Research in large adaptive antenna arrays

The feasibility of microwave holographic imaging of targets near the earth using a large random conformal array on the earth's surface and illumination by a CW source on a geostationary satellite is investigated. A geometrical formulation for the illuminator-target-array relationship is applied to the calculation of signal levels resulting from L-band illumination supplied by a satellite similar to ATS-6. The relations between direct and reflected signals are analyzed and the composite resultant signal seen at each antenna element is described. Processing techniques for developing directional beam formation as well as SNR enhancement are developed. The angular resolution and focusing characteristics of a large array covering an approximately circular area on the ground are determined. The necessary relations are developed between the achievable SNR and the size and number of elements in the array. Numerical results are presented for possible air traffic surveillance system. Finally, a simple phase correlation experiment is defined that can establish how large an array may be constructed

Performance evaluation of directional antenna-assisted MAC protocols in the presence of mobility

Adaptive antenna arrays, access conttol protocols, user mobility, location caching, multiple transceiversPostprint (published version

Adaptive antenna arrays for satellite communications: Design and testing

When two separate antennas are used with each feedback loop to decorrelate noise, the antennas should be located such that the phase of the interfering signal in the two antennas is the same while the noise in them is uncorrelated. Thus, the antenna patterns and spatial distribution of the auxiliary antennas are quite important and should be carefully selected. The selection and spatial distribution of auxiliary elements is discussed when the main antenna is a center fed reflector antenna. It is shown that offset feeds of the reflector antenna can be used as auxiliary elements of an adaptive array to suppress weak interfering signals. An experimental system is designed to verify the theoretical analysis. The details of the experimental systems are presented

Vectorial channel estimation for uplink MC-CDMA in beyond 3G wireless systems

In beyond 3G wireless systems the bandwidth efficiency can be increased with the use of adaptive antenna arrays. This paper focus on a key issue for adaptive antenna arrays, that is, channel parameters estimation including Direction-Of-Arrival (DOA). In order to estimate DOA. the channel frequency responses for the links between the mobile users and each of base station array elements are estimated by pilot-aided minimum mean square error (MMSE) algorithm. This estimator is not sensitive to the channel statistics. Based on frequency response estimatives DOA's of impinging multipath components to the base station are estimated by a low complex Wlauimuni Likelihood (ML) approach. Furthermore an uplink burst structure with specifically designed midamble field for multiuser channel estimation in MC-CDMA is proposed. The performance is assessed in terms of channel estimation errors for a MC-CDMA TDD system over fast and slow fading mobile channels

Adaptive antenna arrays for weak interfering signals

The interference protection provided by adaptive antenna arrays to an Earth station or satellite receive antenna system is studied. The case where the interference is caused by the transmission from adjacent satellites or Earth stations whose signals inadverently enter the receiving system and interfere with the communication link is considered. Thus, the interfering signals are very weak. To increase the interference suppression, one can either decrease the thermal noise in the feedback loops or increase the gain of the auxiliary antennas in the interfering signal direction. Both methods are examined. It is shown that one may have to reduce the noise correlation to impractically low values and if directive auxiliary antennas are used, the auxiliary antenna size may have to be too large. One can, however, combine the two methods to achieve the specified interference suppression with reasonable requirements of noise decorrelation and auxiliary antenna size. Effects of the errors in the steering vector on the adaptive array performance are studied

Loosely Synchronised Spreading Code Aided Network Performance of Quasi-Synchronous UTRA-like TDD and FDD CDMA Systems

It is demonstrated that loosely synchronised (LS) spreading codes exhibit a so-called interference-free window, where both the autocorrelation and cross-correlation of the codes become zero. Therefore LS codes have the promise of mitigating the effects of both inter-symbolinterference and multiple-access-interference in time dispersive channels. Hence, LS codes have the potential of increasing the capacity of CDMA networks. The work reported has studied the achievable network performance and compared it to that of a UTRA-like time division duplex (TDD) and frequency division duplex (FDD) CDMA system using orthogonal variable rate spreading factor codes

Adaptive Antenna Array Assisted Dynamic Channel Allocation Techniques

Abstract—The performance of base station adaptive antenna arrays (AAAs) is investigated in conjunction with fixed channel allocation (FCA) and dynamic channel allocation (DCA) schemes. Locally distributed DCAarrangements are studied and benchmarked against standard FCA, in the context of both line-of-sight (LOS) and multipath propagation environments. One-, two-, four-, and eight-element AAAs are employed using the sample matrix inversion (SMI) beamforming algorithm, in both the up- and the down-link. In most investigated scenarios, the locally optimized least interference algorithm (LOLIA) exhibited the best overall compromise in terms of a set of combined metrics, such as the forced termination probability, new call blocking probability, and the probability of a low quality access. Index Terms—Adaptive antennas, adaptive array, beamforming, dynamic channel allocation (DCA), network capacity, wireless networks

Steered Beam Adaptive Antenna Arrays

In this chapter, the performance of steered beam adaptive arrays is presented with its corresponding analytical expressions. Computer simulations are used to illustrate the performance of the array under various operating conditions. In this chapter, we ignore the presence of mutual coupling between the array elements. The principal system elements of the adaptive array consist of an array of sensors (antennas), a pattern-forming network, and an adaptive pattern control unit or adaptive processor that adjusts the variable weights in the pattern-forming network. The adaptive pattern control unit may furthermore be conveniently subdivided into a signal processor unit and an adaptive control algorithm. The manner in which these elements are actually implemented depends on the propagation medium in which the array is to operate, the frequency spectrum of interest, and the user’s knowledge of the operational signal environment

A new blind adaptive antenna array for GNSS interference cancellation

This paper introduces a new blind adaptive antenna array as a possible solution to the interference cancellation problem. This new technique is compared to three classical ones over two different sensor radiation patterns. Special attention is paid to the array compatibility with a conventional GNSS receiver. A wide radiation pattern sensor is shown to improve the positioning accuracy by maximizing the satellite constellation visibility. Finally, the new processor demonstrates its superiority in term of positioning accuracy in presence of strong interferences. However, its phase response may make it incompatible with classical GNSS receivers. Some efforts must be done to stabilize it