Application of Iterative Algorithm in Target

Simulator Channel Calibration

Zhou Ju #1, Chen Ning #2, Wei Ming #3
#School of Information and Electronics, Beijing Institute of Technology
Zhongguancun South Street 5#, Haidian District, Beijing, China
1

zhouju269@163.com

chenning@bit.edu.cn

wm01510507@163.com

Abstract-- The influence of channels amplitude and phase

simultaneously. Different power allocation of the four

errors on target position precision was simulated and analyzed

channels makes different targets [1].

Four-element-array target simulator can be seen as made

based on the principle of binary array orientation. We

intensity

up of two perpendicular binary arrays which are based on

corresponding to different target positions. An iterative

the principle of binary array orientation. Here we use binary

algorithm

of

array (B, D) to orientate targets horizontal location, while

four-element-array target simulator is designed. Experimental

(A, C) orientates the vertical, as shown in Fig. 1; the two

results prove that it can satisfy the requirements of high

binary arrays orientate target position finally [2].

accuracy, and is applicable to a lot of target simulation

point (, ) in plane represents a targets angel of horizon

systems.

and vertical.

calculated

ratios
which

Keywords-Iterative

of

channels

used

in

algorithm;

electric
channel

Channel

field

calibration

Any

calibration;

Four-element-array

I.

INTRODUCTION

Target simulator can simulate targets at different position

accurately by controlling signals amplitude and phase of
three or four channels. There is unbalance of gain between
channels of the simulator which comes from amplitude error
of attenuators and phase error of phase shifters.

At the

same time, attenuators lead to signals phase change and

phase shifters make signals amplitude attenuated. Therefore,

how to guarantee the precision of signals amplitude and

Fig 1. Target angel simulated by four-element-array

phase becomes the key during the design of target

simulators.
II.

BASIC THEORY

A. Four-element-array Simulator
Four-element-array simulator has four channels as its
radiation units, and the fours radiate electromagnetic wave

______________________________________
978-1-4673-1800-6/12/$31.00 2012 IEEE

B. Influence of Channels Amplitude and Phase Error on the

Precision of Target Position
Antennas A, B, C, D of the simulator are arranged in a
circle with the stepping of 90 O is the center of
four-element-array plane, and P is observation

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point.

the . So we must minimize channels amplitude error [4].

Binary array (A, C) orientates the target M; (B, D)

orientates the target M; then (M, N) orientates final target P

0.1

[1,2]. So P must be located at the connection of M and N;

0.08

Lc
1D
)
2 R 1  D 2  2D cos M

(1)

where L is the distance between M and N, =EM/EN, EM

and EN are power of the two binary arrays, is the

0.07
a=0.6
0.06
0.05

a=0.4

0.04
0.03
0.02

are known, so we can obtain the position of P. We can

0.01
0.2

by two factors: and .

III.

EM=EN, that is, =1, error caused by the difference of phase

0 through calibration. Hence, the error of the target angel

a=0.6

0.008
0.006

a=0.2

0.4

a=0.8

0.002
0.6

0.8

a=1
6

10

Phase Error ()

binary array

each variable of (1) [3]. It can be observed in (2), when

of the actual situation, EACEBD, so we tried to guarantee

0.01

Fig 2. Comparison of the effect caused by amplitude and phase error in

For further analysis, we calculated the differential for

effect on the angel of the simulated target. However, in most

0.012

Amplitude Error (dB)

conclude from (1) that deviated angel \ MN is determined

0 . In this condition, difference of phase has no

a=0.4
0.014

0.004

difference of phase between M and N. the parameters above

is '\ errM

0.016

a=0.8

Angle Error of Target ()

arv tan(

Angle Error of Target ()

the angel that deviates from O- the center of M and N:

\ MN

a=0.2
0.018

0.09

furthermore, according to Miller Formula, we can calculate

2

0.02
a=1

ITERATIVE ALGORITHM IN CHANNEL

CALIBRATION

A. Data Required in Iterative Algorithm

Four-element-array target simulator includes not only
power feed network, but also antennas. We used
electromagnetic simulation software FEKO to establish the

caused by initial difference of phase will be minimized.

Lc 2D (1  D ) sin M
(2)
'\ errM arctan(
'M )
2R
(1  D )3

three-dimensional model of simulator which contained

The deviation of target caused by the amplitude error of

was calculated. Fig.3 shows the targets distribution. It just

binary array (M, N) is:

       '\ errM
'\ errN

characteristic of antennas. Furthermore, the power ratio of

four channels corresponding to different deviation angel
shows the tight half as the targets are symmetrical. Data of

every row in Table 1 is corresponding to points in Fig. 3,

Lc
D
'EM )      (3)
2
R AC (1  D )
    then
   we
  obtained
      the
  attenuation
       of each
   channel
     which
    kept

a
certain
total
power
.
1
 Lc
(4)
arctan(
'E N )
3.5
R BD (1  D ) 2
arctan(

where EM and EN are amplitude error of the two

Vertical Angel ( )

channels.
The result simulated by MATLAB is shown in Fig. 2.
The left one shows the effect of channels amplitude error
on the deviation of target position, and the right one shows
the effect of channels phase error. In this figure, is the
ratio of two channels power, different value means different
simulated position of targets [4].

