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EP2446506B1 - Système et procédé pour calibrer une antenne réseau à commande de phase ayant un réseau de calibrage intégral en présence d'un corps interférant - Google Patents

Système et procédé pour calibrer une antenne réseau à commande de phase ayant un réseau de calibrage intégral en présence d'un corps interférant Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2446506B1
EP2446506B1 EP10763037.8A EP10763037A EP2446506B1 EP 2446506 B1 EP2446506 B1 EP 2446506B1 EP 10763037 A EP10763037 A EP 10763037A EP 2446506 B1 EP2446506 B1 EP 2446506B1
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Prior art keywords
antenna
calibration
source
interfering
ratio
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP2446506A2 (fr
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Elad Goshen
Yacov Vagman
Haim Reichman
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Elta Systems Ltd
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Elta Systems Ltd
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q3/00—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system
    • H01Q3/26—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture
    • H01Q3/267—Phased-array testing or checking devices

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to phased array antennas, generally and in particular, to calibration thereof.
  • a phased array antenna comprises a number of transmitting/receiving elements, usually arranged in a planar configuration. Each element, or group of elements, is driven by a transmit/- receive (T/R) module which controls the phase and the amplitude of the corresponding antenna element.
  • T/R transmit/- receive
  • the signal On transmission of a signal from a phased array antenna, the signal is divided into a number of sub-signals, and each sub-signal is fed to one of the modules.
  • the modules comprise signal channels guiding the sub-signals to the antenna elements.
  • Each signal channel comprises controllable attenuators or amplifiers and controllable phase-shifting devices for controlling the amplification and the phase shift of the modules.
  • the signals transmitted through the antenna elements interfere with each other. By selecting suitable values of the relative amplification and the relative phase-shifting between the modules and by utilizing the interference of the transmitted signals, the directional sensitivity of the antenna can be controlled.
  • each antenna element receives a sub-signal.
  • the modules comprise signal channels for reception and through these signal channels the sub-signals are collected in a single point in which all sub-signals are added to form a single composite signal.
  • the signal channels for reception also comprise amplifiers and phase shifters, and the directional sensitivity of the antenna for reception can be controlled in a corresponding way as for transmission, by varying the amplification and phase-shifting of the modules.
  • the side lobe levels of the antenna In order to obtain the desired directional properties of the antenna, it is desired to minimize the side lobe levels of the antenna. To enable low side lobe levels with an electrically controlled phased array antenna, high accuracy of the amplification and the phase shift in the modules is required. In practice, this is achieved by introducing a calibration function in the antenna system. Central to the calibration concept is the compensation of the various contributions of cables, attenuators, phase shifters, regulators and other parts in the transmit/receive channels which respond differently at different temperatures, for each antenna element and at each radio frequency. The calibration procedure is required to determine what controls should be applied to the transmit/receive modules in order to obtain the desired current distribution on the antenna aperture.
  • Phased array antenna architectures typically include a calibration network, whose purpose is to provide injection of a predetermined calibration signal to each antenna element and to the T/R module connected to it.
  • a calibration network whose purpose is to provide injection of a predetermined calibration signal to each antenna element and to the T/R module connected to it.
  • An example of this type of calibration network is described in US Patent 7,068,218 to Göttl et al.
  • Göttl et al's calibration procedure utilizes, in addition to the operational transmit/receive channels, also an auxiliary injection network, whose contribution must be known in advance. This is determined using the concept of the calibration ratio, which measures the ratio between signals injected externally (in principle from infinity) to those injected internally.
  • the other approach disposes the external calibration source proximate to each antenna element in turn, while ensuring that the distance from the external calibration source to each antenna element is the same and that the external calibration source is exactly aligned to the optical center of each antenna element. This also ensures that the respective amplitudes and phases of the external calibration signals injected into each antenna element are the same, but requires critical and consequently complex alignment and is both time-consuming and expensive.
  • the calibration reference signal When the calibration reference signal is derived from a distant source such as a satellite, the signal emanates from infinity so that its wavefront is effectively equidistant from all the antenna elements. It therefore arrives in the same phase at all the antenna elements. But it is not always practical to use a distant source for the calibration source, particularly when space is at a premium as is often the case in field calibration. In satellite applications, for example, the required band of frequencies is not guaranteed and even if the required band of frequencies is provided -- the signal may not reach the desired intensity.
  • Prior art approaches that employ so-called near zone calibration are known to feed a planar calibration signal successively to the antenna elements.
  • US Pat. No. 6,084,545 discloses a near-zone calibration arrangement for a phased-array antenna that determines the phase shifts or attenuation of the elemental control elements of the array.
  • the calibration system includes a probe located in the near zone, and a calibration tone generator.
  • the near zone calibration procedure can be applied to transmit or receive modes as well.
  • receive calibration mode a probe sequentially moves from one antenna element to another, keeping the same electro-magnetic coupling conditions (distance from antenna plane, polarization, orientation etc.) and transmitting the same test signal.
  • a receive antenna array has a switching arrangement, providing appropriate RF-module/antenna element connection to the measurement unit via controllable phase shifter/attenuator.
  • the near-zone calibration goal achieves the same signal parameters (phase and amplitude) coming from each RF-module (and appropriate probe locations) by applying control signals to the appropriate phase shifters and attenuators.
  • far zone calibration allows the calibration signal to be fed simultaneously to all the antenna elements from a common source and ensures that it will arrive at the same phase at all the antenna elements; but is not suitable for use in confined spaces, such as when re-calibrating antenna elements in the field.
  • near zone calibration requires that in order for the external calibration signal to arrive at the same phase at all the antenna elements, it must be fed to each antenna element sequentially and this requires precise alignment which is time-consuming and expensive.
  • the methods for calibration ratio acquisition described above are costly and inaccurate in those cases where the antenna cannot be assumed to be bare i.e. where the antenna is electromagnetically coupled to an interfering structure.
  • the accurate calibration ratio should take into account electro-magnetic coupling to all near-by interfering structures. Even if an interfering structure is absent at some point in time, this may be no longer true when the antenna is deployed later in some other place where the assumption of a bare antenna no longer holds.
  • a phased array cellular antenna located in some urban environment where some physical obstacles interfere with the antenna. Even worse, these obstacles might not have been present at the time of antenna installation.
  • Another example is an antenna mounted on aircraft, or on a tank or ship.
  • Certain embodiments of the present invention seek to provide calibration of phased array antennas, electro-magnetically coupled, to some external structure which distorts the electromagnetic properties of the bare antenna.
  • Certain embodiments of the present invention seek to provide computation of calibration ratio of an antenna in the presence of an interfering body.
  • Certain embodiments of the present invention seek to provide computation of calibration ratio in the presence of the combined effect of the interfering body and the correction for the spherical wave front from the point RF source.
  • Certain embodiments of the present invention seek to provide computation of corrections for calibration ratio measured using external measurement without an interfering body for the presence of an interfering body.
  • Certain embodiments of the present invention seek to provide correction of calibration ratio obtained by measurements performed under the conditions of near/intermediate electromagnetic field using RF simulation methods.
  • Certain embodiments of the present invention seek to provide using simulation to estimate the electro-magnetic coupling between antenna of interest and an interfering body located in a close vicinity to that antenna under various conditions of antenna illumination by an external point RF source.
  • Certain embodiments of the present invention seek to provide use of simulation to estimate the range dependence of magnitude and phase of this electro-magnetic coupling as a function of difference in contribution of electro-magnetic coupling of an interfering body to the externally injected signals at various distances of the external point RF source.
  • Certain embodiments of the present invention seek to provide computation of calibration ratio of an antenna using RF source, which is not necessarily a point source or a source with a well defined phase center.
  • Certain embodiments of the present invention seek to provide computation of calibration ratio of an antenna in presence of an interfering body using RF source, which is not necessarily a point source or a source with a well defined phase center.
  • the system shown and described herein uses a modified calibration ratio which takes into account the existence of the interfering structure in the vicinity of the antenna itself.
  • the modified calibration ratio is defined as a ratio of a signal injected from infinity in the presence of the interfering structure (aircraft for example) and an internally injected signal also in presence of that interfering structure.
  • the boundary between the two regions is defined as a function of the application, and depends on the dominant wavelength emitted by the source.
  • the far zone condition of the antenna electro-magnetically coupled to the wing structure may result in a distance r which exceeds 10 kilometers.
  • Certain embodiments of the present invention seek to provide calibration ratio acquisition in field conditions using an inexpensive facility where the anechoic chamber as a means of a near zone range is no longer an option and at the same time a satellite as a means of a far zone range is also impossible.
  • Certain embodiments of the present invention seek to provide a method for estimation of the calibration ratio utilizing a system including an RF point source located close to the antenna and synchronized with the transceiver connected to the antenna. A signal transmitted from this point source is received by the antenna and corrected by a simulation as if it were transmitted by this point source at infinity. An additional signal is injected using the auxiliary network. The ratio between the two signals, for each antenna element, is the required calibration ratio.
  • Certain embodiments of the present invention seek to provide calibration ratio determination and calibration which occurs on the ground, followed by an operational stage which is airborne.
  • the calibration ratio takes into account electromagnetic coupling between at least one physical object fixed to the ground and the RF source; the physical object may in fact be the ground itself.
  • the RF source comprises an RF point source.
  • the RF source may be spherical or may alternatively be non-spherical.
  • the antenna calibrator is operative to combine the calibration ratio and the correction factor by adding the phases of the calibration ratio and the correction factor to obtain a phase value of the Modified Calibration ratio and adding decibel representations of the amplitudes of the calibration ratio and the correction factor to obtain a decibel representation of an amplitude of the Modified Calibration ratio.
  • the RF simulation tool computes the correction factor by computing electromagnetic fields generated in and propagating within a non-continuous medium.
  • the antenna comprises a cellular antenna.
  • the system also comprises a platform upon which the antenna is mounted and wherein the interfering member is part of the platform.
  • the signal measurement and recording device measures amplitude and phase of the samples of the internal and external signals.
  • a method for calibrating an antenna comprising a phased array of antenna elements connected to plurality of transceivers, the method comprising providing an RF source of externally injected signals located close to the antenna and synchronized with the transceivers; determining, per antenna element, a calibration ratio adapted to accommodate for presence of at least one interfering structure electromagnetically interfering with a signal transmitted from the RF source and received by the antenna; and calibrating the antenna using the per-antenna element calibration ratios adapted to accommodate for presence of at least one interfering structure.
  • the determining includes generating simulated far field and near field signals so as to simulate a signal transmitted by an RF source located at infinity and located near the RF source respectively; internally injecting an internal signal into the antenna via an internal injection network synchronized with the transceivers, wherein the interfering structure interferes with the internal signal; using the RF source to externally inject an external signal into the antenna; and, for each individual antenna element, Computing the calibration ratio by combining information characterizing the internal and external signals as received by the individual antenna element with a correction factor characterizing the simulated far field and near field signals and representing, per antenna element, the ratio of the simulated far field and near field signals.
  • At least one physical object which is electromagnetically coupled to radiation emitted by the RF source thereby to define unwanted radiation in context of the calibration is present in the course of the determining and calibrating and is absent in a subsequent operational stage, the method also comprising screening the unwanted radiation.
  • the screening comprises covering the at least one physical object with RF-radiation absorbing material.
  • the determining and calibrating occurs on the ground, the operational stage is airborne and the physical object is fixed to the ground.
