SIMULTANEOUS NULLING AND BEAMFOCUSING FROM DISPARATE ANTENNAS

• US 20150215021A1
• Filed: 01/29/2014
• Published: 07/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Wittenberg, Peter S., Michal, Debra P.
• Granted Patent: US 10,277,295 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 for beam forming
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0634 Antenna weights or vector/matrix coefficients
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/086 using weights depending on external parameters, e.g. direction of arrival [DOA], predetermined weights or beamforming

Abstract

In an antenna array, signals may be manipulated to increase coherency at certain locations (beamfocusing) and reduce or cancel the signals at other locations (nulling). This is accomplished by multiplying the signals received or transmitted by the set of antennas by a weight vector that is generated by determining a covariance matrix based on a vector representing signals at the set of antennas, vectors representing the desired beamfocusing and nulling locations, and a desired nulling depth.

Claims

1. A method of beamfocusing and nulling signals, the method comprising:

determining a first vector representing signals received at each of a plurality of antennas;

determining a weight vector based on the first vector, a nulling location, and a beamfocusing location; and

applying the weight vector to signals at the plurality of antennas.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the weight vector to the signals at the plurality of antennas comprises multiplying signals transmitted by the plurality of antennas by the weight vector.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the weight vector to the signals at the plurality of antennas comprises multiplying signals received by the plurality of antennas by the weight vector.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the weight vector comprises generating a covariance matrix using the first vector and a Hermitian transpose of the first vector.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the weight vector comprises generating a nulling vector representing a magnitude and a phase of signals received at the nulling location.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the weight vector comprises generating a beamfocusing vector representing a magnitude and a phase of signals received at the beamfocusing location.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the weight vector comprises generating a covariance matrix using beamfocusing vector representing a magnitude and a phase of signals received at the beamfocusing location, a nulling vector representing a magnitude and a phase of signals received at the nulling location, and an inverse of a desired nulling depth.

8. A system for beamfocusing and nulling signals, the system comprising:

a memory comprising executable instructions; and

a processor, wherein the processor, when executing the executable instructions, effectuates operations comprising;

determining a first vector representing signals received at each of a plurality of antennas;

determining a weight vector based on the first vector, a nulling location, and a beamfocusing location; and

applying the weight vector to signals at the plurality of antennas.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein applying the weight vector to the signals at the plurality of antennas comprises multiplying signals transmitted by the plurality of antennas by the weight vector.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein applying the weight vector to the signals at the plurality of antennas comprises multiplying signals received by the plurality of antennas by the weight vector.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein determining the weight vector comprises generating a covariance matrix using the first vector and a Hermitian transpose of the first vector.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein determining the weight vector comprises generating a nulling vector representing a magnitude and a phase of signals received at the nulling location.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein determining the weight vector comprises generating a beamfocusing vector representing a magnitude and a phase of signals received at the beamfocusing location.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein determining the weight vector comprises generating a covariance matrix using beamfocusing vector representing a magnitude and a phase of signals received at the beamfocusing location, a nulling vector representing a magnitude and a phase of signals received at the nulling location, and an inverse of a desired nulling depth.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage device having computer-readable instructions stored thereon, the computer-readable instructions comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising:

determining a first vector representing signals received at each of a plurality of antennas;

determining a weight vector based on the first vector, a nulling location, and a beamfocusing location; and

applying the weight vector to signals at the plurality of antennas.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein applying the weight vector to the signals at the plurality of antennas comprises multiplying signals transmitted by the plurality of antennas by the weight vector.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein applying the weight vector to the signals at the plurality of antennas comprises multiplying signals received by the plurality of antennas by the weight vector.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein determining the weight vector comprises generating a covariance matrix using the first matrix and a Hermitian transpose of the first matrix.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein determining the weight vector comprises generating a nulling vector representing a magnitude and a phase of signals received at the nulling location.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein determining the weight vector comprises generating a beamfocusing vector representing a magnitude and a phase of signals received at the beamfocusing location.