Beamforming experiment with a DBF multibeam antenna in a mobilesatellite environment

This paper describes a digital beamforming (DBF) multibeam antenna that incorporates a compact digital signal processor (DSP) engine, and the results of using it in a beamforming experiment receiving a satellite signal in a land-mobile environment. A considerable reduction in the scale of the DSP engine has been achieved by using field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). To capture a satellite signal arriving from an unknown direction, a two-dimensional (2-D) spatial FFT signal processing provides orthogonal multibeam patterns on the broad side of a planar array antenna. The experimental results demonstrated the features of coarse acquisition and tracking of a signal arrival by selecting the strongest of the beams without assistance from direction finding sensors or microwave phase shifters. The DBF multibeam antenna will provide high-quality communications and increase traffic capacity if it is applied to high-gain mobile antennas or multispot-beam base station antennas in cellular or satellite mobile communications     

Spatial polarimetric time-frequency distributions for direction-of-arrival estimations

Time-frequency distributions (TFDs) are traditionally applied to a single antenna receiver with a single polarization. Recently, spatial time-frequency distributions (STFDs) have been developed for receivers with multiple single-polarized antennas and successfully applied for direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation of nonstationary signals. In this paper, we consider dual-polarized antenna arrays and extend the STFD to utilize the source polarization properties. The spatial polarimetric time-frequency distributions (SPTFDs) are introduced as a platform for processing polarized nonstationary signals, which are received by an array of dual-polarized double-feed antennas. This paper deals with narrow-band far-field point sources that lie in the plane of the receiver array. The source signals are decomposed into two orthogonal polarization components, such as vertical and horizontal. The ability to incorporate signal polarization empowers the STFDs with an additional degree of freedom, leading to improved signal and noise subspace estimates for direction finding. The polarimetric time-frequency MUSIC (PTF-MUSIC) method for DOA estimation based on the SPTFD platform is developed and shown to outperform the time-frequency, polarimetric, and conventional MUSIC techniques, when applied separately.     

基于菲涅尔区修正结构的多波束自适应天线

菲涅尔区相位修正结构具有类似于二次曲面的聚焦特性和更好的偏轴扫描特性,将该结构与馈源阵列相组合,并通过用改进的ＬＭＳ算法对馈源阵列输出的自适应信号处理,实现了对来波方向的估计和数字波束形成,从而构成了一类新型的多波束自适应天线。计算机模拟的有关结果证实了其可行性。     

Performance of Beamspace Transmit Diversity Technique in Two Beam Rayleigh Fading Channels

Many theories of exploiting spatial diversity in wireless communications and more recently space-time coding are results of understanding the spatial channel models for antenna array communication systems. For example, the models for rich scattering environments assume the channel coefficients to be almost independent when the spacing between the antennas is sufficient. This could limit the possibility of extracting direction of the signal propagation with respect to antenna locations (G. Xu et al., IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing, Vol. 42, No. 2, pp. 349–355, 1994). On the other hand, when the scattering is limited to few dominant reflectors, the directions of the signals traveling through the environment can prevail in the channel coefficients. Extracting the propagation direction (beam direction) information from the channel coefficients has been investigated extensively in array signal processing literature. These investigations have led to many algorithms of direction of arrival (DOA) estimation and beamforming. Here, we propose a transmit diversity technique that exploits beam directions in environments with few beam directions. While we present this technique for two-beam Rayleigh fading channels (J.E. Mazo, IEEE Transaction on Communication, Vol. 39, No. 7, pp. 1027–1030, 1991), it can be easily extended to multibeam general fading channels. The proposed method does not require feedback from the receiver.     