  • the determining comprises determining the calibration ratio a plurality of times thereby to obtain a plurality of interim calibration ratio results and averaging the plurality of interim calibration ratio results to obtain the calibration ratio adapted to accommodate for presence of at least one interfering structure.
  • the determining the calibration ratio a plurality of times includes re-positioning the RF source a plurality of times, thereby to compensate for artifactual noise generated by the at least one interfering structure during calibration ratio measurement.
  • the calibration ratio is determined a plurality of times for a single position of the RF source, thereby to compensate for white noise during calibration ratio measurement.
  • the correction factor includes a phase and an amplitude and wherein the at least one interfering structure comprises a plurality of interfering structures and wherein generating at least one simulated signal comprises performing the following operations for a near field configuration and for a far field configuration: a. computing a plurality of simulated first electromagnetic fields generated at the plurality of interfering structures respectively due to radiation emitted by the RF source; b. computing a plurality of simulated induced currents generated at the plurality of interfering structures respectively due to radiation emitted by the RF source; c. for each antenna element in the phased array of antenna elements:
  • the antenna is installed on an aircraft and the plurality of interfering structures include a fuselage, a first wing, a second wing, an engine, a stabilizer and a rudder.
  • the antenna is installed on a ship and the plurality of interfering structures include a hull, at least one mast and a bridge.
  • the antenna is installed on a tank and the plurality of interfering structures include a hull, a turret and a cannon.
  • a computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code adapted to be executed to implement a method for calibrating an antenna comprising a phased array of antenna elements connected to plurality of transceivers, the method comprising providing an RF source located close to the antenna and synchronized with the transceivers; determining, per antenna element, a calibration ratio adapted to accommodate for presence of at least one interfering structure electromagnetically interfering with a signal transmitted from an RF source, which is located close to the antenna and synchronized with the transceivers, the signal being received by the antenna, wherein the determining includes generating simulated far field and near field signals so as to simulate a signal transmitted by an RF source located at infinity and located near the RF source respectively; internally injecting an internal signal into the antenna via an internal injection network; using the RF source to externally inject an external signal into the antenna; and for each individual
  • the method is carried out in field conditions in which no anechoic chamber is available.
  • the external signals are affected by first electro-magnetic coupling between the plurality of mutually electro-magnetically coupled antenna elements and by second electro-magnetic coupling between the source and the interfering member
  • the system also comprising a signal measuring and recording device measuring and recording samples of the internal signals and the external signals; and a correction factor computation unit operative to compute a correction factor for the calibration ratio which factor corrects for presence of the interfering member and has a phase and an amplitude, by comparing the simulated first electro-magnetic coupling -zero far-zone external electromagnetic fields and the simulated first electro-magnetic coupling -zero near zone external electromagnetic fields, and the electro-magnetically coupled structure-accommodating calibration ratio computer is operative to compute the modified Calibration ratio by combining the ratio of the internal and external signals as received by the antenna with the correction factor.
  • the method also comprises computing (in dB) a difference between the amplitudes of the external and internal signals as received by the individual antenna element, and adding the amplitude (in DB) of the correction factor.
  • a computer program product comprising a computer usable medium or computer readable storage medium, typically tangible, having a computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code adapted to be executed to implement any or all of the methods shown and described herein. It is appreciated that any or all of the computational steps shown and described herein may be computer-implemented. The operations in accordance with the teachings herein may be performed by a computer specially constructed for the desired purposes or by a general purpose computer specially configured for the desired purpose by a computer program stored in a computer readable storage medium.
  • Any suitable processor, display and input means may be used to process, display e.g. on a computer screen or other computer output device, store, and accept information such as information used by or generated by any of the methods and apparatus shown and described herein; the above processor, display and input means including computer programs, in accordance with some or all of the embodiments of the present invention.
  • any or all functionalities of the invention shown and described herein may be performed by a conventional personal computer processor, workstation or other programmable device or computer or electronic computing device, either general-purpose or specifically constructed, used for processing; a computer display screen and/or printer and/or speaker for displaying; machine-readable memory such as optical disks, CDROMs, magnetic-optical discs or other discs; RAMs, ROMs, EPROMs, EEPROMs, magnetic or optical or other cards, for storing, and keyboard or mouse for accepting.
  • the term "process” as used above is intended to include any type of computation or manipulation or transformation of data represented as physical, e.g. electronic, phenomena which may occur or reside e.g. within registers and /or memories of a computer.
  • the above devices may communicate via any conventional wired or wireless digital communication means, e.g. via a wired or cellular telephone network or a computer network such as the Internet.
  • the apparatus of the present invention may include, according to certain embodiments of the invention, machine readable memory containing or otherwise storing a program of instructions which, when executed by the machine, implements some or all of the apparatus, methods, features and functionalities of the invention shown and described herein.
  • the apparatus of the present invention may include, according to certain embodiments of the invention, a program as above which may be written in any conventional programming language, and optionally a machine for executing the program such as but not limited to a general purpose computer which may optionally be configured or activated in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. Any of the teachings incorporated herein may, wherever suitable, operate on signals representative of physical objects or substances.
  • the term "computer” should be broadly construed to cover any kind of electronic device with data processing capabilities, including, by way of non-limiting example, personal computers, servers, computing system, communication devices, processors (e.g. digital signal processor (DSP), microcontrollers, field programmable gate array (FPGA), application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc.) and other electronic computing devices.
  • processors e.g. digital signal processor (DSP), microcontrollers, field programmable gate array (FPGA), application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc.
  • DSP digital signal processor
  • FPGA field programmable gate array
  • ASIC application specific integrated circuit
  • Certain embodiments of the present invention are suited for applications in which the same electromagnetic environment exists during the phase of measuring the calibration ratio as also during the calibration phase itself and likewise during the operational phase such that any deviation from this assumption may be assumed to be negligible or otherwise reduced until negligible.
