Network analysis of the influence of hardware imperfections on DoA estimation

In this paper, a framework is established to quantify the influence of hardware imperfections realizing a Direction-of-Arrival (DoA) estimation system using a circular antenna array. The latter exploits one transceiver and therefore samples the different antennas sequentially. To accomplish this, a Single-Pole-Multifold-Throw (SPMT) switch is needed to connect antennas and transceiver. Describing the different components by their respective scattering parameter matrices, the aforementioned framework is assembled. It can be demonstrated that hardware imperfections such as finite isolation and finite matching perturb the original pattern of every single antenna element within the array. Furthermore, a calibration algorithm is successfully applied to compensate for the pattern perturbation introduced by the hardware imperfections.