A hybrid method to obtain steering vector for music-based DOA estimation at the presence of mutual coupling and RF channel gain/phase errors

Multiple signal classification (MUSIC) is a highly popular eigenstructure-based estimation method of direction of arrival (DOA) with high resolution. The accuracy of the MUSIC-based DOA estimation is degraded significantly both by the effects of the mutual coupling among the receiving array elements and the unequal channel gain and phase errors of the receiver. Two approaches to evaluate the compensated USV (C-USV) are presented and further compared with the N-USV. The C-USV includes the effects not only from mutual coupling between array elements, but also from the unequal gain and phase response of RF cables and the receiver, while the N-USV is the numerical USV evaluated by methods of moment (MoM). Finally, the estimated results by the USVs are compared and the effectiveness of the C-USV by the hybrid method are demonstrated.