Patent ID: 7982664
Filing Date: 2011-07-19
Classification: G01S,H01Q

Abstract:
1. A method for calibrating a the transmit aspect of an apparatus, said apparatus including: an array antenna including a plurality of guided-wave ports, said array antenna being for transducing electromagnetic signals between guided and unguided modes; an exciter for generating RF excitation for calibration and operation of the apparatus; a first sampling coupler including a tap port and an output port, said first sampling coupler being coupled to said exciter for generating a local sample of said excitation at said tap port, and for passing a portion of said excitation to said output port of said first sampling coupler; a tunable receiver including an input port controllably coupled to said first sampling coupler for receiving said sample of said excitation, said receiver having the capability of comparing at least the phase of said sample of said excitation with calibration signals applied to said input port of the receiver; at least one phase modulator; at least one amplitude modulator; a beamformer including a first port coupled to said output port of said first sampling coupler, for receiving said excitation passing through said first sampling coupler from said exciter, said beamformer also including a plurality of second ports coupled to a plurality of signal paths for distributing said excitation as forward excitation among said plurality of signal paths to said phase modulator, said beamformer also including monitor feed paths for coupling frequency-modulated excitation signals in a reverse direction to said amplitude modulator; a direction-reversing directional coupler coupled to said phase modulator and to said beamformer for propagating frequency modulated excitation in said reverse direction through said monitor feed paths of said beamformer, said direction-reversing coupler also including a port coupled to an antenna guided-wave port; said method comprising the steps of: