Method for optimizing dispersion effect of broadband millimeter wave phased array and self-adaptive calibration

Abstract

The invention provides a broadband millimeter wave phased array dispersion effect optimization and adaptive calibration method, and relates to the field of satellite communication. According to the method, a beam pointing error of a millimeter wave satellite communication phased-array antenna caused by a dispersion effect is reduced based on a real-time delay module switched by an optical fiber and an optical switch, and a calibration interval is determined by using a vector average algorithm in combination with working frequency and bandwidth; data obtained after equiphase surface compensation is used as compensation data of a corresponding frequency band to be stored in the antenna, when the antenna works at different frequencies, the pre-stored compensation data in the corresponding frequency band is called according to polarization characteristics, and corresponding resolving phase data of each unit at the current frequency point and pointing direction are superposed to obtain an overlapped resolving phase data; and directional diagram beam pointing under the frequency point is realized. The problem that the antenna beam pointing error is caused by the dispersion of the broadband millimeter wave satellite communication phased-array antenna is solved. According to the method, the beam pointing precision of the millimeter wave satellite communication phased-array antenna is improved, and rapid frequency switching and beam switching are realized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This document relates to the field of satellite communications, and more particularly to a method for optimizing the dispersion effect and adaptive calibration of broadband millimeter-wave phased arrays. Background Art

[0002] The traditional phased array antenna has a narrow working bandwidth, and the conventional calibration test method can meet the requirements of phased array beam pointing. However, with the development of low-orbit satellites, the working frequency band is getting higher and higher, and the working bandwidth is getting wider and wider, so the relative bandwidth is close to 20%. When the broadband phased array performs beam scanning, a certain degree of dispersion will occur in the beam pointing, and the beam pointing will have the characteristics of changing with frequency, which will cause the beam pointing to deviate in some frequency bands within the working bandwidth. Ultimately, the receiving channel of the phased array cannot receive satellite signals, and the transmitting channel cannot accurately transmit signals to the satellite, resulting in a decrease in communication quality.

[0003] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a method to improve the accuracy of broadband millimeter-wave satellite communication phased array transmit and receive beam pointing, so as to solve the problem of antenna beam pointing errors caused by broadband millimeter-wave satellite communication phased array antenna dispersion. Summary of the invention

[0004] This specification provides a method for optimizing the dispersion effect of a broadband millimeter-wave phased array and an adaptive calibration method, which is used to solve the problem of antenna beam pointing errors caused by the dispersion of broadband millimeter-wave satellite communication phased array antennas.

[0005] In a first aspect, this specification provides a method for optimizing the dispersion effect and adaptive calibration of a broadband millimeter-wave phased array, including:

[0006] The phased array antenna is equally divided into M sub-arrays, and a real-time delay module based on optical fiber and optical switch switching is used in each sub-array to transmit and receive beams, thus constructing a high-precision broadband millimeter-wave satellite communication phased array antenna.

[0007] According to the preset calibration frequency interval, the frequency region of the working frequency band of the high-precision broadband millimeter-wave satellite communication phased array antenna is divided into a plurality of calibration frequency bands;

[0008] In each calibration frequency band, phase calibration and amplitude calibration are performed according to the vector average algorithm to obtain compensated amplitude and phase information;

[0009] The phase data obtained after equal phase plane compensation of each corresponding frequency band is stored in the phased array antenna as the phase compensation data of the frequency band;

[0010] When the phased array antenna operates at different frequencies, the phase compensation data pre-stored in the frequency band corresponding to the current frequency is called according to the polarization characteristics to determine the directional pattern beam pointing at the current frequency point.

