Accuracy analysis for off-line array calibration

Practical sensor arrays are characterized by certain parameters, related to the array shape and its electrical properties. Accurate direction finding requires calibration of these parameters to a relatively high accuracy. Off-line calibration of the array parameters is performed by transmitting signals from known locations and measuring the array response. This paper relates the parameter estimation accuracy achieved in off-line calibration to the direction-of-arrival errors during on-line operation. It then proposes a criterion for choosing the off-line calibration points so as to meet on-line accuracy requirements.