  • a modified calibration ratio is employed which represents effects of the interfering bodies which are near to the antenna of interest, since simply measuring the calibration ratio of a bare antenna knowing that its operational environment includes obstacles such as parts of a ship, plane or tank, is not sufficient.
  • the calibration ratio is determined by a ratio of two measurements: an internal injected signal IN 0 via the injection unit 33 and an external injected signal using a point RF source.
  • a RF source is deployed close to the antenna, correction is made for large distances including simulating the difference in electromagnetic coupling between these distances.
  • This simulation computes the propagation of electromagnetic radiation through a discontinuous dielectric medium.
  • the discontinuity involved here represents an interfering body 41 located at close proximity to the antenna.
  • Other discontinuities which are present during calibration ratio acquisition but absent in the operational stage, such as ground causing multi-path effects, may be overcome e.g. by covering the relevant interfering elements with RF-radiation absorbing material or by other methods.
  • the modified calibration ratio is used for antenna calibration as is known in the art.
  • An example use of a calibration ratio as computed herein, to calibrate an antenna is described in United States Patent US 6,480,153 to Jung .
  • Fig. 1 shows a phase array antenna arrangement that includes a bare array 25 of antenna elements 31 to be calibrated which are respectively connected to a plurality of transceivers 32 operative to control signals transmitted or received through the antenna, an internal injection unit 33, (also termed herein “auxiliary channel network 33") for injecting calibrating signals into the antenna elements 31, an RF source 35 such as a point RF-source, and an amplitude and phase measurement unit 36, also termed herein “signal measuring and recording device 36".
  • auxiliary channel network 33 for injecting calibrating signals into the antenna elements 31
  • an RF source 35 such as a point RF-source
  • an amplitude and phase measurement unit 36 also termed herein “signal measuring and recording device 36".
  • Signals received by the transceivers 32 are measured by the amplitude and phase measurement unit 36.
  • This process includes down conversion, filtering and generation of in phase and quadrature sampled signals which are converted to phases and amplitudes in a fashion known to any person skilled in this field.
  • the corresponding phases and amplitudes are stored in a suitable memory device and processed, as described below with reference to steps 230 and 250 in Fig. 4A , by a electro-magnetically coupled structure-accommodating calibration ratio computer 38.
  • Distance measurement unit 37 is operative to measure the physical distance of the RF point source from the antenna using, e.g. a laser gun or any other suitable means.
  • the distance between point RF source 35 and the antenna 31 as measured by the distance measuring unit 37 is used by an RF simulation tool 42, as described below with reference to Fig. 4A , step 250, to generate a simulated signal which simulates an externally injected signal.
  • Electro-magnetically coupled structure-accommodating calibration ratio computer 38 is a calibration ratio computer which accommodates for interfering structure 41.
  • Unit 38 computes the accommodating calibration ratio by combining the measurements of the internal and external injections generated by distance measuring unit 37, with the correction factor computed by unit 43, all as described herein.
  • An interfering body 41 is typically disposed in close proximity to the antenna 31 and to the RF source used for external injections 35.
  • An RF simulation tool 42 is also provided which solves Maxwell equations to compute the electromagnetic fields which propagate through discontinuous media, obeying specific boundary conditions.
  • the RF simulation tool 42 may for example comprise a general purpose computer running RF simulation software such as but not limited to FEKO Suite software, a product of EM Software & systems-S.A. Ltd.; Computer Simulation Technology Studio Suite software, a product of CST GmbH; GRASP software, a product of TICRA Engineering Consultants; WIPL-D Pro software tool, a product of WIPL-D d.o.o.; or COMSOL MultiPhysics, a product of Comsol Group.
  • a correction factor computation unit 43 computes a correction factor as described below, e.g. using formulae 8 - 14 described below, and may comprise a suitably programmed computer.
  • interfering body 41 as referred to herein is typically one which is present both when the calibration ratio is being established and during operation of the antenna.
  • Members which interfere, but are not present during operation of the antenna are typically covered by RF-radiation-absorbing materials selected to match the operating frequency of the antenna, as described below with reference to step 215 in Fig. 4A , hence can almost be assumed not to exist or not to be present, for practical purposes, although the methods of Figs. 9 - 10 below are particularly suited to applications in which it is desired to overcome even minor residual effects caused by covered interfering members despite their being covered.
  • Commercially available RF absorption materials are distributed for example by ORBIT/FR Inc. as described at their website orbitfr.com, and by TDK RF Solutions Inc. as described at their website TDKRFSolutions.com.
  • the apparatus of Fig. 1 includes two sources of RF-signals: the first is the internal injection unit 33 that is electro-magnetically coupled to antenna elements 31 and to the transceivers 32, while the second is the point (typically) RF-source 35 from which a spherical wave 40 emanates toward the plurality of the antenna elements 31.
  • the first is the internal injection unit 33 that is electro-magnetically coupled to antenna elements 31 and to the transceivers 32
  • the second is the point (typically) RF-source 35 from which a spherical wave 40 emanates toward the plurality of the antenna elements 31.
  • Fig. 4C , step 370 derivation of what is termed the "phase component" of the calibration ratio attributed to the plurality of antenna elements, with the effect of interfering body 41 suitably neutralized according to certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • the system of Fig. 1 generates an interfering-structure accommodating calibration ratio which can be used to calibrate phased array antenna 31.
  • the RF source 35 external to the antenna is disposed a near-by distance therefrom and is operative to project external signals toward the antenna 31 from the near-by distance, the external signals being affected by first electro-magnetic coupling between the plurality of mutually electro-magnetically coupled antenna elements 31 and by second electro-magnetic coupling between the point source 35 and the interfering member 31.
  • Signal measuring and recording device 36 is operative for measuring and recording samples of the internal signals and the external signals.
