Multi-Element Antenna Calibration Using Laser Phase Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Calibration of multi-element antennas, particularly in a production environment, is challenged by mechanical misalignments and uncontrolled weather conditions, leading to inaccuracies in phase relationships and degradation of radiation or receiving patterns.
Innovation Solution
A method for calibrating multi-element antennas involves using a reflective surface and a laser to determine differential phases, characterizing mechanical misalignments, and adjusting phase shifting components to correct for these errors, without precise mechanical alignment of a pre-calibrated antenna and the antenna under test.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If calibration is performed using traditional outdoor antenna ranges, then measurement accuracy may be maintained, but manufacturing cost and time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical outdoor antenna range system with an optical measurement system using laser sources and reflective surfaces. This substitution enables calibration to be performed in indoor factory environments while maintaining measurement accuracy, thereby eliminating the need for outdoor ranges and improving manufacturing efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces reflective surfaces as intermediaries between the laser source and the antenna elements under test. These reflective surfaces enable indirect measurement of phase relationships, allowing calibration to be performed in controlled indoor environments without requiring direct line-of-sight outdoor antenna ranges.
2Measurement precision
If precise mechanical alignment of pre-calibrated antenna and antenna under test is required, then calibration accuracy improves, but device complexity and alignment difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical alignment procedures with optical measurement using laser sources. The laser-based system automatically determines spatial relationships and phase differences without requiring manual mechanical alignment, thereby reducing alignment complexity while maintaining calibration accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the antenna elements to self-calibrate by measuring their own phase relationships relative to a reference element using laser interference patterns. The system automatically determines differential phases without requiring external alignment equipment or complex mechanical positioning, allowing the antenna to perform its own calibration.
3Ease of manufacture
If outdoor antenna ranges are used for calibration, then calibration can be performed, but uncontrolled weather conditions introduce measurement errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces outdoor electromagnetic wave-based calibration with indoor optical laser-based calibration. This substitution eliminates exposure to uncontrolled weather conditions such as wind, rain, and temperature variations, thereby ensuring measurement stability while maintaining calibration accessibility in factory environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a controlled indoor calibration environment using laser sources and reflective surfaces, effectively creating an inert measurement atmosphere that is isolated from external weather conditions. This controlled environment ensures consistent and reliable measurements regardless of outdoor weather variations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for accurate calibration of multi-element antennas in a production environment, ensuring precise beam direction and signal strength, reducing costs and manufacturing time by eliminating the need for outdoor antenna ranges.
Implementation Method 1
transmitting a signal from a laser positioned at a first distance from a multi-element antenna to a reflective surface positioned over an area of multi-element antenna; receiving, at a receiving surface positioned at a second distance from the multi-element antenna, the signal from the reflective surface
Data Source
AI summary
A system for calibrating the multi-element antenna can include a computer including a processor and memory, wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the processor to detect a location of a laser signal incident on a receiving surface, the laser signal having been reflected from a reflector positioned over an area of a multi-element antenna. The instructions may additionally include instructions to compute a differential phase of an element of the multi-element antenna based on the detected location of the incident laser signal.