[0011] In the second aspect, the present specification provides a device for optimizing the dispersion effect and adaptive calibration of a broadband millimeter-wave phased array, characterized in that it includes: an antenna design module, a frequency band division module, an amplitude and phase calibration module, a data storage module, and a beam pointing determination module; wherein:

[0012] The antenna design module is used to divide the phased array antenna into M sub-arrays, and use a real-time delay module based on optical fiber and optical switch switching to send and receive beams in each sub-array;

[0013] The frequency band division module is used to divide the frequency region of the working frequency band of the phased array antenna into a plurality of calibration frequency bands according to a preset calibration frequency interval;

[0014] The amplitude and phase calibration module is used to perform phase calibration and amplitude calibration according to a vector averaging algorithm in each calibration frequency band to obtain compensated amplitude and phase information;

[0015] The data storage module is used to store the phase data obtained after equal phase plane compensation of each corresponding frequency band in the phased array antenna as the phase compensation data of the frequency band;

[0016] The beam pointing determination module is used to call the pre-stored phase compensation data corresponding to the frequency band of the current frequency according to the polarization characteristics when the phased array antenna operates at different frequencies, and determine the beam pointing of the directional pattern at the current frequency point.

[0017] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0018] This specification provides a method for optimizing the dispersion effect and adaptive calibration of broadband millimeter-wave phased arrays. The method reduces the beam pointing error of the millimeter-wave satellite communication phased array antenna caused by the dispersion effect based on the real-time delay module of the optical fiber and optical switch switching, and improves the pointing accuracy of the millimeter-wave satellite communication phased array antenna; the calibration interval is determined by combining the operating frequency and bandwidth using the vector average algorithm, and the data obtained after equal phase plane compensation is stored in the antenna as the compensation data of the corresponding frequency band. When the antenna works at different frequencies, the pre-stored compensation data in the corresponding frequency band is called according to the polarization characteristics, and then superimposed with the corresponding solution phase data under different pointing, so as to realize the directional pattern beam pointing at the frequency point. This method can improve the beam pointing accuracy of the millimeter-wave satellite communication phased array antenna itself, realize fast frequency switching and beam switching, and effectively avoid the problem of inter-frequency dispersion of broadband phased arrays, and systematically realize the wide-band high-precision beam pointing of phased array antennas. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The drawings described herein are used to provide a further understanding of this specification and constitute a part of this specification. The illustrative embodiments and descriptions of this specification are used to explain this specification and do not constitute an improper limitation on this specification. In the drawings:

[0020] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of a method for optimizing the dispersion effect and adaptive calibration of a broadband millimeter-wave phased array provided in an embodiment of this specification;

[0021] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of a method flow for optimizing the dispersion effect of a broadband millimeter-wave phased array and adaptive calibration provided in an embodiment of this specification;

[0022] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a real-time delay module provided in an embodiment of this specification;

[0023] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of an optical fiber link delay line provided in an embodiment of this specification;

[0024] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a high-precision broadband millimeter-wave satellite communication phased array antenna environment provided in an embodiment of this specification;

[0025] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of a phased array antenna automatic calibration test system provided in an embodiment of this specification;

[0026] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a phased array antenna calibration frequency partitioning process provided in an embodiment of this specification;

[0027] Figure 8 It is a schematic diagram of a device for optimizing the dispersion effect and adaptive calibration of a broadband millimeter-wave phased array provided in an embodiment of this specification. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of this specification clearer, the technical solutions of this application will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the specific embodiments of this application and their corresponding drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of this specification, not all of them. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of this document.

[0029] The technical solutions provided by the embodiments of this specification are described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Specific embodiment one:

[0031] This embodiment provides a method for optimizing the dispersion effect and adaptive calibration of a broadband millimeter-wave phased array. Figure 1 , Figure 2 ,include:

[0032] Step 102: divide the phased array antenna into M sub-arrays, and use a real-time delay module based on optical fiber and optical switch switching to transmit and receive beams in each sub-array to construct a high-precision broadband millimeter-wave satellite communication phased array antenna;

[0033] It should be noted that the same size between sub-arrays can enhance the consistency between channels, thereby reducing the impact of amplitude and phase errors between channels.

[0034] In this embodiment, the phased array antenna is divided into M sub-arrays; preferably, M=64;

[0035] The real-time delay module in this embodiment includes an optical fiber link delay line and a combiner;

[0036] The real-time delay module is used to make the edge array element phases arrive at the scanning point at the same time;

[0037] Among them, each L broadband microwave signals corresponds to a combiner, each combiner corresponds to an optical fiber link delay line, and N optical fiber link delay lines correspond to a secondary combiner; see Figure 3 ;

[0038] The number of N is determined by the preset beam pointing accuracy. The higher the accuracy, the larger the number of N. The number of N is Δf is the signal bandwidth.