  • RF simulation unit 42 is operative to generate simulated first electro-magnetic coupling -zero far-zone external fields projected toward the antenna from an RF point source located at a far-zone distance from the antenna, assuming that first electro-magnetic coupling between the mutually electro-magnetically coupled antenna elements to be zero, and is also operative to generate simulated first electro-magnetic coupling -zero near zone external fields projected toward the antenna from an RF point source located at the near-by distance from the antenna were the first electro-magnetic coupling between the mutually electro-magnetically coupled antenna elements to be zero.
  • RF simulation tool 42 may be used for computations of the total effect of the interfering body 41 and the correction for the spherical wave front 40 from the point RF source 35 due to electro-magnetic coupling between the point RF source 35 and the platform supporting the antenna, e.g. as shown in Figs. 5 - 7 , and due to correction for the spherical wave front 40 from the point RF source.
  • Tool 42 may be in use for the computations of corrections for the calibration ratio to fulfill far zone conditions of the combined structure of antenna together with the interfering body 41.
  • Correction factor computation unit 43 computes a correction factor, having a phase and an amplitude, for the calibration ratio due to presence of the interfering member by comparing the simulated first electro-magnetic coupling -zero far-zone external electromagnetic fields and the simulated first electro-magnetic coupling -zero near zone external electromagnetic fields.
  • Electro-magnetically coupled structure-accommodating calibration ratio computer 38 is operative to compute a Modified Calibration ratio by combining the ratio of the external measurement and the internal measurement and correction factor.
  • Fig. 2 shows a suitable spatial arrangement of the point RF source 35 and the bare antenna, i.e. the phased array antenna of Fig. 1 , comprised of the antenna elements 31, without an interfering body e.g. structure 41 of Fig. 1 (bare antenna).
  • the origin of the antenna array is marked as O.
  • Fig. 3 is a simplified electronic schematic diagram of a calibration signal injection network 110 which may serve as the injection unit of Fig. 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • calibration signal injection network 110 includes a triad of dividers 111, 112 and 113 interconnected so that a common junction of the dividers 111 and 112 serves as a corporate feed point 114 for injecting an input signal into the network.
  • Respective junctions between opposite ends of the divider 113 and respective ends of the dividers 111 and 112 are connected to similar divider triads comprising dividers 115, 116, 117 and 118, 119, 120.
  • the dividers 115 and 116 are commonly connected at a first end to one end of the divider 113 whose other end is commonly connected to a first end of the dividers 118 and 119.
  • the second ends of the dividers 115, 116, 118 and 119 are connected to respective couplers 121 each of which is terminated by a respective termination 126.
  • the input signal is split initially at the junction between the dividers 111 and 112 and is again split at each of the respective junctions between dividers 115, 116 and 118, 119. Depending on the values of the dividers, different currents will flow through each of the couplers 121.
  • the calibration signal injection network 110 is interposed between the array of antenna elements 31 to be calibrated, such that when a single input signal is fed to the corporate feed point 114 of the calibration network 110, respective steering signals are fed to each of the antenna elements 31 via respective conventional phase shifters and amplifiers (not shown) that are inductively coupled to the current loops 121.
  • the values of the steering signals fed to each antenna element 31 are predetermined by the values of the dividers in the calibration network 110 and are thus known in advance.
  • an input signal is fed to the corporate feed point 114 and the output signals flowing through each antenna element 31 are measured. Any offset in amplitude or phase from a respective desired value is measured and the corresponding amplitude and phase offsets are determined.
  • Figs. 4A - 4C taken together, form a simplified flowchart illustration of an antenna calibration method operative according to certain embodiments of the present invention and including computing a calibration ratio in accordance with the system of Fig. 1 .
  • Step 220 an internal signal is injected via injection unit 33 to each antenna element.
  • This signal is redirected to the transceivers 32 where it is sampled, processed and finally stored (step 230).
  • This step is repeated for all frequencies needed in the operational phase.
  • the next step is to inject an external signal to the antenna elements (step 240). This is done via the point RF source 35 which is connected by a cable 34 to the injection unit 33 as the antenna array 25 itself. This allows for a perfect synchronization of the signal in its transmit and receive paths.
  • This signal is also sampled, processed and stored (step 250). Due to the high level of synchronization a pulse signal is integrated later on so as to achieve higher SNR in the measurement.
  • the calibration ratio is determined by the ratio of the following two measured signals:
  • the superscript 0 indicates the assumed absence of the interfering body 41.
  • ( x q , y q , z q ) denotes the position of the point RF source 35 relatively to the center of the antenna array 25, ( x n , y n , z n ) is the position of antenna element n in antenna array 25, relative to the origin O and ⁇ is the wavelength of the radiation.
  • the amplitude of the calibration ratio for antenna element n, A CR , n 0 may be computed by the following formula, (note: all the amplitudes are measured in dB).
  • a CR , n 0 A EX , n 0 ⁇ A IN , n 0 + A CF , n 0
  • steps 260 and 270 external signal measurement is simulated; first under the near zone conditions (step 260) and second under the far zone conditions (step 270). This is done using RF simulation tools having a Maxwell's equation solving functionality.
  • step 260 the distance between the point RF source 35 and the antenna 31 is the same as was used for the external signal measurement step 250 e.g. as illustrated in Fig. 1 (near-zone configuration).
  • step 270 again (step 270) at a large distance - the latter representing the far zone conditions of the point RF source 35 and the antenna 31 together with the interfering body 41.
  • step 260 and 270 typically relies upon detailed information characterizing the structure and shape of the interfering body 41. Simulation of the injection from a point RF source 35 to the antenna is carried out in both configurations. A difference between these two computations is performed and this difference is added phase wise and amplitude wise (steps 370 & 380) to the measurement done with point RF source 35 at the nearby distance. It is assumed that in simulating the signals at two different distances, only the electro-magnetic coupling to the interfering body 41 is modified. On the other hand, the simulation is not aware of the variation in the antenna element pattern and it assumes the same pattern for all of them.
