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 corresponding to a subset of antenna cells of a plurality of antenna cells, wherein the beamformer 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 beamformer. In some implementations, the first operating antenna is configured to deliver a first reference signal (mTx) from the beamformer to be received by a second operating antenna for comparison with a first non-reference signal (Rx) in the beamformer, and/or 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 beamformer.
1. An antenna calibration system for a phased array antenna, the antenna calibration system comprising:
a beamformer corresponding to a subset of antenna cells of a plurality of antenna cells, wherein the beamformer 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 beamformer, wherein the first operating antenna is configured to deliver a first reference signal (mTx) from the beamformer to be received by a second operating antenna for comparison with a first non-reference signal (Rx) in the beamformer.
2. The antenna calibration system of claim 1 , wherein the first reference signal is delivered from a calibration section (mTx) of the beamformer.
3. The antenna calibration system of claim 1 , wherein the first non-reference signal (Rx) is received in a calibration section (mRx) of the beamformer.
4. The antenna calibration system of claim 1 , wherein the first reference signal (mTx) is delivered from a radio frequency input/output (RFIO) of the beamformer.
5. The antenna calibration system of claim 1 , wherein the first non-reference signal (Rx) is received in an RFIO of the beamformer.
6. The antenna calibration system of claim 1 , wherein the first operating antenna is configured to deliver the first reference signal (mTx) from the beamformer to be received by a second operating antenna for comparison with the first non-reference signal (Rx) in the beamformer and to deliver a second reference signal for comparison with a second non-reference signal (Rx) received in the beamformer.
7. The antenna calibration system of claim 1 , wherein the first operating antenna is configured to receive the first non-reference signal (Rx) from a second operating antenna associated with the beamformer and a second non-reference signal (Rx) from a third operating antenna associated with the beamformer for comparison with the first reference signal (mTx) in the 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 7 , wherein the second operating antenna is configured for sending signals, receiving signals, or both.
10. A method for antenna calibration, comprising:
obtaining a beamformer lattice including a beamformer, wherein the beamformer corresponds to a subset of antenna cells of a plurality of antenna cells, and wherein the beamformer 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 beamformer to calibrate the subset of antenna cells, wherein the first operating antenna is configured to deliver a first reference signal (mTx) from the beamformer to be received by a second operating antenna for comparison with a first non-reference signal (Rx) in the beamformer.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first reference signal is delivered from a calibration section (mTx) of the beamformer.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first non-reference signal (Rx) is received in a calibration section (mRx) of the beamformer.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first reference signal is delivered from an RFIO of the beamformer.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first non-reference signal (Rx) is received in an RFIO of the beamformer.
15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first operating antenna is configured to deliver a first reference (mTx) signal from the beamformer to be received by a second operating antenna for comparison with a first received non-reference (Rx) signal in the beamformer and a third operating antenna for comparison with a second received non-reference signal (Rx) in the 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 beamformer and a second non-reference (Tx) signal from a third operating antenna associated with the beamformer for comparison with a first reference signal (mRx) in the 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 operating antenna is 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 corresponding 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 beamformer, wherein the first operating antenna is configured to deliver a second non-reference signal (Tx) from the beamformer to a second operating antenna for comparison with a second reference signal (mRx) in the beamformer.
20. A method for antenna calibration, comprising:
obtaining a beamformer lattice including at least a beamformer, wherein the beamformer corresponds to a plurality of antenna cells, and wherein the beamformer includes a calibration section for comparing a reference signal to a non-reference signal; and
using a first operating antenna to calibrate a plurality of antennas corresponding with a beamformer, wherein the first operating antenna is configured to deliver a second non-reference signal (Tx) from the beamformer to a second operating antenna for comparison with a second reference signal (mRx) in the beamformer.