[0039] Further, the optical fiber link delay line, see Figure 4 , including: optical transmitter, optical fiber, optical receiver;

[0040] The optical transmitter is used to convert electrical signals into optical signals;

[0041] The optical receiver is used to convert the optical signal into an electrical signal;

[0042] The optical fiber is a medium for light transmission and is used to transmit signals with as little attenuation and distortion as possible.

[0043] When the high-precision broadband millimeter-wave satellite communication phased array antenna receiving system is in the open state, the broadband microwave signal is sent to the M:1 combiner through the antenna array element and T / R component. Each subarray is connected to the electro-optical conversion, and is switched to different delay states by the real-time delay module. It is restored to a microwave signal through optoelectronic conversion and then synthesized through the secondary combiner.

[0044] Specifically, if a real-time delay module with a length of l is inserted into the nth channel of the phased array antenna array, the delay is Then the length of the real-time delay module of the i-th channel is The delay is At this time, the time for the array aperture to pass through is reduced from T1 to T1-τ A ,Right now

[0045] When T1=τ A When , the time delay of the nth array element cancels out the aperture transit time, and there is no aperture effect.

[0046] This example also provides a test result, see Figure 5 , the scanning error at 45° is 0.1°, the scanning accuracy is improved by 90%, and the transmitting and receiving beam pointing accuracy of the phased array antenna is improved.

[0047] Based on this, by adopting a high-precision broadband millimeter-wave satellite communication phased array antenna including a real-time delay module, it is ensured that the time spanned by the width of the instantaneous bandwidth is greater than the delay time required to cover the aperture plane phase and the beam pointing accuracy is high.

[0048] Furthermore, this embodiment builds a phased array antenna automatic calibration test system based on a high-precision broadband millimeter-wave satellite communication phased array antenna. Figure 6 The phased array antenna automatic calibration test system includes: a microwave darkroom, a high-precision broadband millimeter-wave satellite communication phased array antenna, a test turntable, a radio frequency instrument, a standard gain antenna, and a host computer.

[0049] Each component connects each device according to the connection relationship between each component.

[0050] Step 104: dividing the frequency region of the working frequency band of the high-precision broadband millimeter-wave satellite communication phased array antenna into a plurality of calibration frequency bands according to a preset calibration frequency interval;

[0051] The calibration frequency interval is determined according to the operating frequency and bandwidth.

[0052] In each calibration frequency band, each array element is individually calibrated for left-handed circular polarization to generate separate calibration data.

[0053] Specifically, the receiving frequency band bandwidth of low-orbit satellites is 17.7G~21.2GHz, and the signal bandwidth is 400MHz;

[0054] Based on this, the calibration interval is determined by combining the frequency band division of the calibration system with the operating frequency and bandwidth. Within each calibration band, each array element is calibrated individually under different polarizations.

[0055] Step 106: In each calibration frequency band, phase calibration and amplitude calibration are performed according to a vector average algorithm to obtain compensated amplitude and phase information;

[0056] Specifically, a specific implementation of step 106 may be:

[0057] S61, obtaining initial amplitude and phase distribution data of all channels of the phased array according to a vector averaging algorithm, while testing one of the channels, the other channels remain unchanged, and testing the data of all array elements of the transmitting channel and the receiving channel in turn;

[0058] S62, selecting a specific channel as a reference channel for phase calibration, recording the initial phase of the specific channel as a calibration reference phase, and using an internal phase shifter to perform phase compensation on the phases of other channels to adjust to the calibration reference phase;

[0059] S63, selecting the channel with the lowest relative amplitude in normal operation as the reference channel, and using its amplitude as the reference amplitude. The amplitudes of the remaining channels are adjusted to the reference amplitude using internal attenuators.

[0060] Specific example:

[0061] Due to the inconsistency of the RF channel of each array element, a far-field anechoic chamber or a spherical near-field anechoic chamber is used to perform initial amplitude and phase tests on each array element. A horn antenna is placed at the far-field position of the normal plane of the phased array antenna. Ideally, the signal amplitude and phase radiated by each antenna element are consistent, but due to the inconsistency of the amplitude and phase of each channel, the amplitude and phase of the radiated signal are different.