  • Steps 280 and 290 The induced currents on the interfering body 41, resulting from the point RF source 35, are computed: F NF S ⁇ I NF i F FF S ⁇ I FF i
  • the superscript i is the index for the i-th element of the interfering body 41 i.e. a wing, an engine, and so forth.
  • Induced currents are computed both for the setup at the near by distance (in step 280 - e.g. using formula 8) and (in step 290 - e.g. using formula 9) using the setup that fulfills the far zone requirement for the combined structure of the antenna together with the interfering body 41.
  • These computations are carried out separately for each significantly electro-magnetically coupled portion of the interfering body 41
  • the significant portions may be a fuselage 543, a wing 544, an engine 545, a stabilizer 546 and a rudder 547.
  • higher order effects in the induced currents computations can be included to account for multiple bouncing of the radiation between the interfering parts and the antenna elements and among the different interfering parts themselves.
  • Steps 300 and 310 The resulting electromagnetic fields, due to the induced currents, are computed for each element of the interfering body 41. I NF i ⁇ F NF i I FF i ⁇ F FF i
  • fields F NF i and F FF i represent the electromagnetic fields, resulting from the induced currents, for point RF source 35 at the nearby distance and the far zone configuration, respectively, for the i-th element of the interfering body 41.
  • the above computation of fields is effected both for the setup at the near-zone configuration (step 300 - formula 10) and for the far-zone configuration (step 310 - formula 11).
  • Steps 320 and 330 The total field is computed by summing all the induced fields, for all the elements of the interfering body 41 and the fields emitted from the point RF source 35. This is done once for the setup at the near-zone configuration, in step 320. The second computation is made at the far-zone configuration (step 330).
  • F NF T ⁇ i F NF i + F NF S
  • F FF T ⁇ i F FF i + F FF S
  • the fields include:
  • Steps 340 and 350 The resulting electromagnetic total fields are then sampled at the spatial position of each antenna element. This is done for the near-zone configurations (step 340) and for the far-zone configuration (step 350).
  • step 360 the correction factor CF for each antenna element 31 is computed (formula 14) as the ratio of the total fields computed at the near by distance and the far zone configuration, sampled at the spatial position of each antenna element 31 in antenna array 25:
  • C F n F FF T n / F NF T n
  • CF n is the correction factor for the calibration ratio for antenna element n
  • square brackets [ ⁇ ] n stands for the sampled fields at the spatial position of antenna element n.
  • the correction for the calibration ratio computed in step 360 using formula 14 takes the form of F FF S n / F NF S n . This is equal to the differences in the calibration ratio resulting from the correction for the spherical wave front 40 from the point RF source 35 only, namely CF 0 .
  • CF 1 is the transfer function of all corrections due to the interfering body effects without the effects of correction for the spherical wave front 40 from the point RF source 35.
  • the correction for the calibration-ratio in this case, for the effects, on the electro-magnetic coupling ratio, of interfering body 41 only, may be computed as a ratio:
  • ⁇ CF , n 1 is the phase of the correction for the calibration-ratio, for the interfering body effects only, as computed from formula 18.
  • a CF , n 1 is the amplitude of the correction for the calibration-ratio, for the effects, on the electro-magnetic coupling ratio, of interfering body 41 only, as computed from formula 18.
  • Figs. 5 - 7 illustrate three examples of the main structural elements of certain platforms supporting certain antenna installations which may be calibrated in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
  • Fig. 5 is an illustration of a conformal antenna 542 installed on an aircraft, with external point RF source 541.
  • the interfering portions (steps 280 and 290 being performed separately for each) for this case are: the fuselage 543, the wing 544, the engine 545, the stabilizer 546 and the rudder 547.
  • Fig. 6 is an illustration of an array of four antennas 552 installed on a boat, with external point RF source 551.
  • the interfering portions (steps 280 and 290 being performed separately for each) for this case are: the hull 553, the two masts 554 and 555 and the bridge 556.
  • Fig. 7 is an illustration of an antenna installed on a tank 562, with external point RF source 561.
  • the interfering portions (steps 280 and 290 being performed separately for each) for this case are: the hull 563, the turret 564 and the cannon 565.
  • RF source 35 need not necessarily comprise a point source or source with a well defined phase center. In this case the measured pattern of this source replaces the pattern of the point RF source in the RF simulation tools, for all the computations shown and described herein.
  • the calibration ratio is then determined according to formula 7 as opposed to formula 17 which is specific for spherical sources.
  • the resulting correction factor ( CF 0 ) compensates the effects, on the electro-magnetic coupling ratio, of interfering body 41 and the effects added due to the pattern of the RF source 35.
  • Fig. 8 is a simplified flowchart illustration of an antenna calibration method which is similar to the method of Figs. 4A - 4C but is particularly suited for reducing white noise effects.
  • the method of Fig. 8 typically includes some or all of the following steps, suitably ordered e.g. as shown:
  • Fig. 9 is a simplified flowchart illustration of an antenna calibration method which is similar to the method of Figs. 4A - 4C but is particularly suited for reducing artifactual noise effects due to interfering physical objects which may continue to provide a certain degree of residual interference even if covered.
  • the method of Fig. 9 typically includes some or all of the following steps, suitably ordered e.g. as shown:
  • Fig. 10 is a simplified flowchart illustration of an antenna calibration method which is similar to the method of Fig. 4A - 4C but is particularly suited for reducing white noise effects and for reducing artifactual noise effects due to interfering physical objects which may continue to provide a certain degree of residual interference even if covered.
