Procedure for Measurement, Characterization, and Calibration of Active Antenna Arrays

The GEOdesic Dome Antenna is an interesting design for efficient satellite-tracking prototypes based on 45 elements active antenna arrays manufactured by the Radiation Group of the Technical University of Madrid. Extensive measurement campaign in RF laboratories and in an anechoic chamber was performed for complete calibration and characterization of those active antenna arrays, resulting in the proposal of a new efficient procedure. To accomplish the calibration procedure, the expansion of equations of the proposed calibration algorithms, based on the proposed active antenna array model and the derivation of the scattering matrix from the active element pattern, is presented. These algorithms deal with mutual coupling effect and gain and phase errors, and in general, the overall procedure leads to a significant reduction in time and costs associated to the measurements of the antenna under test and the proposed calibration algorithm. Significant measurement results from the Certified Laboratory of Tests and Standardization of Antennas (LEHA) located in the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid are presented to validate the procedure.