[0062] First, open one array element k separately, keep the rest of the array elements unchanged, and use the horn antenna to obtain the amplitude and phase of the array. Then, rotate the rest of the array elements in turn to test and record the data.

[0063]

[0064] Among them, K is the total number of tests, A k is the amplitude and phase distribution of the speaker during the kth measurement, i is the array element number, N is the number of array elements, k is the kth measurement, S i is the spatial transmission parameter of the ith channel, a i is the transmission parameter of the i-th channel; S k represents the spatial transmission parameter of the kth channel, a k is the transmission parameter of the kth channel;

[0065] Test the antenna K times and get [A k ], through the inverse operation of the matrix, the actual amplitude and phase of each array element can be obtained; the phase of a certain channel is selected as the reference phase during calibration, and the phases of the remaining channels are adjusted to this reference phase through the internal phase shifter;

[0066] Select a channel with the lowest amplitude that can work normally as a reference, and use its amplitude as the reference amplitude. Adjust the amplitudes of the remaining channels to this reference amplitude through the internal attenuator.

[0067] Based on this, the amplitude and phase information of all array elements are obtained through the vector averaging algorithm, which not only ensures the consistency of the amplitude and phase of each channel, but also realizes the low power consumption use of the calibrated phased array antenna.

[0068] Step 108, storing the phase data obtained after equal phase plane compensation of each corresponding frequency band in the phased array antenna as the phase compensation data of the frequency band;

[0069] The frequency band here refers to the calibration frequency band;

[0070] Step 110: When the phased array antenna operates at different frequencies, the phase compensation data pre-stored in the frequency band corresponding to the current frequency is called according to the polarization characteristics to determine the beam direction of the directional pattern at the current frequency point.

[0071] After executing step 106, the amplitude phase is written into the phased array antenna memory to perform initial phase arrangement. After completion, the antenna pattern is tested (within the calibration frequency band). If the antenna pattern is normal, the antenna calibration operation is considered normal.

[0072] According to the calibration frequency bands divided in step 104, the calibration of the first frequency band is restarted until all frequency bands are calibrated, and the calibrated amplitude and phase data are saved inside the phased array.

[0073] See also Figure 7 When the phased array antenna works in different frequency bands, the phase compensation data pre-stored in the frequency band corresponding to the current frequency is called to obtain the directional pattern beam pointing at the current frequency point.

[0074] Based on this, the pointing accuracy of the phased array antenna is systematically improved by using adaptive multi-band division and vector averaging algorithm for calibration.

[0075] In summary, the real-time delay module based on the switching of optical fiber and optical switch in this embodiment reduces the beam pointing error of the millimeter-wave satellite communication phased array antenna caused by the dispersion effect, thereby improving the pointing accuracy of the millimeter-wave satellite communication phased array antenna; the calibration interval is determined by combining the operating frequency and bandwidth with the vector averaging algorithm, and the data obtained after equal phase plane compensation is stored in the antenna as the compensation data of the corresponding frequency band. When the antenna works at different frequencies, the pre-stored compensation data in the corresponding frequency band is called according to the polarization characteristics, and then superimposed with the corresponding solved phase data under different pointing directions to realize the directional pattern beam pointing at the frequency point. This method can improve the beam pointing accuracy of the millimeter-wave satellite communication phased array antenna itself, realize fast frequency switching and beam switching, and effectively avoid the problem of inter-frequency dispersion of broadband phased arrays, and systematically realize the wide-band high-precision beam pointing of phased array antennas. Specific embodiment 2:

[0077] This embodiment provides a system application method for improving the beam pointing accuracy of broadband millimeter-wave satellite communication phased array transceiver, which specifically includes the following steps:

[0078] (I) At the phased array sub-array level, a real-time delay module (Optical TrueTime Delay, OTTD) based on optical fiber and optical switch switching is used to design a high-precision transceiver antenna. The specific steps are as follows:

[0079] 1.1 When the phased array antenna uses only phase shifters, calculate the aperture transit time and simulate the beam pointing.