  • plural calibration ratios may be computed as per any of the embodiments of the present invention respective plural times for a first position of source 35 relative to the antenna, then the source 35 may be moved and again, plural calibration ratios may be computed as per any of the embodiments of the present invention respective plural times, whereas the final calibration ratio is obtained by averaging each of phase and amplitude as obtained over the various positions and over the plural computations.
  • the method of Fig. 10 typically includes some or all of the following steps, suitably ordered e.g. as shown:
  • software components of the present invention including programs and data may, if desired, be implemented in ROM (read only memory) form including CD-ROMs, EPROMs and EEPROMs, or may be stored in any other suitable computer-readable medium such as but not limited to disks of various kinds, cards of various kinds and RAMs.
  • ROM read only memory
  • EEPROM electrically erasable programmable read-only memory
  • Components described herein as software may, alternatively, be implemented wholly or partly in hardware, if desired, using conventional techniques.

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Claims (15)

  1. Procédé d'étalonnage d'antenne comprenant :
    le recouvrement de tous les éléments interférants qui sont présents durant l'acquisition du rapport d'étalonnage mais absents durant le fonctionnement, avec des matériaux absorbant le rayonnement RF ;
    l'injection d'un signal d'étalonnage interne dans les antennes et l'utilisation d'une source de RF dans la zone de champ proche de l'antenne pour injecter un signal d'étalonnage externe dans les antennes ;
    la mesure de l'amplitude et de la phase de l'étalonnage interne et externe telle que reçue et l'utilisation d'un calculateur de rapport d'étalonnage prenant en charge la structure électromagnétiquement couplée pour traiter les signaux d'étalonnage internes et externes ;
    l'utilisation d'un outil de simulation de RF pour créer le même réglage de configuration de zone de champ proche que celui utilisé pour la mesure de l'amplitude et de la phase du signal d'étalonnage externe telle que reçue ;
    l'utilisation d'un outil de simulation de RF pour créer un réglage de configuration de zone de champ lointain remplissant les conditions de champ lointain pour chaque élément d'une structure interférante ;
    le calcul (280, 290) des courants induits sur la structure interférante pour les configurations de zone de champ proche et lointain, pour chaque élément de la structure interférante ;
    le calcul (300) des champs électromagnétiques résultant des courants induits par la configuration de zone de champ proche pour chacun desdits éléments de la structure interférante ;
    le calcul (310) des champs électromagnétiques résultant des courants induits par la configuration de zone de champ lointain pour chacun desdits éléments de la structure interférante ;
    le calcul (320) des champs totaux pour la configuration de zone de champ lointain et, en additionnant tous les champs induits, sur l'ensemble desdits éléments de la structure interférante, et des champs de la source de RF, pour la configuration de zone de champ proche ;
    l'échantillonnage (340) des champs totaux à la position spatiale de chaque élément d'antenne dans lesdites antennes pour la configuration de zone de champ proche et la configuration de zone de champ lointain ;
    le calcul (360) d'un facteur de correction comme rapport des champs totaux calculé aux configurations de zone de champ proche et de champ lointain, échantillonné à la position spatiale de chaque élément d'antenne dans lesdites antennes ;
    le calcul (370, 380) respectivement de la phase et de l'amplitude, du rapport d'étalonnage pour chaque élément d'antenne dans lesdites antennes par soustraction des valeurs mesurées du signal d'étalonnage interne des valeurs mesurées du signal d'étalonnage externe additionnant respectivement la phase et l'amplitude, du facteur de correction ; et
    l'étalonnage (385) de l'antenne en utilisant la phase et l'amplitude du rapport d'étalonnage.
  2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, ladite source de RF étant sphérique, à partir de laquelle émane une onde sphérique ou ladite source de RF n'étant pas sphérique à partir de laquelle émane une onde non sphérique.
  3. Procédé selon la revendication 1, au moins un objet physique qui est électromagnétiquement couplé au rayonnement émis par la source de RF de là pour définir un rayonnement non souhaité dans le contexte dudit étalonnage, est présent dans le déroulement de ladite détermination et dudit étalonnage et est absent dans un stade opérationnel ultérieur.
  4. Procédé selon la revendication 1, ladite détermination et ledit étalonnage se produisant au sol, ledit stade opérationnel s'effectuant dans l'air et ledit objet physique étant fixé au sol.
  5. Procédé selon la revendication 1, un rapport d'étalonnage étant déterminé une pluralité de fois pour obtenir de là une pluralité de résultats de rapport d'étalonnage provisoire, et ladite pluralité des résultats de rapport d'étalonnage provisoire étant configurés pour obtenir ledit rapport d'étalonnage adapté pour prendre en compte la présence d'au moins une structure interférante, ladite détermination du rapport d'étalonnage une pluralité de fois comprenant le repositionnement de ladite source de RF une pluralité de fois, compensant de là le bruit d'artéfact produit par ladite au moins une structure interférante durant la mesure du rapport d'étalonnage.
  6. Procédé selon la revendication 1, ledit rapport d'étalonnage étant déterminé une pluralité de fois pour une position unique de ladite source de RF, de là pour compenser les bruits blancs durant la mesure du rapport d'étalonnage.
