Calibration Proposal for New Antenna Array Architectures and Technologies for Space Communications

Author

Natera, Miguel Alejandro Salas ; Rodríguez-Osorio, Ramón Martínez ; de Haro Ariet, Leandro ; Pérez, Manuel Sierra

Author_Institution

Grupo de Radiacion, Univ. Politec. de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

Volume

11

fYear

2012

fDate

7/4/1905 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1129

Lastpage

1132

Abstract

In large antenna arrays with a large number of antenna elements, the required number of measurements for the characterization of the antenna array is very demanding in cost and time. This letter presents a new offline calibration process for active antenna arrays that reduces the number of measurements by subarray-level characterization. This letter embraces measurements, characterization, and calibration as a global procedure assessing about the most adequate calibration technique and computing of compensation matrices. The procedure has been fully validated with measurements of a 45-element triangular panel array designed for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite tracking that compensates the degradation due to gain and phase imbalances and mutual coupling.

Keywords

active antenna arrays; calibration; satellite antennas; 45-element triangular panel array; active antenna array; antenna array architecture; antenna element; calibration procedure; calibration proposal; characterization procedure; compensation matrix; low Earth orbit satellite tracking; measurement procedure; mutual coupling; offline calibration process; space communication; subarray-level characterization; Antenna measurements; Calibration; Extraterrestrial measurements; Mutual coupling; Phased arrays; Transmission line matrix methods; Antenna array; calibration; errors; mutual coupling; uncertainty analysis;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1536-1225

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/LAWP.2012.2215952

Filename

6289336