基于L型阵列的MUSIC二维估计算法研究

阵列信号处理利用天线阵列接收空间信号,阵列输出的信号比单个天线输出的信号包含更多的信息,有利于时差、相差和到达角等信息的提取,因此在通信、雷达和电子对抗等领域得到广泛应用。空间谱估计是阵列信号处理的一个重要的研究方向,克服了传统的基于常规波束形成方法的"瑞利限"问题,具有多信号同时测向能力、测向精度高、超分辨能力等等,因此多信号多参量估计已成为许多研究课题的重要研究内容。     

Prediction of the space-frequency correlation function for basestation diversity reception

A model is proposed to estimate the signal statistics for urban-area base stations with highly elevated antennas. Based on the model, the envelope correlation of the received signal is estimated in the case of hybrid space-frequency diversity reception at the base. It is shown that the spatial correlation or the complex signals is determined of the mean angle of arrival and the width of the incoming beam. Useful closed-form approximations for inline and broadside antenna orientations are obtained. Comparisons between the theoretical model and available experimental data provide adequate justification for the model. It is shown that the lowest spatial correlations among all the possible angular orientations an obtained when the mean direction of the incoming signals is perpendicular to the axis of the base antennas. For this case, an antenna separation of 26λ is required to achieve an envelope correlation of 0.7 when the width of the incoming beam is 0.7°, and this separation reduces to 9λ for a width of 3°. The results indicate that the required spacings can be further reduced by using frequency diversity in conjunction with space diversity. Generalization of the model to incorporate local scattering effects is also proposed     

Angle-of-arrival statistics for low resolution antennas

In a scattering environment, the propagation paths to a receiving antenna arrive from a certain angular spread of directions. For a low-resolution antenna, an apparent direction of arrival may be defined as the azimuth direction of maximum power. A small array is used as the antenna and the spatial derivative of the phase along the array axis is taken as a measure of the sine of the apparent angle of arrival. The sine of the angle is shown to be Student's t-distributed and from this result the PDF and power spectrum of the angle-of-arrival is determined. The distributions are compared with experimental results for indoor as well as for outdoor measurements     

A new spatio-temporal equalization method based on estimatedchannel response

This paper proposes a new spatio-temporal equalization method, which simultaneously utilizes an adaptive antenna array and a decision feedback equalizer (DFE). For effective spatio-temporal equalization with less computational cost, how to split equalization functionality into spatial processing, and temporal processing is quite important. One of the answers which we have given is “incoming signals with larger time delays should be cancelled at the spatial equalization part.” The weights of both adaptive antenna array elements and taps of DFE are calculated only using the estimated channel impulse response, therefore, it requires no information on direction of arrival (DoA). We show the performance of the proposed system in multipath fading channels often encountered in indoor wireless environments and discuss the attainable bit error rate (BER), antenna patterns, and the computational complexity in comparison with other equalization methods such as spatial equalization and temporal equalization     

一种新型自适应天线的空间谱估计性能分析

利用菲涅尔区相位修正聚焦结构和馈源阵列构成一种新型的多波束自适应天线。本文深入分析了基于该天线的阵列输出特性，与基于均匀线形阵的空间谱估计技术比较的基础上，揭示了其良好的去相关性能。最后应用极大似然估计算法实现了相干信号源在大角度入射的情形下，菲涅尔平板天线对来波方向的有效估计，从而避免了应用MUSIC算法进行来波方向估计时所遇到的观察区域的限制问题。仿真计算的结果表明菲涅尔平板天线良好的空间谱估计性能。     

基于电磁矢量传感器的MIMO天线阵列系统研究

将电磁矢量传感器(EVS,electromagnetic vetor sensor)信号处理法与传统MIMO信号处理有机地结合,建立了基于EVS的多天线三维信道模型。采用多重信号分类(MUSIC,multiple signal classification)算法对MIMO的达波信号方向(DOA,direction of arrival)进行空间谱估计,导出基于EVS的三维空间信道解析式,阐明了EVS信号处理与MIMO多径信道相关性的关系。与传统标量传感器阵列(SSA,scalar sensor array)MIMO天线阵列比较,EVS阵列能获取达波信号的多维极化信息,同时具有空间域和极化信号处理能力。因此可缓解空间多径信道相关性,使空间极化分量的相关性趋于零值,而且使MIMO系统性能受空间结构的影响较小。理论分析和仿真结果表明在提高MIMO天线系统性能上,基于EVS阵列的系统比SSA系统具有更高的优越性。     

