Patent ID: 8199048
Filing Date: 2012-06-12
Classification: G01S,H01Q

Abstract:
1. A method for calibrating array elements of a phased array antenna, comprising: (i) transmitting a signal from a transmitting element, and sequentially receiving the transmitted signal at two receiving elements each spaced a first distance from the transmitting element; (ii) repeating step (i) one or more times, transmitting from a different transmitting element in each repetition of step (i), until each element being calibrated has received at least one transmission; (iii) changing the first distance to a second distance and repeating steps (i) and (ii) at this second distance for at least some of the elements; (iv) determining from the received signals of steps (i), (ii) and (iii) two element mutual coupling ratios, one ratio for one subset of the elements being calibrated and the other for a second subset comprising the remaining elements being calibrated; (v) making at least four additional transmissions and receptions via two transmissions each from two transmitting elements comprising one element of each subset, and the reception of transmissions from each of these two transmitting elements by each of two receiving elements, the two receiving elements being different elements than the two transmitting elements; and (vi) determining from the received signals of step (v) a complex calibration ratio for all of the elements being calibrated with respect to a single element.