) comparing said first detected signal level with a first expected value; and h) reporting a TX White Out failure when said first detected signal level is greater than said first expected value said comparing step indicates said first TRM is operating in said transmit mode while commanded not to be in said transmit mode. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for operating a failure detection system in a phased array antenna wherein each one of a plurality of transmit/receive modules is coupled to one of a plurality of antenna elements in said phased array antenna, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) operating one of said plurality of antenna elements as a transmitting element; b) identifying a cluster of said plurality of antenna elements as receiving elements, wherein said cluster contains antenna elements which are mutually coupled to said transmitting element; c) obtaining a detected signal level from at least one of said receiving elements in said cluster, wherein said detected signal level is a measure of radio frequency (RF) energy that has been received at said at least one of said receiving elements due to mutual coupling with said transmitting element; d) comparing said detected signal level with a known value, wherein said known value is determined from expected values obtained during a calibration procedure and stored in a mutual coupling table; e) reporting a failure for a pair of antenna elements when said detected signal level is less than said known value, said pair comprising said transmitting element and said at least one of said plurality of receiving elements; and f) reporting a non-failure when said detected signal level is equal to or greater than said known value. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification