Waveguide Probe Calibration for Antenna Array Phase Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Adjustable reflective array antennas face challenges in ensuring consistency among reflective units due to processing errors, leading to phase matching errors that can cause beam deformation, reduced gain, and inability to reconstruct beams as expected.
Innovation Solution
A waveguide probe structure and calibration device for antenna arrays, comprising a waveguide coaxial converter, tapered waveguide, and straight waveguide, along with a vector network analyzer and controller, are used to transmit and receive microwave signals to calibrate in-array units, obtaining network parameters and processing them to determine calibration errors and achieve phase matching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If processing is performed to form reflective units, then the antenna array can be assembled, but processing errors cause inconsistency among reflective units leading to phase matching errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing calibration measurements on each reflective unit before final assembly into the antenna array. The calibration device measures S-parameters of individual reflective units to determine their actual electrical characteristics, including phase response. This preliminary characterization allows the system to compensate for manufacturing variations through software-based phase correction, ensuring consistent performance despite processing errors in fabrication.
2Ease of operation
If phase matching operation is performed according to voltage-absolute phase response curves with errors, then beam scanning can be implemented, but phase matching errors cause beam deformation and gain reduction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by using the calibration device to measure actual S-parameters of reflective units, then using these measurements to update the voltage-absolute phase response curves. The system continuously refines the phase correction data based on measured performance, allowing real-time compensation for deviations. This closed-loop approach ensures that beam scanning operations maintain high reliability and beam quality by adapting to actual hardware characteristics rather than relying on theoretical or nominal values.
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
The solution ensures accurate calibration of antenna arrays by correcting phase matching errors, maintaining beam integrity and gain, and enabling precise beam scanning and reconstruction.
Implementation Method 1
the waveguide coaxial converter is configured to transmit and receive two linearly-polarized signals orthogonal to each other
Implementation Method 2
the tapered waveguide includes a first waveguide cavity including a first waveguide port and a second waveguide port along a length direction of the first waveguide cavity
Data Source
AI summary
A waveguide probe structure, a calibration device for an antenna array and a calibration method for an antenna array are provided. The waveguide probe structure includes a waveguide coaxial converter, a tapered waveguide and a first straight waveguide. The waveguide coaxial converter is configured to transmit and receive two orthogonal linearly-polarized signals; the tapered waveguide includes a first waveguide cavity including a first waveguide port and a second waveguide port, the first waveguide port is connected to the waveguide coaxial converter, the second waveguide port is connected to the first straight waveguide, and a size of a cross section of the first waveguide cavity increases monotonically in a direction from the first waveguide port to the second waveguide port; the first straight waveguide includes a second waveguide cavity, a size of a cross section of the second waveguide cavity is equal to a size of the second waveguide port.