Horizontal Angel ( )

According to the analysis of precision of target

simulated by binary array, it has been known that the effect

Fig3. Position of targets

of amplitude error is much more serious than phase error on

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3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
-0.5
-1.0
-1.5
-2.0
-2.5
-3.0
-3.5
-3.5-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.5-1.0-0.5 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5

 TABLE I

Simulation results of power distribution of four-element-array

Test attenuation (dB)

channels
Vertical Horizontal
Angle Angle
3.41
1.74
3.41
0.00
3.41
-1.74
3.25
0.00
3.24
1.90
3.24
-1.90
3.17
1.98
3.17
1.52

Power of Each ChanneldBm

1#
2#
3#
4#
-3.34
-53.79
-7.77
-53.79
-2.72
-53.18
-13.18
-13.18
-1.34
-51.79
-51.79
-5.77
-2.87
-52.41
-12.41
-12.41
-3.60
-53.14
-7.12
-53.14
-1.60
-51.14
-51.14
-5.12
-3.73
-54.19
-6.83
-54.19
-3.37
-53.82
-7.8
-23.37

Phase Shifter1
Phase Shifter2
Phase Shifter3
Phase Shifter4

-8.0
-8.5
-9.0
-9.5
-10.0
-10.5
-11.0
-11.5
-12.0
0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Rated shift phase ()

Fig 6. Attenuation of phase shifters

B. Main Steps and Test Results of Iterative Algorithm

The flow chart of iterative algorithm is shown in Fig. 7,
and it is written in C++. First, the program read all the data
it needs and puts them in arrays; After it gets targets
location(,) and the value of phase shift, the program


 Fig 4. Structure of channels

Every channel of four-element-array target simulator

consists of an attenuator and a phase shifter, as shown in Fig.
4. These devices have error when they work, furthermore,
they also bring phase change to attenuators and attenuation
to phase shifters; while the calibration we studied is aimed
at eliminate the adverse effect caused by those errors. Fig. 5
shows the phase change of the attenuators we used, and the
attenuation of the phase shifters is shown in Fig. 6.
It can be observed in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, that the four
attenuators have similar characteristics, so as the four phase
shifters.

It means we can use the same algorithm to

calibrate four channels.

Attenuator1
Attenuator2
Attenuator3
Attenuator4

Test shift phase ()

-90

-100

-110

-120

10

20

30

40

Rated attenuation (dB)

Fig 5. Phase shift of attenuations

will find a closest group in Table 1, so that it gets value

of attenuators of the four channels. Then, it estimates the
beginning of the iteration appropriately which can reduce
the times of loop. In every time, the program calculates total
amplitude attenuation (attenuation of attenuator and phase
shifter) and total phase change (phase of phase shifter and
attenuator) of each channels. Then, these values compare
with the theoretical ones, the program can adjust value of
change according to the discrepancy. If the difference is
more than the value of precision, the program will continue
to cycle.
This algorithm contain revision of amplitude attenuators
for the four channels. In real works, we can improve the
calibration accuracy by changing the values of revision in
each channel [5].
According to the analysis in chapter two, we knew that
error caused by amplitudes change is much more serious
than the one caused by phases change. So we should
improve the accuracy of attenuators as more as possible and
deteriorated the precision of phase properly, however, it
cant improve unlimitedly. There is an important issue in
this algorithm: the contradiction between the improvement
of precision and the increase in times of loop [6]. What we
need to do is balance the two factors. Finally, amplitude
error (E) is less than 0.02dB and phase error () is less
than 2.
Test results confirmed that this Iterative Algorithm can

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guarantee amplitude error of each channel be less than

up enough, so it can reflect the real work of the target

0.02dB and phase error be less than 2.

simulator. But there is influence from environment,

like temperature, work conditions of the rotating platform,
and the aging of devices is unavoidable. Therefore, the
values of revision should be updated in time to guarantee
the accuracy of channel calibration.
REFERENCES
[1] Zhu Yousheng and Li Xiaoying, The Principle of Binary Array
Orientation and Error Analysis,

Applied Science and Technology,

vol.29(1), 2002, pp.29-31.

[2]Peng Gang, Hong Tao, Tang: Yunbo et al, Design of a point target
simulator for guidance seeker, 2009 International Conference on Signal
Processing Systems (ICSPS), USA:2009, pp.307-309.
[3]Meena D. , Roy Taniza, Prakasam L.G.M, Design of multilevel radar
target simulator, 2007 IEEE Radar Conference, IEEE Press, 2007, pp.
203-208.
[4] Wang Sihong, Huang Huiming, Li Jun, Analysis of the Influence of
Amplitude and Phase Errors on Target Position Precision in RFSS,
Journal of Spacecraft TT&C Technology, vol. 26(2), 2007, pp.60-62.
[5] Li Ping, Wei Gao, Li Nanjing et al, An Improves Calibration Method
for Target Positioning in RFSS, Computer Simulation, vol. 23(4),
2006, pp.314-316.

[6] Russell R F, Massey S. Radio frequency system simulator,

Fig 7. Flow chart of iterative algorithm

IV.

PAPER, 1972, pp.72-861.

CONCLUTIONS

Data of devices we used was gotten after they warmed

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