Radar Component Calibration via Pre-Assembly Simulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Radar apparatus deployed in hostile environments often lack access to routine external calibration, making it challenging to ensure accuracy in detecting and tracking targets and trajectories.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for pretesting and precalibrating individual radar components before assembly, using laboratory test electrical responses to simulate a radar response for an assembled apparatus, allowing for accurate target location without post-assembly field calibration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If radar apparatus are deployed in hostile environments, then operational reliability is improved, but the ability to perform routine external calibration deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs calibration measurements on individual radar components (antenna elements, amplifiers, phase shifters) before they are assembled into the complete radar apparatus. This preliminary calibration data is stored and later used to compensate for component variations during field operation, eliminating the need for post-assembly calibration in hostile environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the radar apparatus into discrete calibratable components (antenna elements, power amplifiers, phase shifters, receivers) and performs calibration on each segment independently before assembly. This segmentation allows calibration data to be collected and stored for each component separately, which is then used during operation to maintain accuracy without requiring full system calibration.
2Measurement precision
If routine external calibration is performed after assembly, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs all necessary calibration measurements on individual components before assembly in a controlled laboratory environment. This preliminary action ensures that calibration data is available immediately upon assembly, eliminating the need for time-consuming post-assembly calibration field operations while maintaining high measurement precision.
3Productivity
If individual radar components are pretested and precalibrated, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the calibration process into independent measurements for each component type (antenna elements, amplifiers, phase shifters, receivers). This segmentation allows parallel processing of calibration data and simplifies the overall system architecture by treating each component separately, reducing the complexity burden despite the detailed calibration requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates calibration data copies for each component that are stored in memory and reused during operation. Instead of performing real-time calibration measurements during field operation, the system uses pre-recorded calibration data copies, significantly reducing operational complexity and improving productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, system and computer program product for calibrating and operating a radar apparatus provides for obtaining calibration response data from, for example, a radar cylinder and a plurality of radar columns, prior to assembling the radar cylinder and plurality of radar columns into an assembled radar apparatus. The calibration response data for the exemplary radar cylinder and the plurality of radar columns is evaluated to provide a simulated response of the assembled radar apparatus. Actual measured responses from the assembled radar apparatus may then be correlated with the simulated response through use of a look-up table. The particular method, system and program product for calibrating and operating the radar apparatus provides for avoidance of field calibration of the assembled radar apparatus, which is generally neither desirable nor feasible under hostile conditions.