Phased Array Antenna Phase Calibration for Reduced Side Lobes
Here’s PatSnap Eureka !
Summary
Problems
Phased array antennas face challenges in accurately calibrating the phase of antenna elements to reduce side lobes due to variations in power output across elements, leading to imprecise detection of null points in directivity patterns.
Innovation solutions
A phased array antenna system with a control processor that performs calibration processes by selecting pairs of antenna elements symmetric around the central axis, adjusting phases to achieve a predetermined side lobe level, and repeating the process until all elements are aligned, ensuring equal power distribution and precise phase calibration.
TRIZ Analysis
Specific contradictions:
General conflict description:
Principle concept:
If the phased array antenna uses antenna elements with different power outputs to reduce side lobes, then the side lobe reduction is achieved, but the phase calibration precision deteriorates due to shallow null points in directivity patterns
Why choose this principle:
The calibration process is segmented into two distinct stages: first calibrating antenna elements with equal power outputs to establish a baseline with deep null points, then calibrating antenna elements with different power outputs while referencing the previously calibrated elements. This segmentation allows the system to overcome the shallow null point problem by separating the calibration tasks.
Principle concept:
If the phased array antenna uses antenna elements with different power outputs to reduce side lobes, then the side lobe reduction is achieved, but the phase calibration precision deteriorates due to shallow null points in directivity patterns
Why choose this principle:
The patent performs preliminary calibration of antenna elements with equal power outputs before proceeding to calibrate elements with different power outputs. This preliminary action creates a reference framework that enables accurate subsequent calibration despite the power differences, effectively preparing the system in advance to handle the measurement precision challenge.
Application Domain
Data Source
AI summary:
A phased array antenna system with a control processor that performs calibration processes by selecting pairs of antenna elements symmetric around the central axis, adjusting phases to achieve a predetermined side lobe level, and repeating the process until all elements are aligned, ensuring equal power distribution and precise phase calibration.
Abstract
A phased array antenna includes an oscillator, a plurality of antenna elements, a phase shifter, a distributor, a receiver, and a control processor. The control processor performs a first calibration process to calibrate a phase of the phase shifter connected to a pair of antenna elements that is selected from the antenna elements and are located at a pair of positions symmetric with respect to a central axis of an array formed by the phased array antenna, and a second calibration process to calibrate a phase of the phase shifter connected to a pair of target antenna elements with respect to a phase of the phase shifter connected to a reference antenna elements located at a central portion of the array. The pair of target antenna elements are located at a pair of positions that are symmetric with respect to the central axis of the array.