Antenna array

About: Antenna array is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 26971 publications have been published within this topic receiving 356254 citations.

Adaptive antenna systems

Abstract: A system consisting of an antenna array and an adaptive processor can perform filtering in both the space and the frequency domains, thus reducing the sensitivity of the signal-receiving system to interfering directional noise sources. Variable weights of a signal processor can be automatically adjusted by a simple adaptive technique based on the least-mean-squares (LMS) algorithm. During the adaptive process an injected pilot signal simulates a received signal from a desired "look" direction. This allows the array to be "trained" so that its directivity pattern has a main lobe in the previously specified look direction. At the same time, the array processing system can reject any incident noises, whose directions of propagation are different from the desired look direction, by forming appropriate nulls in the antenna directivity pattern. The array adapts itself to form a main lobe, with its direction and bandwidth determined by the pilot signal, and to reject signals or noises occurring outside the main lobe as well as possible in the minimum mean-square error sense. Several examples illustrate the convergence of the LMS adaptation procedure toward the corresponding Wiener optimum solutions. Rates of adaptation and misadjustments of the solutions are predicted theoretically and checked experimentally. Substantial reductions in noise reception are demonstrated in computer-simulated experiments. The techniques described are applicable to signal-receiving arrays for use over a wide range of frequencies.

Advances in Particle Swarm Optimization for Antenna Designs: Real-Number, Binary, Single-Objective and Multiobjective Implementations

Abstract: The particle swarm optimization (PSO) is a recently developed evolutionary algorithm (EA) based on the swarm behavior in the nature. This paper presents recent advances in applying a versatile PSO engine to real-number, binary, single-objective and multiobjective optimizations for antenna designs, with a randomized Newtonian mechanics model developed to describe the swarm behavior. The design of aperiodic (nonuniform and thinned) antenna arrays is presented as an example for the application of the PSO engine. In particular, in order to achieve an improved peak sidelobe level (SLL), element positions in a nonuniform array are optimized by real-number PSO (RPSO). On the other hand, in a thinned array, the on/off state of each element is determined by binary PSO (BPSO). Optimizations for both nonuniform arrays and thinned arrays are also expanded to multiobjective cases. As a result, nondominated designs on the Pareto front enable one to achieve other design factors than the peak SLL. Optimized antenna arrays are compared with periodic arrays and previously presented aperiodic arrays. Selected designs fabricated and measured to validate the effectiveness of PSO in practical electromagnetic problems

Antenna selection for spatial multiplexing systems with linear receivers

Abstract: Future cellular systems will employ spatial multiplexing with multiple antennas at both the transmitter and receiver to take advantage of large capacity gains. In such systems it will be desirable to select a subset of available transmit antennas for link initialization, maintenance or handoff. We present a criterion for selecting the optimal antenna subset when linear, coherent receivers are used over a slowly varying channel. We propose use of the post-processing SNRs (signal to noise ratios) of the multiplexed streams whereby the antenna subset that induces the largest minimum SNR is chosen. Simulations demonstrate that our selection algorithm also provides diversity advantage thus making linear receivers useful over fading channels.

Base station antenna arrangement

Abstract: An antenna arrangement (10) for a cellular radio base station is provided with a plurality of r.f. transceivers, including one or more antenna arrays (12) each comprising a plurality of sub-arrays (20) each selectively operable to form a beam in azimuth. Each sub-array is provided with elevation beamforming means (24) and individual transmit and receive amplifiers (30,32). Each sub-array beamformer is coupled to at least one r.f. transmitter feed (26)nd each r.f. receiver feed is coupled to at least two sub-array beamformers, the sub-arrays of each antenna array together forming a multiplicity of separate substantially coincident beams in azimuth. A method of operation is also disclosed.

Effect of mutual coupling on the performance of adaptive arrays

Abstract: The effect of mutual coupling between array elements on the performance of adaptive arrays is examined. The study includes both steady state and transient performance. An expression for the steady state output signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) of adaptive arrays, taking into account the mutual coupling between the array elements, is derived. The expression is used to assess the steady state performance of adaptive arrays. The transient response is studied by computing the eigenvalues associated with the signal covariance matrix. The steering vector required to maximize the output SINR of Applebaum-type adaptive arrays in the presence of mutual coupling is also given.