Adaptive Array Antenna Synthetic Reception Pattern Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for measuring the performance indices of adaptive array antenna systems, such as null depth, null width, and satellite blind ratio, are inefficient and require extensive resources, lacking repeatability and unable to evaluate each component's contribution to the system's performance.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that simulate the directions of arrival of jamming signals and test signals using phase differences between antenna elements, allowing for the measurement of synthetic reception patterns in an indoor environment without additional hardware, enabling the evaluation of null depth, null width, and satellite blind ratio for each component of the array antenna system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional performance measurement methods using fixed reception pattern antenna are used, then measurement can be conducted, but repeatability cannot be secured and extensive preparation and calibration time is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a signal generator to create simulated jamming signals that replicate the characteristics of actual GNSS interference. Instead of requiring physical calibration with real jamming sources, the system copies the essential features of interference signals digitally, enabling repeatable measurements without extensive physical setup and calibration procedures.
2Reliability
If anechoic chamber with multi-channel satellite simulator is used to ensure repeatability, then measurement repeatability is improved, but expensive equipment and lot of measurement time are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential measurement functionality from the complex anechoic chamber environment. By using a signal generator to produce simulated jamming signals and a vector network analyzer to measure reception patterns, the system separates the core measurement task from the expensive infrastructure, achieving repeatability through digital signal simulation rather than physical environmental control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical measurement system (anechoic chamber with real satellite simulators) with an electronic/digital system. Instead of physically positioning satellites and controlling electromagnetic environments, the invention uses software-generated signals and digital signal processing to simulate jamming conditions, substituting complex physical infrastructure with computationally-based solutions.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If adaptive nulling processing is applied to decrease jamming signals, then null depth is improved, but satellite blind ratio increases due to side effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies adaptive nulling processing selectively only in the directions where jamming signals are detected, rather than applying uniform signal suppression across all directions. By targeting the nulling effect precisely at jamming sources while leaving other directions unaffected, the system achieves effective jamming suppression without unnecessarily blocking satellite signals from other directions, thus reducing the satellite blind ratio.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables high-repeatability measurement of performance indices for adaptive array antenna systems, reducing costs and measurement effort while analyzing the influence of each component on the system's performance, facilitating indoor testing without the need for expensive equipment.
Implementation Method 1
a wavefront simulator for simulating directions of arrival (DoA) of a jamming signal and test signals using phase differences between outputs of multiple antenna elements
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for measuring the synthetic reception pattern of an adaptive array antenna, which are divided into a hardware apparatus and a measurement method. The hardware apparatus includes a wavefront simulator, a GNSS simulator, an external controller, a signal measurement unit, and a GNSS receiver. The measurement method using the hardware apparatus includes setting a direction of arrival of jamming and calculating a weight vector, fixing weight vectors at the calculated weight vector and collecting outputs of an array antenna system for all test signals, and displaying the collected data on a grid of a 2D plane. In accordance with the present invention, a weight vector calculated under a specific jamming situation is maintained for all test signals, so that the synthetic reception pattern of the array antenna system can be measured.