An Efficient Calibration Scheme for Satellite Onboard Receive Digital Beamformer

ABSTRACT

This paper describes a scheme for faster calibration of satellite onboard receive digital beamformer system consisting of phased array antenna, receive radio frequency (RF) electronics, and digital beamforming processor. In antenna arrays with a large number of antenna elements, the required number of measurements for the characterization of the antenna array is demanding. A computationally efficient calibration method, suitable for applications like LEO satellite tracking, deep space mission, very large phased array telescopes etc., wherein the requirement is for both fast and accurate calibration is described in this paper. The simulation results for 30-elements triangular phased array antenna based receive digital beamformer at different signal-to-noise ratios are presented. This calibration method is applicable to arbitrary topology of phased array antenna.

Keywords:

• Calibration
• digital beamformer
• Onboard processing
• Phased array antenna
• Receiver
• Satellite communications

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors wish to acknowledge Alak Banik, Group Director, Optical and Digital Communication Group, Deepak Das, Deputy Director, Satcom and Navigation Payload Area, and A. S. Kiran Kumar, Director, Space Applications Centre of Indian Space Research Organisation for their continuous support and encouragement during the execution of this project. The authors also wish to acknowledge Milind Mahajan, Neeraj Mishra, Pramod Mishra, Jaydeep Kaintura, Md. Azhar, and Amita Mevada for support provided.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Khyati Zalawadia

Khyati Zalawadia received the BE degree in electronics and communication engineering from North Gujarat University, India, in 2001 and the ME degree in electronics and communication system from DDIT, Nadiad, India, in 2005. Currently, she is working as an associate professor in the Babaria Institute of Technology, Vadoadra. She has 12 years of teaching experience and is pursuing the PhD degree from SVNIT, Surat, India in wireless communication field.

E-mail: [email protected]

Pratik Jain

Pratik Jain received the BE degree in electronics and communication engineering from V. V. P. Engineering College, Rajkot, India, in 2006. He joined Space Applications Centre (ISRO), Ahmedabad, in 2006 where he is currently working in Digital Signal Processing Techniques Division (DTD) of SATCOM & Navigation Payloads Area. His research interests include the fields of digital beamforming and transparent processing-based Satcom payloads.

E-mail: [email protected]

Himanshu Shah

Himanshu Shah received the BE degree in electronics engineering from the M. S. University of Baroda, India, in 1985 and the MTech degree in satellite communications from Andhra University, India, in 2002. He joined Space Applications Centre (ISRO), Ahmedabad, in 1987. Currently, he is heading the Digital Signal Processing Techniques Division of Satcom and Navigation Payloads Area. He is a fellow member of the IETE and a life member of the ASI, ISRS, and SSME.

E-mail: [email protected]

Upena Dalal

Dr (Mrs) Upena Dalal is currently an associate professor in Electronics Engineering Department of the S. V. National Institute of Technology, Surat, India. She has 20 years of academic experience. She received the BE (electronics) degree from SVRCET, Surat, in 1991 and the ME (electronics & communications) degree from DDIT, Nadiad, with gold medal. She received the PhD degree from SVNIT in 2009. She is also awarded with the 5th N.V. Gadadhar Memorial Award by the IETE and the Rashtriya Gaurav Award as well as the International Gold Star Award by the India International Friendship Society. She has received the Divya Bhaskar women of the year award in 2010. She has published more than 60 conference and journal papers at national and international level. She has guided many UG and PG projects, dissertations, and seminars in the area of advance communication systems. She guides 14 research scholars presently. Her book on “Wireless Communication” is published by the Oxford University Press in July 2009. One more book edited by her and Dr Y. P. Kosta titled “WiMAX New Developments” is published by Inteh, Vienna, Austria. She organized eight national level training programs and a conference. She is a member of the IEEE, LM-IETE, LM-IE, LM-ISTE, and LM-IJERIA.

E-mail: [email protected]