A New Online Calibration Algorithm for Array Antenna using Independent Component Analysis

This paper proposes a new online calibration algorithm for the array antenna system. As you know, the several previous calibration methods for the mutual coupling did not estimate but measure mutual coupling effect at the real or test-bed system directly. Therefore we suggest some idea to compensate the calibration errors due to mutual coupling effect and mismatch in cables and electronic modules without the off-line calibration. In this work, we can calibrate the array antenna system under the operation of the system using Independent Component Analysis(ICA). This is what is called an online calibration. As you know, the ICA method has permutation and scaling problems. However, we solve problems of the ICA method and apply it to the calibration of an array antenna. The method simultaneously estimates the DOA(Direction of Arrival) of the signals, and calibrates the array for that specific angle. The proposed algorithm is evaluated by computer simulation and its behavior is illustrated by a numerical example.