Digital Beam Forming Antenna Signal Processing Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current digital beam forming systems for mobile communications face challenges in maintaining high directivity, fast acquisition times, and high signal bandwidth while being cost-effective, especially in scenarios like Direct Broadcast Satellite TV where high data rates and signal bandwidths are required, leading to increased signal processing loads and costs.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a phased array antenna technique that allows simultaneous reception and tracking of multiple signals from different locations using a single antenna aperture, with advanced signal processing methods to determine the angle of arrival and reconstruct data streams, reducing signal processing computational load and system cost by separating angle sensing and beamsteering functions from coherent summation and executing them at optimized rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If adaptive array systems are used to steer nulls to signals not of interest, then signal selectivity is improved, but signal processing load and system cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the signal processing into two distinct parts: (1) angle sensing and beamsteering functions that operate at lower rates, and (2) coherent summation that operates at the full data rate. This segmentation reduces the overall signal processing load while maintaining signal selectivity through the beamsteering component.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the angle sensing and beamsteering functions from the main coherent summation process. By separating these functions and executing them at optimized lower rates, the system reduces the computational burden on the digital signal processor while preserving the ability to select desired signals and reject interferers.
2Speed
If high data sampling rates are used to support high signal bandwidth, then signal bandwidth capability is improved, but signal processing computational load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments processing functions to execute angle sensing and beamsteering at lower sampling rates rather than requiring full data rate processing. This allows the system to support high signal bandwidths while reducing the computational load by performing certain operations at optimized lower rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the sampling rate parameter for different processing functions. Angle sensing and beamsteering operate at lower sampling rates, while only the essential coherent summation maintains the full data rate, thereby reducing overall computational requirements while preserving bandwidth capability.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If numerous antenna elements are used to steer nulls to signals not of interest, then signal selectivity is improved, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the signal processing functionality, allowing angle sensing and beamsteering to be performed with fewer computational resources. This segmentation enables the system to achieve signal selectivity without requiring as many antenna elements, thereby reducing system cost while maintaining the ability to reject interferers.
4Speed
If fast acquisition and tracking mechanisms are implemented to maintain beam pointing on mobile platforms, then tracking speed is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments tracking functions into angle sensing (for fast acquisition and tracking) and coherent summation (for signal combination). The angle sensing portion can operate at lower rates and provides the fast tracking capability needed for mobile platforms, while reducing overall device complexity through functional separation.
Data Source
AI summary
An antenna-receiver communications system and method is provided to mechanize multibeam mobile antenna-receive subsystems. Digital beam forming for modern wideband mobile communications systems is provided. In an aspect, subsystems can simultaneously receive, acquire, track and output a multiplicity of signals from sources of different locations using a single antenna aperture from a mobile platform. The angle of arrival of a signal of interest is continuously determined. Individual phased array antenna output channels are phased aligned as required by the phased array equation and monopulse signal processing. Angle sensing and beamsteering are separated from antenna channel coherent summation. Thus, the angle sensing and beamsteering functions are not required to be computed at the data rate, but can instead be computed at a rate necessary for the beam acquisition and beam tracking function speed requirements. Signal processing computational load and system cost is reduced as compared to current systems.