Blind signal separation using correlated antenna elements

• US 20060069529A1
• Filed: 09/22/2005
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gorsuch, Thomas E., Kostanic, Ivica, Hoffmann, John E., Goldberg, Steven J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,414,579 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/190
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/08 at the receiving station

Abstract

A communications device for separating source signals provided by M signal sources includes an antenna array comprising N correlated antenna elements for receiving at least N different summations of the M source signals, with N and M being greater than 1. A receiver is connected to the antenna array for receiving the at least N different summations of the M source signals. A blind signal separation processor is connected to the receiver for forming a mixing matrix comprising up to the at least N different summations of the M source signals, and for separating desired source signals from the mixing matrix. The mixing matrix has a rank equal to at least N.

Claims

1. A communications device for separating source signals provided by M signal sources, the communications device comprising:

an antenna array comprising N correlated antenna elements for receiving at least N different summations of the M source signals, with N and M being greater than 1;

a receiver connected to said antenna array for receiving the at least N different summations of the M source signals; and

a blind signal separation processor connected to said receiver for forming a mixing matrix comprising up to the at least N different summations of the M source signals, the mixing matrix having a rank equal to at least N, said blind signal separation processor for separating desired source signals from the mixing matrix.

2. A communications device according to claim 1 wherein N=M.

3. A communications device according to claim 1 wherein the rank of the mixing matrix is K, where K<

N, and said blind signal separation processor separating K of the M source signals from the mixing matrix.

4. A communications device according to claim 1 wherein N>

M.

5. A communications device according to claim 1 wherein said N correlated antenna elements comprise N active antenna elements so that said antenna array forms a phased array.

6. A communications device according to claim 1 wherein said N correlated antenna elements comprise at least one active antenna element, and up to N-1 passive antenna elements so that said antenna array forms a switched beam antenna.

7. A communications device according to claim 1 wherein said antenna array forms at least N antenna beams for receiving the at least N different summations of the M source signals, each antenna beam having 3 db points down from a maximum gain point thereof providing for signal rejection in at least one direction of an approaching signal.

8. A communications device according to claim 1 wherein said antenna array forms at least one antenna pattern for receiving at least one of the N different summations of the M source signals, the at least one antenna pattern having substantially no 3 db points down from a maximum gain point thereof resulting in no signal rejection in any direction of an approaching signal.

9. A communications device according to claim 1 wherein each summation of the M source signals is linear.

10. A communications device according to claim 1 wherein said blind signal separation processor separates the desired source signals from the mixing matrix based on principal component analysis (PCA).

11. A communications device according to claim 1 wherein said blind signal separation processor separates the desired source signals from the mixing matrix based on independent component analysis (ICA).

12. A communications device according to claim 1 wherein said blind signal separation processor separates the desired source signals from the mixing matrix based on single value decomposition (SVD).

13. A method for operating a communications device for separating source signals provided by M signal sources, the communications device comprising an antenna array, a receiver connected to the antenna array, and a blind signal separation processor connected to the receiver, the method comprising:

receiving at the antenna array at least N different summations of the M source signals, the antenna array comprising N correlated antenna elements, with N and M being greater than 1;

providing the at least N different summations of the M source signals to the receiver; and

processing by the blind signal separation processor the at least N different summations of the M source signals received by the receiver, the processing comprising

forming a mixing matrix comprising up to the at least N different summations of the M source signals, the mixing matrix having a rank equal to at least N, and

separating desired source signals from the mixing matrix.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein N=M.

15. A method according to claim 13 wherein the N correlated antenna elements comprise N active antenna elements so that the antenna array forms a phased array.

16. A method according to claim 13 wherein the N correlated antenna elements comprise at least one active antenna element and up to N-1 passive antenna elements so that the antenna array forms a switched beam antenna.

17. A method according to claim 13 wherein the antenna array forms at least N antenna beams for receiving the at least N different summations of the M source signals, each antenna beam having 3 db points down from a maximum gain point thereof providing for signal rejection in at least one direction of an approaching signal.

18. A method according to claim 13 wherein the antenna array forms at least one antenna pattern for receiving at least one of the N different summations of the M source signals, the at least one antenna pattern having substantially no 3 db points down from a maximum gain point thereof resulting in no signal rejection in any direction of an approaching signal.

19. A method according to claim 13 wherein each summation of the M source signals is linear.

20. A method according to claim 13 wherein the blind signal separation processor separates the desired source signals from the mixing matrix based on principal component analysis (PCA).

21. A method according to claim 13 wherein the blind signal separation processor separates the desired source signals from the mixing matrix based on independent component analysis (ICA).

22. A method according to claim 13 wherein the blind signal separation processor separates the desired source signals from the mixing matrix based on single value decomposition (SVD).