Antenna arrays are frequently used for localization of active communication transmitters or passively reflecting radar targets by evaluating signal phases at spatially distributed antennas. Unfortunately, the localization performance is degraded because of mutual coupling, unknown time delays, and imprecisely known antenna positions, especially if large arrays with spatially distributed antennas are used. Furthermore, these errors are altered until the array is steadily installed at its destination, which occurs because of position misalignment and cable phase instability. Hence, an in-situ array calibration is necessary to perform faultless phase measurements. For this purpose, this article proposes a novel calibration procedure for antenna arrays, correcting both the mutual coupling and positioning errors using an incoherently transmitting beacon. Because the in-situ calibration will be affected by multipath, measurements at random reference positions within the array’s near field are used for calibration. In addition, the algorithm copes with randomly varying path losses because of unknown antenna polarizations and patterns. Calibration measurements are performed, providing physically reasonable results without using an anechoic environment. Furthermore, the calibration results are validated via indoor localization using three antenna arrays that were calibrated with the proposed algorithm.

中文翻译：

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无线定位系统中天线阵列的原位校准

天线阵列经常用于通过评估空间分布天线的信号相位来定位有源通信发射机或无源反射雷达目标。不幸的是，由于相互耦合、未知的时间延迟和不精确的天线位置，定位性能会降低，尤其是在使用具有空间分布天线的大型阵列时。此外，在阵列稳定安装在其目的地之前，这些误差会被改变，这是由于位置未对准和电缆相位不稳定而发生的。因此，原位阵列校准对于执行无故障的相位测量是必要的。为此，本文提出了一种新颖的天线阵列校准程序，使用非相干发射信标纠正相互耦合和定位误差。由于原位校准会受到多径影响，因此使用阵列近场内随机参考位置的测量值进行校准。此外，由于未知的天线极化和模式，该算法处理随机变化的路径损耗。执行校准测量，在不使用消声环境的情况下提供物理上合理的结果。此外，校准结果通过使用所提出的算法校准的三个天线阵列的室内定位进行验证。由于未知的天线极化和模式，该算法处理随机变化的路径损耗。执行校准测量，在不使用消声环境的情况下提供物理上合理的结果。此外，校准结果通过使用所提出的算法校准的三个天线阵列的室内定位进行验证。由于未知的天线极化和模式，该算法处理随机变化的路径损耗。执行校准测量，在不使用消声环境的情况下提供物理上合理的结果。此外，校准结果通过使用所提出的算法校准的三个天线阵列的室内定位进行验证。