[0080] The delay time required to cover the aperture plane phase is The aperture size is L = (N-1)d; the width time across the instantaneous bandwidth is When T2>T1, there is no aperture transition; when T2<T1, there is aperture transition;

[0081] Assume that the antenna array is a rectangular array of 64×64=4096 elements, the element spacing is half a wavelength, the frequency is 14.5GHz, the signal deviates to 14.25GHz at 14.5GHz, and when only the phase shifter is used for phase shifting, the scanning error at an elevation angle of 45° is 1°;

[0082] 1.2 Phased Array Antenna Blocks

[0083] The same size between sub-arrays can enhance the consistency between channels and reduce the impact of amplitude and phase errors between channels. For example, the phased array antenna is divided into 64 sub-arrays.

[0084] 1.3 Design of OTTD delay line

[0085] The optical fiber link mainly consists of three parts: optical transmitter, optical fiber, and optical receiver. Figure 4As shown; the optical transmitter architecture converts electrical signals into optical signals; the optical receiver converts optical signals into electrical signals; the optical fiber is the medium for optical transmission, and requires the signal to be transmitted with as little attenuation and distortion as possible.

[0086] If a real-time delay module with a length of l is inserted into the nth channel of the phased array antenna, the delay is Then the length of the real-time delay module of the i-th channel is The delay is At this time, the time for the array aperture to pass through is reduced from T1 to T1-τ A ,Right now

[0087] When T1=τ A When , the time delay of the nth array element cancels out the aperture transit time, and there is no aperture effect.

[0088] After using OTTD, the instantaneous signal bandwidth will be reduced due to the limitation of the antenna aperture transit time.

[0089] 1.4OTTD is placed on the phased array sub-array, and the simulated phased array antenna only uses the beam pointing of the phase shifter + OTTD, such as Figure 5 shown.

[0090] When the phased array antenna receiving system is in the open state, the broadband microwave signal is sent to the 64:1 combiner through the antenna array element and T / R component. The subarray module is connected to the electro-optical conversion (E / O), switched to different delay states by OTTD, and then restored to a microwave signal through the optoelectronic conversion (O / E), and then the signal is synthesized through the secondary combiner.

[0091] By loading OTTD at the subarray level, the edge array elements can reach the scanning point at the same time. The scanning error at 45° is 0.1°, and the scanning accuracy is improved by 90%. This improves the transceiver beam pointing accuracy of the phased array antenna. Figure 5 shown.

[0092] (II) Build a phased array antenna automatic calibration test system based on a high-precision transceiver antenna. The specific steps are as follows:

[0093] 2.1 The phased array antenna automatic calibration test system includes a microwave darkroom, a broadband millimeter-wave satellite communication phased array antenna, a test turntable, a RF instrument, a standard gain antenna, and a host computer.

[0094] 2.2 Calibration frequency band division

[0095] The frequency band division determines the calibration interval in combination with the operating frequency and bandwidth. For example, the receiving frequency band bandwidth of a low-orbit satellite is 17.7G to 21.2GHz, and the signal bandwidth is 400MHz. A certain frequency interval is divided as the calibration frequency interval. Within a calibration frequency band, each array element is calibrated separately for left-handed circular polarization to generate separate calibration data.

[0096] 2.3 Phase calibration and amplitude calibration based on vector averaging algorithm

[0097] Due to the inconsistency of the RF channel of each array element, a far-field anechoic chamber or a spherical near-field anechoic chamber is used to perform initial amplitude and phase tests on each array element. A horn antenna is placed at the far-field position of the normal plane of the phased array antenna. Ideally, the signal amplitude and phase radiated by each antenna element are consistent, but due to the inconsistency of the amplitude and phase of each channel, the amplitude and phase of the radiated signal are different.

[0098] Open one array element separately and keep the rest of the elements unchanged. The horn antenna obtains the amplitude and phase of the array. Then, the rest of the elements are rotated and tested in turn, and the data is recorded.

[0099]

[0100] Among them, K is the total number of tests, A k is the amplitude and phase distribution of the speaker during the kth measurement, i is the array element number, N is the number of array elements, k is the kth measurement, S i is the spatial transmission parameter of the ith channel, a i is the transmission parameter of the ith channel; S k represents the spatial transmission parameter of the kth channel, a k is the transmission parameter of the kth channel;

[0101] Test the antenna K times and get [A k ], through the inverse operation of the matrix, the actual amplitude and phase of each array element can be obtained. The phase of a certain channel is selected as the reference phase during calibration, and the phases of the remaining channels are adjusted to this reference phase through the internal phase shifter.

