Antenna Array Calibration via Self-Service Signal Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Phased antenna arrays face challenges in achieving precise calibration due to manufacturing tolerances and variations in phase and gain between antenna elements, leading to increased side lobe levels, which are critical for applications like mm wave 5G technology.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for calibrating antenna array channels using a power divider, beamformer integrated circuits, couplers, power detectors, and a digital signal processor to adjust phase and gain settings, allowing for internal calibration of transmit and receive paths relative to each other, using reference signals and phase/amplitude detectors to align channels and chips.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manufacturing tolerances and variations in phase and gain between antenna elements are present, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The calibration system uses the antenna array's own transmit and receive paths to perform self-calibration. The system injects reference signals through transmit paths and measures them using receive paths, eliminating the need for external calibration equipment. This self-service approach achieves precise calibration while avoiding additional complex external devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces couplers as intermediary components that tap into the transmit and receive paths to extract signals for calibration measurements. These couplers serve as mediators between the main signal path and the calibration measurement points, enabling precise signal sampling without disrupting the primary antenna operations.
2Measurement precision
If additional calibration components are added, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The calibration system uses the existing antenna array components (transmit amplifiers, phase shifters, antenna elements, receive amplifiers) for dual purposes: normal operation and calibration measurements. The same hardware paths serve both functional and calibration roles, eliminating the need for separate dedicated calibration components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs calibration using its own operational components without requiring external calibration equipment. The transmit paths generate calibration signals and the receive paths measure them, making the system self-sufficient and avoiding additional complexity from external devices.
3Measurement precision
If side lobe levels are reduced through precise calibration, then beam steering accuracy improves, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The calibration system measures the actual phase and gain characteristics of each transmit and receive path using reference signals, then feeds back calibration correction values to the digital signal processor. This feedback mechanism compensates for manufacturing variations in antenna elements, achieving high beam steering accuracy without requiring extremely precise manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts phase and gain parameters through calibration to compensate for fixed manufacturing variations. By changing operational parameters (phase shifts, amplification factors) based on measured characteristics, the system achieves consistent beam steering accuracy despite variations in physical antenna element manufacturing.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of this disclosure relate to an antenna array system and method of calibration using power and/or phase detectors equidistant between transmit paths of antenna array channels, and using power and/or phase detectors equidistant between receive paths of antenna array channels. In some aspects, the antenna array can calibrate the power and/or phase detectors based on a common signal transmitted from an output of a transmit path and/or an output of a receive path of a channel. In some aspects, the antenna array can calibrate receive and transmit paths across antenna array chips.