卫星多波束测向技术

对于星载设备,接收信号大多十分微弱,利用多波束馈源阵列可以实现高增益接收,同时比较相邻波束收到信号能量,再结合每个馈源指向,确定出来波信号方向。由于多波束比幅测向技术具有处理简单,测向精度较高等优点,适合于星载测向设备。     

Subspace Smoothing for Direction of Arrival Estimation in DS-CDMA Systems

In this paper a subspace processing method is introduced that can be used for direction of arrival estimation of coherent signals in an asynchronous DS-CDMA system. Conventional methods of direction of arrival estimation are not directly applicable to the case of multiple coherent signals that impinge on an antenna array from different directions. Some preprocessing is essential prior to estimation in this case. The proposed method exploits the spreading code and the path delays of the desired user to eliminate the contribution of undesired paths in the signal subspace. To this end, the signal subspace is mapped to a new subspace which contains the spatial-temporal signature of the desired signal. Once the desired subspace is created, conventional methods such as MUSIC and ESPRIT can be employed to estimate the desired directions of arrival. It is proved that the obtained direction of arrival estimator, based on the proposed method, is consistent. Also, the estimation performance is evaluated by comparing the proposed method with conventional estimation methods.     

基于MUSIC算法对相干信号DOA估计的研究

空间谱估计是阵列信号处理中的一个重要研究课题。针对经典MUSIC算法在入射源相关的情况下测向失败的问题,通过前后向空间平滑MUSIC算法,利用子阵平滑恢复数据协方差矩阵的原理进行解相干,进而对入射源的波达方向（DOA）进行估计。仿真结果证明：前后向空间平滑算法不仅能估计出空间相互独立信号源的波达方向,还能有效分辨出相干信源的到达角度,且具有较高的分辨能力和估计精度。     

Spectral self-coherence restoral: a new approach to blind adaptivesignal extraction using antenna arrays

A new approach to blind adaptive signal extraction using narrowband antenna arrays is presented. The approach has the capability to extract communication signals from cochannel interference environments using only known spectral correlation properties of those signals, i.e. without using knowledge of the content or direction of arrival of the transmitted signal, or the array manifold or background noise covariance of the receiver, to train the antenna array. The class of spectral self-coherence restoral (SCORE) objective functions is introduced, and algorithms for adapting antenna arrays to optimize these objective functions are developed. Using the theory of spectral correlation, it is shown by analysis and simulation that these algorithms maximize the signal-to-interference-and-noise ratio at the output of the narrowband antenna array when a single communication signal with spectral self-coherence at a known value of frequency separation, along with an arbitrary number of interferers without spectral self-coherence at that frequency separation, are impinging on the array     

Convergence analysis of a CM array for CDMA systems

The incorporation of directional sensitivity, provided by so-called adaptive antennas is useful in suppressing interfering signals that arise from spatially distinct mobile sources. The problem is that in a cellular radio environment where multipath exists, the standard adaptive antenna using reference signals may not properly lock on the desired signal. This is because the signal correlation matrix processed by the antenna may then be close to singular and standard algorithms fail. Also, most standard algorithms need to cooperate with the receiver for the spatial discrimination of signals. A smart antenna utilizing a blind algorithm is of interest since the antenna may not need to get any feedback from a receiver for the adjustment of weight coefficient for spatial processing and can stand alone to be plugged into any kind of receiver structure.In this paper, we address the convergence property of a Constant Modulus Algorithm which is a blind algorithm and, if employed, can provide no need for an antenna to cooperate with a receiver attached. By identifying a relationship between the weight coefficients and output signal amplitude, we also evaluate the performance of such a stand-alone antenna plus a CDMA matched filter reception. Our results show that for a three element CM array, the BER of a desired user with the other interfering users is much better than a conventional correlation receiver for a single user case since the array suppresses interferences and achieves array gain in SNR.     

