System and method for over-the-air antenna calibration
An antenna calibration system for a phased array antenna in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure generally includes: a beamformer lattice including at least first and second beamformers, each corresponding to a subset of antenna cells, and each including a calibration section for comparing a reference signal to a non-reference signal; and a first operating antenna within the subset of antenna cells corresponding with the first beamformer, wherein the first operating antenna is configured to deliver a first reference signal (mTx) from the first beamformer to be received by a second operating antenna for comparison with a first non-reference signal (Rx) in the first beamformer or in the second beamformer, and/or wherein the first operating antenna is configured to deliver a second non-reference signal (Tx) from a third operating antenna for comparison with a second reference signal (mRx) in the first beamformer or in the second beamformer.
1. An antenna calibration system for a phased array antenna, the antenna calibration system comprising:
a beamformer lattice including at least first and second beamformers, wherein each of the first and second beamformers corresponds to a subset of antenna cells of a plurality of antenna cells, and wherein each of the first and second beamformers includes a calibration section for comparing a reference signal to a non-reference signal; and
a first operating antenna within the subset of antenna cells corresponding with the first beamformer, wherein the first operating antenna is configured to deliver a first reference signal (mTx) from the first beamformer to be received by a second operating antenna for comparison with a first non-reference signal (Rx) in the first beamformer or in the second beamformer, and/or wherein the first operating antenna is configured to deliver a second non-reference signal (Tx) from a third operating antenna for comparison with a second reference signal (mRx) in the first beamformer or in the second beamformer.
2. The antenna calibration system of claim 1 , wherein the first reference signal is delivered from a calibration section (mTx) of the first beamformer.
3. The antenna calibration system of claim 1 , wherein the second non-reference signal (Tx) is received in a calibration section (mRx) of the first beamformer.
4. The antenna calibration system of claim 1 , wherein the first reference signal is delivered from an RFIO of the first beamformer.
5. The antenna calibration system of claim 1 , wherein the second non-reference signal is received in an RFIO of the first beamformer.
6. The antenna calibration system of claim 1 , wherein the first operating antenna is configured to deliver a first reference (mTx) signal from the first beamformer to be received by a second operating antenna for comparison with a first received non-reference (Rx) signal in the first beamformer and a third operating antenna for comparison with a second received non-reference signal (Rx) in the second beamformer.
7. The antenna calibration system of claim 1 , wherein the first operating antenna is configured to receive a first non-reference (Tx) signal from a second operating antenna associated with the first beamformer and a second non-reference (Tx) signal from a third operating antenna associated with the second beamformer for comparison with a first reference signal (mRx) in the first beamformer.
8. The antenna calibration system of claim 1 , wherein the first operating antenna in an operating configuration is configured to receive a third non-reference (Rx) signal and/or transmit a third non-reference (Tx) signal.
9. The antenna calibration system of claim 1 , wherein the second and third operating antennas are configured for sending signals, receiving signals, or both.
10. A method for antenna calibration, comprising:
obtaining a beamformer lattice including at least first and second beamformers, wherein each of the first and second beamformers corresponds to a subset of antenna cells of a plurality of antenna cells, and wherein each of the first and second beamformers includes a calibration section for comparing a reference signal to a non-reference signal; and
using a first operating antenna within the subset of antenna cells corresponding with the first beamformer to calibrate the subset of antenna cells, wherein the first operating antenna is configured to deliver a first reference signal (mTx) from the first beamformer to be received by a second operating antenna for comparison with a first non-reference signal (Rx) in the first beamformer or in the second beamformer, and/or wherein the first operating antenna is configured to deliver a second non-reference signal (Tx) from a third operating antenna for comparison with a second reference signal (mRx) in the first beamformer or in the second beamformer.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first reference signal is delivered from a calibration section (mTx) of the first beamformer.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second non-reference signal (Tx) is received in a calibration section (mRx) of the first beamformer.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first reference signal is delivered from an RFIO of the first beamformer.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second non-reference signal is received in an RFIO of the first beamformer.
15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first operating antenna is configured to deliver a first reference (mTx) signal from the first beamformer to be received by a second operating antenna for comparison with a first received non-reference (Rx) signal in the first beamformer and a third operating antenna for comparison with a second received non-reference signal (Rx) in the second beamformer.
16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first operating antenna is configured to receive a first non-reference (Tx) signal from a second operating antenna associated with the first beamformer and a second non-reference (Tx) signal from a third operating antenna associated with the second beamformer for comparison with a first reference signal (mRx) in the first beamformer.
17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first operating antenna is configured to operate partially as a calibration antenna and partially as an operating antenna.
18. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second and third operating antennas are configured for sending signals, receiving signals, or both.
19. An antenna calibration system for a phased array antenna, the antenna calibration system comprising:
a beamformer lattice including at least a first beamformer, wherein the first beamformer corresponds to a plurality of antenna cells, and wherein the first beamformer includes a calibration section for comparing a reference signal to a non-reference signal; and
a first operating antenna within the plurality of antenna cells corresponding with the first beamformer, wherein the first operating antenna is configured to deliver a first reference signal (mTx) from the first beamformer to be received by a second operating antenna for comparison with a first non-reference signal (Rx) in the first beamformer and/or wherein the first operating antenna is configured to deliver a second non-reference signal (Tx) from a third operating antenna for comparison with a second reference signal (mRx) in the first beamformer.
20. A method for antenna calibration, comprising:
obtaining a beamformer lattice including at least a first beamformer, wherein the first beamformer corresponds to a plurality of antenna cells, and wherein the first beamformer includes a calibration section for comparing a reference signal to a non-reference signal; and
using a first operating antenna to calibrate the plurality of antenna cells corresponding with the first beamformer, wherein the first operating antenna is configured to deliver a first reference signal (mTx) from the first beamformer to be received by a second operating antenna for comparison with a first non-reference signal (Rx) in the first beamformer and/or wherein the first operating antenna is configured to deliver a second non-reference signal (Tx) from a third operating antenna for comparison with a second reference signal (mRx) in the first beamformer.