Multi-Channel Radio Receiver Calibration via Covariance Phase Analysis
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radio receivers with multi-element antennas face challenges in accurately calibrating their analog reception chains due to amplitude and phase differences between components, which affect performance, particularly in anti-jamming solutions like GPS and GLONASS systems.
Innovation Solution
A method for calibrating multi-channel radio receivers by determining and correcting phase shifts between analog reception channels using covariance matrix calculations and spatial signature analysis to compensate for phase differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional calibration methods are used for multi-channel radio receivers, then the calibration process is simple, but the measurement precision of phase differences between channels is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a reference signal as an intermediary to indirectly measure phase differences between channels. Instead of directly comparing channels, the method uses the reference signal's known spatial signature and covariance properties as a mediator to derive phase information through mathematical processing of received signals
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct hardware-based phase comparison with a mathematical signal processing approach. By substituting physical phase measurement with covariance matrix calculations and spatial signature analysis, the system achieves higher precision without additional hardware complexity
2Reliability
If phase shifts between channels are not compensated, then the device complexity remains low, but the reliability of anti-jamming processing deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs calibration as a preliminary action before anti-jamming processing. By pre-determining and storing phase shift values for each channel, the system prepares corrected spatial signatures in advance, ensuring reliable anti-jamming performance without adding complexity to the real-time processing chain
Solution Approach 2:
The method implements a feedback mechanism where the measured phase differences are used to correct spatial signatures, which are then used in anti-jamming processing. The systematic use of calibration data feeds back into the signal processing to improve overall system reliability
Data Source
AI summary
A method for calibrating a receiver includes determining and correcting, for each analog reception channel other than a reference channel, a phase shift with the reference channel. The determining includes calculating an observed covariance matrix representative of a covariance between samples, collected in parallel on each of the analog reception channels over a period of time, of one or more incident reference radio signals on the multi-element antenna, obtaining an estimate of a reference covariance matrix representative of the covariance between samples of the incident radio signal(s) which would be collected in parallel on each of the analog reception channels over the period of time in the absence of phase shift between the analog reception channels, calculating a product matrix, resulting from a term-by-term matrix product of the observed covariance matrix with the estimate of the reference covariance matrix, and determining the argument of complex terms of the product matrix.