Direction of arrival estimation based on temporal and spatial processing using a direct data domain (D/sup 3/) approach

The purpose of this paper is to estimate the direction of arrival (DOA) of the signal of interest (SOI) in the presence of both coherent and noncoherent interferences and multipath components utilizing a combined temporal and spatial processing technique based on a direct data domain approach. The concept of cyclostationarity, which deals with the temporal information of the SOI, is used to extract signals having the same cycle frequency and out the co-channel interferences and additive noise. Hence, the signal detection capability can be significantly increased over conventional filtering when the length of the data record is limited. The main contribution of the paper is that by combining temporal and spatial processing based on a direct data domain approach one can handle number of signals along with their various coherent and noncoherent multipaths and interferences which can exceed the number of antenna elements. Hence, this methodology may be advantageous over conventional spatial processing when the number of degrees of freedom can never exceed the number of antenna elements in the array. However, the number of multipaths and interferers at the same cycle frequency has to be less than approximately 66 % of the antenna elements. Since we do not form a covariance matrix of the data, this method is quite suitable for short data lengths or when the environment is quite dynamic. Hence, in the proposed algorithm, while the estimation of the cyclic array covariance matrix is avoided, we develop a new matrix form using extremely short data samples. As a result, the computational load in the proposed approach is relatively reduced and the robustness of the estimation of SOI is significantly improved when the number of available snapshots is extremely limited. Numerical results are presented to illustrate the efficiency and accuracy of this method.     

Beam scan using the quasi-optical antenna mixer array

The quasi-optical antenna mixer system transforms an RF signal into an intermediate frequency signal just after it spatially receives the RF signal and the local oscillator's (LO) signal. In this paper, we present a novel beam scanning system using the quasi-optical antenna mixer array and describe its principle of operation and the experimental results in the microwave band. The arrival direction of RF signals can be controlled by adjusting the LO incident angle and/or the LO frequency without implementing RF circuits such as phase shifters. Therefore, the novel beam-scanning system has no loss due to RF circuits and can be easily designed because of its simple composition     

基于斜投影的DOA估计和盲信号识别协同算法

阵列信号处理领域中,经常需要分析阵列接收信号的波达方向(DOA)和波形信息。在缺乏信号先验DOA和波形信息的情况下,提出了一种新的斜投影DOA估计和盲信号识别协同算法,实现对未知阵列接收信号的自适应分析。该算法交替地采用斜投影空域滤波技术将阵列接收信号拆分为单信号群组,在每个单信号群组内进行DOA和波形联合估计。算法适用于主瓣干扰存在的情况,并且在中小快拍数下有较好的估计性能。理论分析和仿真实验证实了文中算法的有效性。     

超宽带阵列天线的接收波束形成研究

针对超宽带接收波束形成问题,提出了一种基于延迟线(tapped delay line)网络结构阵列信号处理方法,应用这种方法修正各路信号,最后对齐信号合成输出。详细分析了基于延迟线的数字波束形成原理,研究了该方法对空间信号的接收性能,并通过仿真验证了这种方法的可行性。分析了阵列天线参数的选取及方向图出现栅瓣的情况。这种方法处理阵列信号简单实用,易于工程实现。     

High-accuracy direction finding in multipath environment with short-wave antenna arrays comprising a small number of elements

A method for short-wave multipath direction finding is considered. The method allows high-accuracy determination of the directions of arrival and the amplitudes of a priori unknown arriving signals through the use of an antenna array comprising a small number of independent receiving elements with narrow-bandwidth filters placed at their inputs. An algorithm based on eigenvector decomposition of the correlation matrix of the complex signals arriving at the inputs of the radiating elements in each subband; separation of the eigenvectors into signal vectors and noise vectors; determination of the receiving-antenna eigenpatterns from the obtained vectors; and substantiation of the functional equation that allows, with the antenna eigenpatterns taken into account, the signals’ amplitudes and angles of arrival of the signals to be determined, is proposed. The results of a numerical simulation, which confirm the high accuracy of direction finding by the proposed method, are presented.