Wideband Signal Processing Apparatus for Low-Frequency Directivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing techniques fail to achieve sufficient directivity for low-frequency signals and incur increased costs and array size due to the need for more sensors and wider intervals in wide frequency bands.
Innovation Solution
A signal processing apparatus comprising a direction estimator, gain calculators, and integrators/multipliers that utilize direction of arrival and phase differences to enhance or suppress signals across a wide frequency band without increasing the sensor array size, by calculating gains based on DOA and phase differences to integrate and process signals from multiple sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a narrow sensor interval is used, then cost is reduced, but directivity for low-frequency signals cannot be formed sufficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of sensor interval from narrow to wide specifically for low-frequency signal processing. By setting a wide sensor interval for low-frequency bands, the system can form sufficient directivity while maintaining a reasonable overall array size for high-frequency processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the frequency band into low-frequency and high-frequency portions, and applies different sensor intervals for each segment. This allows the system to optimize for low-frequency directivity without compromising high-frequency performance, effectively resolving the contradiction between sensor interval width and directivity formation.
2Measurement precision
If a wide sensor interval is used, then directivity for low-frequency signals is improved, but array size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically changes the sensor interval parameter based on the frequency band being processed. For low-frequency signals, a wide interval is applied to achieve sufficient directivity, while for high-frequency signals, a narrower interval is used to maintain compact array size.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the effective sensor interval according to the processing frequency band. This dynamic adaptation allows the array to achieve large effective aperture for low-frequency directivity formation while maintaining a physically compact structure for high-frequency operations.
3Measurement precision
If the number of sensors is increased, then directivity is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the spatial parameter (sensor interval) rather than increasing the quantity of sensors. By adjusting the interval between existing sensors, the system achieves sufficient directivity for low-frequency signals without adding more sensors, thereby controlling cost.
4Adaptability or versatility
If different arrays with different sensor intervals are used for different frequency bands, then signal processing across wide frequency band is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes a single sensor array multi-functional by enabling it to operate with different effective intervals for different frequency bands. This universal approach allows the same physical array to process both low-frequency and high-frequency signals optimally without requiring separate dedicated arrays.
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 uniform enhancement or suppression of signals across a wide frequency band without expanding the sensor array, maintaining consistent beam or null width, thus effectively processing wideband signals with reduced complexity and cost.
Implementation Method 1
directivity is formed using a phase difference between signals based on a difference in spatial position between a plurality of sensors
Data Source
AI summary
A wideband signal is enhanced or suppressed to the same extent at each frequency without increasing the size of an overall sensor array. To achieve this, there is provided a signal processing apparatus including a direction estimator that obtains a direction of arrival of a signal for signals received from a plurality of sensors and each containing a target signal and noise, a first gain calculator that calculates a first gain using the direction of arrival of the signal, an integrator that obtains an integrated signal by integrating the signals received from the plurality of sensors, and a multiplier that multiplies the first gain by the integrated signal.