Phase difference estimation methods for linear array

The performance of array may be seriously degraded by the difference of phase responses between the array elements. Thus it is important to compensate these differences by means of precise phase estimation. In this paper, two methods for phase difference estimation between linear array elements are presented. The first one works by applying the cost function to search the optimal source position before the phase difference is obtained. The other one establishes the observation equation at first, and then solves it by least-squares method. Algorithms for both methods proposed here are very simple, while the required experimental equipments are also not very complicated. Simulation results and experiment results show that both methods have sufficient accuracy and are easy for application.