[0102] Select a channel with the lowest amplitude that can work normally as a reference, and use its amplitude as the reference amplitude. Adjust the amplitudes of the remaining channels to this reference amplitude through the internal attenuator.

[0103] 2.4 Check the calibration effect

[0104] The amplitude and phase of the fourth step are written into the phased array antenna memory to perform the initial phase arrangement. After completion, the antenna pattern is tested (within the calibration frequency band). If the antenna pattern is normal, the antenna calibration operation is considered normal.

[0105] 2.5 Calibration and data storage of all divided frequency bands

[0106] According to the calibration frequency bands divided in the first step, the calibration of the first frequency band is restarted until all frequency bands are calibrated, and the calibrated amplitude and phase data are saved inside the phased array.

[0107] The data obtained after equal phase plane compensation is stored in the antenna as compensation data for the corresponding frequency band. When the antenna works at different frequencies, the pre-stored compensation data in the corresponding frequency band is called according to the polarization characteristics, and the corresponding solved phase data of each unit at the current frequency and pointing is superimposed to achieve the directional pattern beam pointing at the frequency point. In this way, fast frequency switching and beam switching can be achieved, and the dispersion problem of broadband phased array at different operating frequencies can be effectively avoided, so as to achieve broadband high-precision beam pointing of phased array antenna.

[0108] In summary, the real-time delay module based on the switching of optical fiber and optical switch in this embodiment reduces the beam pointing error of the millimeter-wave satellite communication phased array antenna caused by the dispersion effect, thereby improving the pointing accuracy of the millimeter-wave satellite communication phased array antenna; the calibration interval is determined by combining the operating frequency and bandwidth with the vector averaging algorithm, and the data obtained after equal phase plane compensation is stored in the antenna as the compensation data of the corresponding frequency band. When the antenna works at different frequencies, the pre-stored compensation data in the corresponding frequency band is called according to the polarization characteristics, and then superimposed with the corresponding solved phase data under different pointing directions to realize the directional pattern beam pointing at the frequency point. This method can improve the beam pointing accuracy of the millimeter-wave satellite communication phased array antenna itself, realize fast frequency switching and beam switching, and effectively avoid the problem of inter-frequency dispersion of broadband phased arrays, and systematically realize the wide-band high-precision beam pointing of phased array antennas. Specific embodiment three:

[0110] This embodiment provides a device for optimizing the dispersion effect and adaptive calibration of a broadband millimeter-wave phased array. Figure 8 , including: antenna design module 801, frequency band division module 802, amplitude and phase calibration module 803, data storage module 804, beam pointing determination module 805; wherein:

[0111] The antenna design module 801 is used to divide the phased array antenna into M sub-arrays, and use a real-time delay module based on optical fiber and optical switch switching to send and receive beams in each sub-array;

[0112] The frequency band division module 802 is used to divide the frequency region of the working frequency band of the phased array antenna into a plurality of calibration frequency bands according to a preset calibration frequency interval;

[0113] The amplitude and phase calibration module 803 is used to perform phase calibration and amplitude calibration in each calibration frequency band according to a vector average algorithm to obtain compensated amplitude and phase information;

[0114] The data storage module 804 is used to store the phase data obtained after equal phase plane compensation of each corresponding frequency band in the phased array antenna as the phase compensation data of the frequency band;

[0115] The beam pointing determination module 805 is used to call the pre-stored phase compensation data corresponding to the frequency band of the current frequency according to the polarization characteristics when the phased array antenna operates at different frequencies, and determine the beam pointing of the directional pattern at the current frequency point.

[0116] Optionally, the real-time delay module includes: an optical fiber link delay line and a combiner;

[0117] Wherein, each L broadband microwave signals corresponds to a combiner, each combiner corresponds to an optical fiber link delay line, and a plurality of optical fiber link delay lines correspond to a secondary combiner;

[0118] The real-time delay module is used to make the edge array element phases arrive at the scanning point at the same time.

