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Digital Calibration of TR Modules for Real-time Digital Beamforming SweepSAR ArchitecturesReal-time digital beamforming, combined with lightweight, large aperture reflectors, enable SweepSAR architectures such as that of the proposed DESDynI [Deformation, Ecosystem Structure, and Dynamics of Ice] SAR [Synthetic Aperture Radar] Instrument (or DSI). These new instrument concepts require new methods for calibrating the multiple channels, which must be combined on-board, in real-time. The calibration of current state-of-the-art Electronically Steered Arrays typically involves pre-flight TR (Transmit/Receive) module characterization over temperature, and in-flight correction based on temperature, which ignores the effects of element aging and drifts unrelated to temperature. We are developing new methods for digitally calibrating digital beamforming arrays to reduce development time, risk and cost of precision calibrated TR modules for array architectures by accurately tracking modules' characteristics through closed-loop Digital Calibration, thus tracking systematic changes regardless of temperature. The benefit of this effort is that it would enable a new class of lightweight radar architecture, Digital Beamforming with SweepSAR, providing significantly larger swath coverage than conventional SAR architectures for solid earth and biomass remote sensing, while reducing mission mass and cost. This new instrument concept requires new methods for calibrating the multiple channels, which must be combined on-board, in real-time.
Document ID
20150005970
Acquisition Source
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Document Type
Conference Paper
External Source(s)
Authors
Hoffman, James Patrick
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Perkovic, Dragana
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Shaffer, Scott
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Veilleux, Louise
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Peral, Eva
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
April 21, 2015
Publication Date
March 5, 2011
Subject Category
Communications And Radar
Meeting Information
Meeting: IEEE Aerospace Conference
Location: Big Sky, MT
Country: United States
Start Date: March 5, 2011
End Date: March 12, 2011
Sponsors: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
Real-time digital beamforming
on-board processing
radar systems

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