Calibration and optimization of ESA in aircraft radomes

摘要

A method for calibrating an ESA radar to mitigate degradation of its radiation system. The radiation system includes the distribution manifold, the ESA radiating elements and the radome the ESA may be operating through. Sensing of degradation takes place both locally with a switchable matched load to identify individual ESA element characteristics and globally with target based radar return data. The data generated by this sensing of both local and global characteristics is then used to modify available ESA element complex weighting to produce a desired far-field radiation pattern.

主权项

1. An apparatus for determining modifications to a signal comprising:
a processor; memory connected to the processor; a distribution manifold connected to the processor; an electronically scanned array (ESA) antenna comprising a plurality of radiating elements, each of the plurality of radiating elements connected to the distribution manifold; and computer executable program code configured to execute on the processor, wherein the computer executable program code is configured to:
generate a transmit signal;send the transmit signal through the ESA antenna in a radome;receive a return signal through the ESA antenna;analyze the return signal by comparing the return signal to a reference far-field signal; andgenerate a modification to apply to subsequent signals based on the comparison of the return signal to the reference far-field signal.