Adaptive Beamforming With Variable Adaptation Rates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current adaptive beamforming methods require high computational resources and can compromise signal processing quality due to excessive computing load, even when using lower adaptation rates to reduce this load.

Innovation Solution

The method adjusts the adaptation rate of filter coefficients based on the power and frequency distribution of detected signals, applying higher rates to areas with significant signal power or frequency and lower rates to less significant areas, allowing for adaptive to deterministic transitions to minimize computational effort while maintaining performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a high adaptation rate is used for all beams and frequency channels, then the quality of coefficient adaptation is improved, but the computing load becomes excessively high

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequality of coefficient adaptationVSAvoidcomputing load
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different adaptation rates to different spatial and spectral regions based on local signal characteristics. Regions with significant signal power or interference undergo frequent adaptation, while quiet regions use lower adaptation rates or deterministic approaches, optimizing the trade-off between adaptation quality and computational load locally rather than uniformly across all channels

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The adaptation rate is made dynamic and adaptive rather than fixed. The system continuously monitors signal power and spectral content, adjusting the adaptation rate in real-time according to environmental conditions. This allows the system to use high adaptation rates only when and where necessary, reducing overall computational burden while maintaining performance when needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Power

If the adaptation rate is reduced to lower computing load, then the computing effort is reduced, but the quality of signal processing may suffer

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomputing effortVSAvoidsignal processing quality
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the reception panorama receive different levels of adaptation based on their local signal characteristics. High-priority regions maintain high adaptation rates to preserve signal processing quality, while low-priority regions use reduced adaptation rates, ensuring quality is maintained where it matters most

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the adaptation rate parameter dynamically based on signal conditions. When significant signals or interference are detected, the adaptation rate increases to maintain processing quality. When the environment is quiet, the rate decreases to reduce computing effort, thus adaptively maintaining quality while optimizing resource usage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If a uniform adaptation rate is applied to all receivers, then the system is simpler to implement, but it cannot optimize computational resources based on signal distribution

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem implementation complexityVSAvoidcomputational efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The reception panorama is segmented into multiple regions based on signal power and spectral characteristics. Each segment is assigned an appropriate adaptation rate based on its specific requirements, allowing the system to optimize computational resources for each region independently rather than using a single uniform rate for all receivers

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements local quality control by assigning different adaptation rates to different spatial and spectral regions. This allows computational resources to be concentrated on regions with significant signals or interference while using fewer resources in quiet regions, improving overall computational efficiency without significantly increasing system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4124064B1Adaptive beamforming method and apparatus
Publication Date: 2023.11.29 ELAC SONAR GMBH
  • EP4124064B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

A method for adaptive beamforming at least one acoustic signal acquired by an array formed from a plurality of receivers at a predetermined sampling rate and a predetermined block size, using adaptive filter coefficients that update according to a predetermined adaptation rate, wherein the adaptation rate of each receiver depends on the power and/or the frequency of the signal acquired by the respective receiver, comprising the steps of: determining the mean signal power of the received panorama of signals received by the receivers of the array, applying a predetermined adaptation rate to those sub-regions of the received panorama whose acquired signal has a signal power equal to or greater than the mean signal power, wherein the predetermined adaptation rate has a higher frequency than the adaptation rate of those sub-regions of the received panorama.whose detected signal has a lower signal power than the average signal power.