Digital Beamforming Receiver Phase Shifts for Correlated Interference
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multi-channel receiver systems face challenges in reducing correlated interference signals, which are amplified in the main reception direction, degrading signal-to-noise ratio and interfering with the desired signal.
Innovation Solution
Introducing a defined phase shift into individual reception channels to pre-shape the directional characteristic of the multi-channel receiver system, causing correlated interference signals to superimpose destructively in the main reception direction while constructively in other directions, thereby reducing interference and utilizing this effect to correct a guard channel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If digital beamforming is used to enhance signal reception in the main direction, then signal-to-noise ratio is improved, but correlated interference signals are amplified along with the desired signal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by introducing phase shifts into individual receiving channels before the digital beamforming process. This pre-shaping of the directional characteristic causes correlated interference signals to superimpose destructively in the main reception direction, reducing them before they can be amplified by the beamforming summation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of correlated interference into a beneficial outcome by exploiting their correlated nature. By introducing specific phase shifts, the interference signals that would normally constructively superimpose are made to destructively superimpose, transforming them from a harmful factor into a mechanism for interference reduction.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If phase shifts are introduced to reduce correlated interference, then interference signals are suppressed in the main reception direction, but they are amplified in other directions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the interference reduction function into a separate processing step. By calculating the interference component in a guard channel and subtracting it from the main channel signal, the harmful interference is separated and removed, allowing the main reception direction to benefit from interference suppression without suffering from the amplification effect in other directions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback by using the guard channel to monitor and detect interference signals, then feeding this information back to correct the main reception channels. The interference measured in the guard channel is used to compute correction terms that are applied to eliminate interference in the main reception direction.
3Adaptability or versatility
If receiving units are arranged in arrays with half-wavelength spacing, then wide-angle reception characteristic is achieved, but correlated noise from crosstalk couples into all channels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by introducing phase shifts into individual receiving channels before the digital beamforming process. This pre-shaping of the directional characteristic causes correlated interference signals to superimpose destructively in the main reception direction, reducing them before they can be amplified by the beamforming summation.
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
Effectively suppresses correlated interference signals in the main reception direction while amplifying them in a less critical direction, improving signal-to-noise ratio and enabling interference cancellation in guard channels.
Implementation Method 1
Introducing a defined phase shift into individual receiving channels between the receiving unit and the receiver
Implementation Method 2
The digitized signals are computationally superimposed, with prefactors influencing the amplitude and phase of the individual channels
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for reducing interference signals present in a correlated manner in the reception channels of a multi-channel receiver system, in which - the reception channels of the multi-channel receiver system each comprise a reception unit, a receiver and an analog/digital converter, and - the multi-channel receiver system for carrying out a digital Beamforming is set up on the basis of the signals received and digitized in the individual reception channels, and - the multi-channel receiver system has a defined directional characteristic with a main reception direction of greatest sensitivity after the application of digital beamforming, with a targeted pre-shaping of the directional characteristic of the multi-channel receiver system (1) is made in another reception area, which does not correspond to the aforementioned main reception direction of the multi-channel receiver system (1), by introducing defined phase shifts in the individual reception channels between receiving unit (61) and receiver (40), the phase shifts being selected in such a way that when the pre-shaping carried out is reversed in the subsequent digital beamforming, the correlated interference signals (30) of the individual receiving channels in the main receiving direction are superimposed in a maximally destructive manner. A corresponding device is also part of the patent application.