Systems and methods for calibration and optimization of frequency modulated continuous wave radar altimeters using adjustable self-interference cancellation

1. A radar altimeter system comprising:

a transmitter configured to output a transmitter signal;

a local oscillator delay line coupled to the transmitter and including a variable time delay circuit comprising at least one analog radio frequency component, the local oscillator delay line configured to receive at least a portion of the transmitter signal and to add a time delay to the at least the portion of the transmitter signal using the at least one analog radio frequency component and resulting in a delayed signal, the variable time delay circuit configured to be adjustable so as to adjust the time delay used in creating the delayed signal, wherein the variable time delay circuit includes a filter comprising a variable shunt capacitor coupled to ground, a shunt inductor coupled to ground, a variable series capacitor, and a series inductor coupled to the variable series capacitor;

a transceiver circulator coupled to the transmitter;

an antenna coupled to the transceiver circulator;

a frequency mixer coupled to the local oscillator delay line and coupled to the transceiver circulator;

wherein the transceiver circulator directs the at least the portion of the transmitter signal to the antenna;

wherein the antenna is configured to transmit the at least the portion of the transmitter signal and receive a target reflected signal from a target, wherein the target reflected signal includes at least a portion of the transmitter signal reflected from the target;

wherein the transmitted signal, the delayed signal, and the target reflected signal are analog radio frequency signals; and

wherein the frequency mixer is configured to receive the delayed signal and the target reflected signal from the transceiver circulator.

2. The radar altimeter system of claim 1 , wherein a phase of the delayed signal at the frequency mixer is configured such that a quadrature relationship between the phase of the delayed signal and a phase of a composite-leakage signal is maintained.

3. The radar altimeter system of claim 2 , wherein the composite-leakage signal comprises a circulator-leakage signal and an antenna-reflection-leakage signal.

4. The radar altimeter system of claim 1 , further comprising a receiver baseband module coupled to the frequency mixer.

5. The radar altimeter system of claim 1 , wherein the delayed signal is an electromagnetic signal.

6. A method comprising:

outputting a transmitter signal from a transmitter in a radar altimeter system;

delaying at least a portion of the transmitter signal using at least one analog radio frequency component of a variable time delay circuit of a local oscillator delay line of the radar altimeter system resulting in a delayed signal, the local oscillator delay line including a variable time delay circuit adjustable to adjust the time delay added to the delayed signal, wherein the variable time delay circuit includes a filter comprising a variable shunt capacitor coupled to ground, a shunt inductor coupled to ground, a variable series capacitor, and a series inductor coupled to the variable series capacitor;

transmitting at least a portion of the transmitter signal using a transceiver circulator and an antenna;

receiving a target reflected signal from a target at the antenna and passing it through the transceiver circulator to a frequency mixer, the target reflected signal including at least a portion of the transmitter signal reflected from the target;

wherein the transmitted signal, the delayed signal, and the target reflected signal are analog radio frequency signals; and

receiving the delayed signal and the target reflected signal at the frequency mixer.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein a phase of the delayed signal at the frequency mixer is configured to maintain a quadrature relationship between the phase of the delayed signal and a phase of a composite-leakage signal;

wherein the composite-leakage signal comprises a circulator-leakage signal and an antenna-reflection-leakage signal.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a local oscillator delay line including a variable time delay circuit for use in an altimeter, wherein the variable time delay circuit includes at least one analog radio frequency component, wherein the variable time delay circuit includes a filter comprising a variable shunt capacitor coupled to ground, a shunt inductor coupled to ground, a variable series capacitor, and a series inductor coupled to the variable series capacitor;

wherein the local oscillator delay line delays a signal travelling through the local oscillator delay line by a quantity of time using the at least one analog radio frequency component to maintain a quadrature relationship with a composite-leakage signal in the altimeter, wherein the local oscillator delay line is configured to be adjustable so as to adjust the quantity of time, and

wherein the composite-leakage signal is comprised of a circulator-leakage signal and an antenna-reflection-leakage signal, wherein the composite-leakage signal, the circulator-leakage signal, and the antenna-reflection-leakage signal are analog radio frequency signals.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the variable shunt capacitor and the variable series capacitor are electronically variable capacitors.

10. The apparatus claim 8 , wherein a capacitance of the variable shunt capacitor is configured to adjust the time delay applied to an electromagnetic signal travelling through the filter when varied.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein a capacitance of the variable series capacitor is configured to adjust the variation in the time delay applied to the electromagnetic signals traveling through the filter.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the local oscillator delay line including the variable time delay circuit is implemented in a radar altimeter system.