[0119] Optionally, the optical fiber link delay line comprises: an optical transmitter, an optical fiber, and an optical receiver;

[0120] The optical transmitter is used to convert electrical signals into optical signals;

[0121] The optical receiver is used to convert the optical signal into an electrical signal;

[0122] The optical fiber is a medium for light transmission and is used to transmit signals with as little attenuation and distortion as possible.

[0123] Optionally, when the high-precision broadband millimeter-wave satellite communication phased array antenna receiving system is in the open state, the broadband microwave signal is sent to the M:1 combiner through the antenna array element and T / R component, each subarray is connected to the electro-optical conversion, and is switched to different delay states by the real-time delay module. It is restored to a microwave signal through optoelectronic conversion, and then the signal is synthesized through a secondary combiner.

[0124] Optionally, if a real-time delay module with a length of l is inserted into the nth channel of the phased array antenna array, the delay is Then the length of the real-time delay module of the i-th channel is The delay is At this time, the time for the array aperture to pass through is reduced from T1 to T1-τ A ,Right now

[0125] When T1=τ A When , the time delay of the nth array element cancels out the aperture transit time, and there is no aperture effect.

[0126] Optionally, a phased array antenna automatic calibration test system is built based on the high-precision broadband millimeter-wave satellite phased array antenna, wherein the phased array antenna automatic calibration test system includes: a microwave darkroom, a high-precision broadband millimeter-wave satellite phased array antenna, a test turntable, a radio frequency instrument, a standard gain antenna, and a host computer.

[0127] Optionally, the calibration frequency interval is determined according to the operating frequency and bandwidth.

[0128] Optionally, in each calibration frequency band, each array element is calibrated individually for left-handed circular polarization to generate individual calibration data.

[0129] Optionally, the amplitude and phase calibration module 803 is specifically used to:

[0130] The initial amplitude and phase distribution data of all channels of the phased array are obtained according to the vector average algorithm. When testing one channel, the other channels remain unchanged, and the data of all array elements of the transmitting channel and the receiving channel are tested in turn.

[0131] Select a specific channel as a reference channel for phase calibration, record the initial phase of the specific channel as a calibration reference phase, and use an internal phase shifter to perform phase compensation on the phases of other channels and adjust them to the calibration reference phase;

[0132] The channel with the lowest relative amplitude in normal operation is selected as the reference channel, and its amplitude is used as the reference amplitude. The amplitudes of the remaining channels are adjusted to the reference amplitude using internal attenuators.

[0133] In summary, the real-time delay module based on the switching of optical fiber and optical switch in this embodiment reduces the beam pointing error of the millimeter-wave satellite communication phased array antenna caused by the dispersion effect, thereby improving the pointing accuracy of the millimeter-wave satellite communication phased array antenna; the calibration interval is determined by combining the operating frequency and bandwidth with the vector averaging algorithm, and the data obtained after equal phase plane compensation is stored in the antenna as the compensation data of the corresponding frequency band. When the antenna works at different frequencies, the pre-stored compensation data in the corresponding frequency band is called according to the polarization characteristics, and then superimposed with the corresponding solved phase data under different pointing directions to realize the directional pattern beam pointing at the frequency point. This method can improve the beam pointing accuracy of the millimeter-wave satellite communication phased array antenna itself, realize fast frequency switching and beam switching, and effectively avoid the problem of inter-frequency dispersion of broadband phased arrays, and systematically realize the wide-band high-precision beam pointing of phased array antennas.

[0134] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of this specification and is not intended to limit this specification. For those skilled in the art, this specification may have various changes and modifications. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principle of this specification shall be included in the protection scope of this specification.

Claims

1. A method for optimizing the dispersion effect and adaptive calibration of a broadband millimeter-wave phased array, characterized in that: include: The phased array antenna is equally divided into M sub-arrays, and a real-time delay module based on optical fiber and optical switch switching is used in each sub-array to transmit and receive beams, thus constructing a high-precision broadband millimeter-wave satellite communication phased array antenna. According to the preset calibration frequency interval, the frequency region of the working frequency band of the high-precision broadband millimeter-wave satellite communication phased array antenna is divided into a plurality of calibration frequency bands; In each calibration frequency band, phase calibration and amplitude calibration are performed according to the vector average algorithm to obtain compensated amplitude and phase information; The phase data obtained after equal phase plane compensation of each corresponding frequency band is stored in the phased array antenna as the phase compensation data of the frequency band; When the phased array antenna operates at different frequencies, the phase compensation data pre-stored in the frequency band corresponding to the current frequency is called according to the polarization characteristics to determine the directional pattern beam pointing at the current frequency point.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The real-time delay module includes: an optical fiber link delay line and a combiner; Wherein, each L broadband microwave signals corresponds to a combiner, each combiner corresponds to an optical fiber link delay line, and a plurality of optical fiber link delay lines correspond to a secondary combiner; The real-time delay module is used to make the edge array element phases arrive at the scanning point at the same time.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that When the high-precision broadband millimeter-wave satellite communication phased array antenna receiving system is in the open state, the broadband microwave signal is sent to the M:1 combiner through the antenna array element and T / R component. Each subarray is connected to the electro-optical conversion, and is switched to different delay states by the real-time delay module. It is restored to a microwave signal through optoelectronic conversion and then synthesized through the secondary combiner.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that: If a real-time delay module with a length of l is inserted into the nth channel of the phased array antenna, the delay is Then the length of the real-time delay module of the i-th channel is The delay is At this time, the time for the array aperture to pass through is reduced from T1 to T1-τ A ,Right now When T1=τ A When , the time delay of the nth array element cancels out the aperture transit time, and there is no aperture effect.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that The calibration frequency interval is determined according to the operating frequency and bandwidth.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that In each calibration frequency band, each array element is calibrated individually for left-handed and right-handed circular polarization to generate individual calibration data.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that The phase calibration and amplitude calibration are performed in each calibration frequency band according to the vector averaging algorithm to obtain compensated amplitude and phase information, including: The initial amplitude and phase distribution data of all channels of the phased array are obtained according to the vector average algorithm. When testing one channel, the other channels remain unchanged, and the data of all array elements of the transmitting channel and the receiving channel are tested in turn. Select a specific channel as a reference channel for phase calibration, record the initial phase of the specific channel as a calibration reference phase, and use an internal phase shifter to perform phase compensation on the phases of other channels and adjust them to the calibration reference phase; The channel with the lowest relative amplitude in normal operation is selected as the reference channel, and its amplitude is used as the reference amplitude. The amplitudes of the remaining channels are adjusted to the reference amplitude using internal attenuators.

8. A device for optimizing the dispersion effect and adaptive calibration of a broadband millimeter-wave phased array, used to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: include: Antenna design module, frequency band division module, amplitude and phase calibration module, data storage module, beam pointing determination module; among which: The antenna design module is used to divide the phased array antenna into M sub-arrays, and use a real-time delay module based on optical fiber and optical switch switching to send and receive beams in each sub-array; The frequency band division module is used to divide the frequency region of the working frequency band of the phased array antenna into a plurality of calibration frequency bands according to a preset calibration frequency interval; The amplitude and phase calibration module is used to perform phase calibration and amplitude calibration in each calibration frequency band according to a vector averaging algorithm to obtain compensated amplitude and phase information; The data storage module is used to store the phase data obtained after equal phase plane compensation of each corresponding frequency band in the phased array antenna as the phase compensation data of the frequency band; The beam pointing determination module is used to call the pre-stored phase compensation data corresponding to the frequency band of the current frequency according to the polarization characteristics when the phased array antenna operates at different frequencies, and determine the beam pointing of the directional pattern at the current frequency point.

9. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that The real-time delay module also includes: an optical transmitter, an optical fiber, and an optical receiver; The optical transmitter is used to convert electrical signals into optical signals; The optical receiver is used to convert the optical signal into an electrical signal; The optical fiber is a medium for light transmission and is used to transmit signals with as little attenuation and distortion as possible.

10. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that An automatic calibration and testing system for phased array antennas is built based on a high-precision broadband millimeter-wave satellite phased array antenna. The automatic calibration and testing system for phased array antennas includes: a microwave darkroom, a high-precision broadband millimeter-wave satellite phased array antenna, a test turntable, a radio frequency instrument, a standard gain antenna, and a host computer.

Images