A broadcast-reference self-survey technique for cohering of flexing arrays

A technique is proposed for locating the elements of a flexible phased array. The system requires several beacons of known position. The system measures the phase, relative to a broadcast reference, of each beacon signal at each element. Automatic calibration of the differential signal delays in the array elements is included in the self survey. The process is repeated as necessary to compensate for array flexing. The technique permits self-cohering of arrays which are large enough to make the use of cabled reference signals impractical. The effects on array beam formation of beacon position errors and of phase measurement errors (owing to multipath) are predicted.