Direction finding using antenna array rotation

摘要

A direction finding system for finding the angle of arrival of a target signal from a transmitter. The system includes a plurality of directional antennas positioned to face different directions for receiving the target signal. The antennas are mounted as an antenna array on a rotatable mount for supporting and rotating the antenna array. A receiver unit down converts the RF target signal to IF signals that are digitized by an A/D converter providing digital values. A computer computes the power in the signals from the A/D samples. A computer stores calibration information for the directional antennas, processes the digital values and the calibration information to determine a rotation angle α for rotating the antennas to provide new digital values, processes the new digital values and the calibration information to determine an intersection angle, and subtracts the rotation angle from the intersection angle to determine the final value for the angle of arrival of the target signal.

主权项

1. A direction finding system for finding the angle of arrival AOA of a target signal from a transmitter comprising,
an antenna array unit including a plurality of directional antennas positioned to face different directions for receiving the target signal, a rotatable mount for supporting and rotating the antenna array unit, a receiver unit connected to the directional antennas for providing digital values representing the target signal, and a computer for,
storing calibration information for the directional antennas,processing the digital values and the calibration information to determine a rotation angle α for rotating the antenna array,commanding the rotatable mount to rotate by the rotation angle α to cause the receiver unit to provide new digital values,processing the new digital values and the calibration information to determine an intersection angle, andsubtracting the rotation angle from the intersection angle to determine a final value for the angle of arrival of the target signal.