Self calibrating adaptive antenna array for GPS receiver

摘要

A method of calibrating an beamsteering adaptive antenna array 1 in a satellite navigation system comprises receiving spread spectrum signals from a plurality of satellites at a plurality of receivers 2 in the system. The direction of the satellite signal relative to the antenna array orientation is determined for each satellite signal. The signals are then despread to obtain the satellite signals. Gain and phase information is calculated 8 from the despread code for a given satellite in a given direction and the calculated gain and phase is stored in a manifold store at a predetermined address related to the direction of arrival of the satellite signal. The method avoid the need to calibrate the antenna array in an anechoic chamber, which may be impractical when the array is mounted on a platform such as an aircraft. The method uses satellite signals themselves as test sources with known directions to calibrate the antenna array.