Simple Algorithms for Antenna Array Calibration and Their Accuracy

This paper presents two simple algorithms, developed for the calibration of antenna arrays (AA), which do not require phase measurements. The algorithms estimate the unknown AA channel phases by means of the solution of a system of real-valued linear equations. The data, which are used in these equations, are the AA output power measurements under the perturbation of the current phase shifter state on 0°, 90° and 270° or on 0°, 90° and 180° in each calibrated channel. The paper presents the mathematical details of the proposed algorithms. The simulation results demonstrate the accuracy of the algorithms in terms of the mean square errors of the estimated channel phases and in terms of the Euclidian distance between the radiation pattern of the ideal AA and the calibrated AA, i.e. the AA whose channel phases are estimated and compensated. Additionally, this accuracy is compared to that of the simplified versions of the Rotating-Element Electric-Field Vector (REV) algorithm. The new algorithms can be used not only for the AA calibration in the anechoic chamber, but also in the field operation, providing the AA calibration and signal source tracking simultaneously.