Phase Calibration of Distributed Antenna Arrays

TL;DR

This paper discusses calibration methods for distributed antenna arrays, introducing a new approach to achieve joint full calibration of two individually fully calibrated arrays, enhancing directional transmission and reception capabilities.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel calibration method enabling two separately fully calibrated arrays to be jointly F-calibrated, improving array performance.

Findings

New calibration method for joint F-calibration

Enhanced directional beamforming capabilities

Improved over-the-air calibration procedures

Abstract

Antenna arrays can be either reciprocity calibrated (R-calibrated), which facilitates reciprocity-based beamforming, or fully calibrated (F-calibrated), which additionally facilitates transmission and reception in specific physical directions. We first expose, to provide context, the fundamental principles of over-the-air R- and F-calibration of distributed arrays. We then describe a new method for calibration of two arrays that are individually F-calibrated, such that the combined array becomes jointly F-calibrated.