Antenna Array Sub-Array Beamforming Weight Computation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The computational load required to synchronize signals with large adaptive antenna arrays becomes impractically high, limiting the effective use of directional communication systems due to exponential increases in correlator requirements, making it difficult to achieve the gain and directionality benefits of larger arrays.
Innovation Solution
The method involves selecting a sub-array of antenna elements to correlate incoming signals, estimate the direction of arrival, and compute weights for the antenna array, thereby reducing computational complexity and achieving directional communication benefits with a smaller array.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the size and number of elements in the antenna array are increased to obtain more gain and narrower beam width, then the directional communication performance is improved, but the computational load to find sync increases exponentially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the large antenna array into multiple smaller sub-arrays, where each sub-array independently performs correlation and synchronization operations. This segmentation reduces the computational complexity from exponential O(N²) for a full N×N array to linear O(N) by processing N sub-arrays of size 1×N, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining directional performance and reducing computational burden.
2Reliability
If a large antenna array is used to achieve higher gain and narrower beam width, then the quality of service is improved, but the number of correlators required becomes impractically high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the correlation function from the traditional full-array approach and relocates it to individual sub-arrays. Each sub-array element independently correlates with the pilot signal, eliminating the need for N² correlators in a N×N array. This extraction reduces the correlator quantity from impractically high to manageable levels while preserving the ability to achieve high gain through coherent combining at the processor.
3Power
If the number of antenna elements is increased to provide directional communication benefits, then the gain in desired direction is improved, but the computational complexity makes the system unpractical
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the antenna array into N sub-arrays, where each sub-array maintains the directional sensitivity benefits of the full array but performs computationally simple correlation operations. The processed outputs from all sub-arrays are then coherently combined to achieve the full array's gain in the desired direction, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining high power gain and reducing computational complexity to practical levels.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of determining the size of a sub-array for an antenna array is described. The method includes choosing a number of elements of a sub-array of antenna elements. Further, the method includes determining a direction of arrival of the signal using data from the sub-array. The method also includes computing weights for the antenna array. Further still, the method includes determining whether the size of the sub-array meets a predetermined criteria.