Antenna calibration

• US 8,085,189 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2008
• Issued: 12/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BAE Systems Plc
• Original Assignee: BAE Systems Plc
• Inventors: Scott, Michael Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): GREGORY, BERNARR E
• Application Number:
  US12/302,073
• Publication Number:
  US 20100253571A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,236 Days
• Field of Search: 342165-175, 342/195, 342368-384, 343/703, 343/850, 343/853, 343/700.R, 343/824, 702/127, 702182-185, 367/13
• 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 antenna elements forming an array face and a plurality of calibration antennas mounted around the array face. The plurality of calibration antennas comprising one or more pairs. The calibration antennas have overlapping coverage areas such that the entire array face of the antenna array is within the coverage area of at least one calibration antenna and each pair of calibration antennas have overlapping coverage areas such that of a common area of the array face is within both coverage areas.

Claims

1. An antenna array comprising:

a plurality of antenna elements forming an array face;

a plurality of calibration antennas mounted around the array face, the plurality of calibration antennas comprising one or more pairs;

wherein the calibration antennas have overlapping coverage areas such that the entire array face of the antenna array is within the coverage area of at least one calibration antenna and each pair of calibration antennas has overlapping coverage areas such that a common area of the array face is within both coverage areas.

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.

5. An antenna array according to claim 2, 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.