  7. Procédé selon la revendication 1, ledit facteur de correction comprenant une phase et une amplitude et ladite au moins une structure interférante comprenant une pluralité de structures interférantes et la génération d'au moins un signal simulé comprenant l'exécution des opérations suivantes pour une configuration de champ proche et pour une configuration de champ lointain :
    a. calcul d'une pluralité de premiers champs électromagnétiques simulés générés à la pluralité des structures interférantes respectivement dus au rayonnement émis par la source de RF ;
    b. calcul d'une pluralité de courants induits simulés générés à la pluralité des structures interférantes respectivement dus au rayonnement émis par la source de RF ;
    c. pour chaque élément d'antenne dans le réseau phasé des éléments d'antenne :
    1. simulation d'un second champ électromagnétique généré au niveau de l'élément d'antenne dû au rayonnement émis par la source de RF ;
    2. calcul d'une pluralité de troisièmes champs électromagnétiques simulés générés au niveau de l'élément d'antenne dus à ladite pluralité de courants induits simulés respectivement ; et
    3. génération d'un champ total en totalisant ladite pluralité de troisièmes champs électromagnétiques simulés et dudit second champ électromagnétique ;
    d. pour chaque élément d'antenne dans le réseau phasé des éléments d'antenne :
    1. calcul d'un facteur de correction par calcul d'un rapport du champ total tel que calculé pour la configuration de champ lointain divisé par le champ total tel que calculé pour la configuration de champ proche ; et
    2. calcul desdites phase et amplitude dudit rapport d'étalonnage en mesurant la phase et l'amplitude pour chacun desdits signaux internes et externes tels que reçus par chacun desdits éléments d'antenne ; et
    e. pour chaque élément d'antenne individuel, calcul dudit rapport d'étalonnage adapté pour prendre en compte la présence d'au moins une structure interférante en calculant une différence entre lesdites phases desdits signaux externes et internes tels que reçus par ledit élément d'antenne individuel, et addition de la phase du facteur de correction.
  8. Procédé selon la revendication 1, ledit procédé étant conduit dans des conditions de champ dans lesquelles aucune chambre anéchoïque n'est disponible.
  9. Produit de programme informatique, comprenant un code de programme pouvant être lu par ordinateur, ledit code de programme pouvant être lu par ordinateur lorsqu'il est exécuté, mettant en oeuvre un procédé selon l'une des revendications 1 à 8.
  10. Système comprenant un moyen adapté pour exécuter un procédé selon l'une des revendications 1 à 8.
  11. Système selon la revendication 10, ladite antenne comprenant une antenne cellulaire.
  12. Système selon la revendication 10, le système comprenant également une plateforme sur laquelle l'antenne est montée et ledit élément interférant faisant partie de ladite plateforme.
  13. Système selon la revendication 10, le système comprenant également une mesure de signal et un dispositif d'enregistrement qui mesure l'amplitude et la phase des échantillons desdits signaux internes et externes.
  14. Système selon la revendication 10, les signaux externes étant affectés par le premier couplage électromagnétique entre la pluralité des éléments d'antenne mutuellement électromagnétiquement couplés et par le second couplage électromagnétique entre la source et la structure interférante,
    le système comprenant également :
    un dispositif de mesure et d'enregistrement de signal mesurant et enregistrant des échantillons des signaux internes et desdits signaux externes ; et
    une unité de calcul de facteur de correction pouvant fonctionner pour calculer un facteur de correction pour le rapport d'étalonnage lequel facteur corrige la présence de l'élément interférant et présente une phase et une amplitude, en comparant lesdits champs électromagnétiques externes à zone lointaine électromagnétique à couplage zéro et lesdits champs électromagnétiques externes à zone proche électromagnétique à couplage zéro,
    et ledit calculateur de rapport d'étalonnage prenant en charge la structure électromagnétiquement couplée peut fonctionner pour calculer le rapport d'étalonnage modifié en combinant le rapport desdits signaux internes et externes tels que reçus par l'antenne audit facteur de correction, et/ou les éléments d'antenne étant raccordés à une pluralité d'émetteurs-récepteurs, le système comprenant également un réseau d'injection interne synchronisé aux émetteurs-récepteurs et pouvant fonctionner pour injecter au plan interne des signaux internes à l'antenne.
  15. Système selon la revendication 5 et dans lequel le rapport d'étalonnage est calculé par décomposition d'un facteur de correction en deux contributions l'une comprenant un composant non électromagnétiquement couplé et l'autre comprenant un composant de correction dû au couplage électromagnétique et/ou l'unité de simulation de RF pouvant fonctionner pour résoudre les équations de Maxwell afin de calculer les champs électromagnétiques qui se propagent à travers des milieux discontinus, obéissant à des conditions frontières spécifiques.
EP10763037.8A 2009-06-25 2010-08-18 Système et procédé pour calibrer une antenne réseau à commande de phase ayant un réseau de calibrage intégral en présence d'un corps interférant Active EP2446506B1 (fr)

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IL199560A IL199560A (en) 2009-06-25 2009-06-25 An antenna calibration system and method having an integral calibration network in the presence of a disruptive body
PCT/IL2010/000673 WO2010150269A2 (fr) 2009-06-25 2010-08-18 Système et procédé pour calibrer une antenne réseau à commande de phase ayant un réseau de calibrage intégral en présence d'un corps interférant

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CN102544771B (zh) * 2012-02-26 2013-10-30 中国电子科技集团公司第十研究所 多信道数字抗干扰天线系统的全面实时校准方法
CN105093147B (zh) * 2014-05-20 2018-11-23 中国人民解放军63973部队 一种电磁脉冲电场探头时域校准方法
US9705611B1 (en) * 2016-03-24 2017-07-11 Rockwell Collins, Inc. Systems and methods for array antenna calibration
US12334990B2 (en) 2020-08-25 2025-06-17 Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ) Over-the-air based estimation of phase accuracy of a radio transceiver device
CN112362977A (zh) * 2020-12-11 2021-02-12 成都天锐星通科技有限公司 一种相控阵天线测试系统
CN115575934B (zh) * 2022-12-08 2023-05-12 中国西安卫星测控中心 一种适用于大规模相控阵的距离零值标定方法

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SG176969A1 (en) 2012-01-30
IL199560A0 (en) 2011-08-01
WO2010150269A3 (fr) 2011-02-17
IL199560A (en) 2017-04-30
BRPI1010115A2 (pt) 2018-02-14
AU2010264082A1 (en) 2012-02-09
EP2446506A2 (fr) 2012-05-02

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