Adaptive Complex-Coefficient 2D FIR Trapezoidal Filters for Broadband Beamforming in Cognitive Radio Systems

A novel design method is proposed for an adaptive discrete-domain beamformer for the beamforming of temporally broadband-bandpass signals in cognitive radio (CR) systems. The method is based on a complex-coefficient 2D finite impulse response (FIR) filter having a trapezoidal-shaped passband. The temporally broadband-bandpass signals are received by a 1D uniformly distributed antenna array (1D UDAA), where the outputs of the antennas are complex-quadrature sampled by the front end of the CR system. This CR system is based on a software defined radio (SDR) architecture and can be instantly reconfigured by the control system to select the appropriate frequency band and the required sampling rate. The subsequent beamforming enhances the spectral components of the desired temporally broadband-bandpass signals by arranging for the asymmetric trapezoidal-shaped passband of the 2D filter transfer function to closely enclose the region of support (ROS) of the spectrum of the desired signal, whereas the ROSs of the spectral components of the interfering signals are enclosed by the stopband. The proposed novel closed-form design method facilitates instant adaptation of the shape and orientation of the passband of the beamforming 2D FIR trapezoidal filter in order to match the time-varying frequency band and the time-varying bandwidth of the signal, as well as to track and enhance received signals with time-varying directions of arrival (DOAs). Simulated results confirm that, compared with previously reported methods, the proposed method achieves the best overall tradeoff with respect to the instantaneous adaptations of the operating frequency band, the bandwidth, and the time-varying DOAs, the distortion of the desired passband signal, and the stopband attenuation of interfering signals.