An Efficient Scheduling for Fast Calibration of Digital Beamforming Active Phased Array Radar

Abstract

A 40-channel digital beamforming transceiver with wave-guide slot array antenna used in S-Band phased array radar is presented in this paper. It can steer 16 beams at elevation angle simultaneously. Each slot array antenna used a TRM (Transmit and Receive Module), RF to IF downconverter, high-speed ADC (Analog to Digital Converter) for calibration, and DBF (Digital Beam Forming). The TRM, calibration architecture, and timing are described in detail. An accurate and fast calibration scheme, less than one second, with the exact and efficient scheduling for calibration is proposed. The method measures the phase and amplitude offset between the IF signal generated by SPU (Signal Process Unit) that injects TRM with an IF signal comeback to SPU from TRM at the same frequency. Accordingly, the SPU adjusts its phase and amplitude in order to align to the reference phase in the allocated timing. The result in accuracy and fast calibration is obtained in DBF phased array radar.

KEYWORDS:

• Calibration time
• Digital beamforming (DBF)
• Efficient scheduling
• Phased array calibration
• The transmit and receive module (TRM)

Additional information

Notes on contributors

B. Rousta

Behzad Rousta received the BS degree in electronic engineering from IAU, Jahrom Branch, Jahrom, Iran, in 2006. He received MS degree in electrical engineering in IAU Science Research Branch, Tehran, Iran, in 2009. Now he is a PhD student in IAU Science Research Branch, Tehran, Iran. His research interests include phased array antennas, digital implementation algorithm on phased array radar, and intelligent computing. Email: [email protected]

M. Naser-Moghadasi

Mohammad Naser-Moghadasi was born in Saveh, Iran, in 1959. He received the BSc degree in communication engineering in 1985 from the Leeds Metropolitan University (formerly Leeds Polytechnic), UK. Between 1985 and 1987 he worked as an RF design engineer for the Gigatech company in Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK. From 1987 to 1989, he was awarded a full scholarship by the Leeds educational authority to pursue an MPhil in CAD of Microwave circuits. He received his PhD in 1993, from the University of Bradford, UK. He was offered then a two years Post Doc. to pursue research on microwave cooking of materials at the University of Nottingham, UK. From 1995, Dr Naser-Moghadasi joined Islamic Azad University, Science & Research Branch, Iran, where he currently is head of Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. His main areas of interest in research are microstrip antenna, microwave passive and active circuits, RF MEMS and EMC. Dr Naser-Moghadasi is member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, MIET and the Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers (IEICE). He has so far published over 200 papers in different journals and conferences. Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]

B. Abbasi Arand

Bijan Abbasi Arand received the BSc degree from Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran, in 1995, and the MS and PhD degrees in telecommunication engineering from Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran, in 1997 and 2003, respectively. From 2003 to 2005, he was a researcher with the Electromagnetic Propagation Department, Iran Telecommunication Research Center, North Kargar, Iran. In 2005, he joined the Satellite communication Laboratory, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran, as a post-doctoral researcher. Since 2010, he has been an assistant professor with the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University. He has published more than 35 papers and publications in journals and conferences. Email: [email protected]

R. A. Sadeghzadeh

Ramezan Ali Sadeghzadeh received the BSc degree in communication engineering from the University of Khajeh Nasir, in 1984 and the MSc and PhD degrees in communication engineering from the University of Bradford, UK, in 1987 and 1990, respectively. From 1980 to 1984, he worked with the Iran Telecommunication Company. During 1990–1998, he served as a postdoctoral research assistant in the Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department, University of Bradford, UK. He is now with the University of Khajeh Nasir Tousi, Iran, since 1998. His research interests include antenna, propagation, electromagnetic, numerical analysis, electro-magnetic wave exposure and wireless communication. He has published about 60 papers in reputable journals and conferences. Email: [email protected]