In-Situ Calibration of Antenna Arrays within Wireless Locating Systems

Sippel E, Lipka M, Geiß J, Hehn M, Vossiek M (2020)

Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Journal article, Review article

Publication year: 2020

Journal

IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

Book Volume: 68

Pages Range: 2832-2841

Journal Issue: 4

DOI: 10.1109/TAP.2019.2955147

Abstract

Antenna arrays are frequently used for localization of active communication transmitters or passively reflecting radar targets by evaluating signal phases at spatially distributed antennas. Unfortunately, the localization performance is degraded because of mutual coupling, unknown time delays, and imprecisely known antenna positions, especially if large arrays with spatially distributed antennas are used. Furthermore, these errors are altered until the array is steadily installed at its destination, which occurs because of position misalignment and cable phase instability. Hence, an in-situ array calibration is necessary to perform faultless phase measurements. For this purpose, this article proposes a novel calibration procedure for antenna arrays, correcting both the mutual coupling and positioning errors using an incoherently transmitting beacon. Because the in-situ calibration will be affected by multipath, measurements at random reference positions within the array’s near field are used for calibration. In addition, the algorithm copes with randomly varying path losses because of unknown antenna polarizations and patterns. Calibration measurements are performed, providing physically reasonable results without using an anechoic environment. Furthermore, the calibration results are validated via indoor localization using three antenna arrays that were calibrated with the proposed algorithm.

Authors with CRIS profile

Erik Sippel Lehrstuhl für Hochfrequenztechnik Melanie Lipka Lehrstuhl für Hochfrequenztechnik Johanna Geiß Lehrstuhl für Hochfrequenztechnik Markus Hehn Lehrstuhl für Hochfrequenztechnik Martin Vossiek Lehrstuhl für Hochfrequenztechnik

How to cite

APA:

Sippel, E., Lipka, M., Geiß, J., Hehn, M., & Vossiek, M. (2020). In-Situ Calibration of Antenna Arrays within Wireless Locating Systems. IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, 68(4), 2832-2841. https://dx.doi.org/10.1109/TAP.2019.2955147

MLA:

Sippel, Erik, et al. "In-Situ Calibration of Antenna Arrays within Wireless Locating Systems." IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation 68.4 (2020): 2832-2841.

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