Smart antenna channel simulator and test system

• US 5,973,638 A
• Filed: 01/30/1998
• Issued: 10/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Micronetics, Incorporated (Mercury Systems, Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Micronetics, Incorporated (Mercury Systems, Incorporated)
• Inventors: Amin, Moeness, Robbins, David F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DRUMMOND, DEVIN E
• Application Number:
  US09/016,130
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 342/368, 342/169, 342/171, 342/172
• US Class Current: 342/172
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/267 Phased-array testing or checking devices

Abstract

There is disclosed a method and apparatus for verifying the integrity of a smart antenna system. A signal simulator replicates the respective signals received at the multiple sensors of the antenna array, with signal parameters that include the correlated effects of Doppler, delay and angular spread. A combination of hardware and software capabilities simulate a primary line-of-sight signal, plus reflected signals and refracted signals, which requires manipulation by the smart antenna processor to extract the temporal and spatial information of the signals of interest. The simulated signals may be varied in numbers, amplitude, phase, delay and bearing components for representing a variety of terrain, environmental, equipment and capacity conditions encountered in alternative environments and conditions. The output of the smart antenna processor is checked against the input parameters to compare, verify and calibrate the smart antenna system.

Claims

1. A smart antenna simulator for simulating sensor signals for a smart antenna processor, comprising:

a reference signal;

means for translating assumed environmental and equipment conditions of a smart antenna array into signal conditioning parameters representing delay spread effects, Doppler spread effects, and angular spread effects;

means for tapping said reference signal with said delay spread effects to create a plurality of multipath signals as a function of said assumed environmental and equipment conditions;

means for splitting each said multipath signal into at least one set of channel signals, each channel signal of said set corresponding to a respective sensor of said smart antenna array;

means for modifying said channel signals with Doppler spread effects and angular spread effects as a function of said assumed environmental and equipment conditions;

means for summing respective modified said channel signals across said sets into at least one sensor signal as a function of said reference signal and said assumed environmental and equipment conditions.

2. The smart antenna simulator of claim 1, said assumed environmental and equipment conditions including a geo-location of source of said reference signal, said at least one sensor signal being a plurality of sensor signals, one each for each said sensor of said smart antenna array.

3. The smart antenna simulator of claim 1, said signal conditioning parameters further comprising representing local scattering effects, and means for modifying said multipath signals further comprising with local scattering effects.

4. The smart antenna simulator of claim 2, said sensor signals being digital signals, said simulator further comprising a digital to analog section for converting said digital signals to analog signals.

5. The smart antenna simulator of claim 4, further comprising a frequency up converter section for converting said analog signals to a frequency band of said smart antenna processor.

6. The smart antenna simulator of claim 1, said reference signal being an analog reference signal, said simulator further comprising an analog to digital converter section for converting said analog reference signal into a digital reference signal.

7. The smart antenna simulator of claim 6, further comprising a frequency down converter connected to said analog to digital converter, for converting a primary analog signal to said analog reference signal.

8. The smart antenna simulator of claim 1, further comprising an operator interface, said assumed environmental and equipment conditions being programmable as operator inputs at said operator interface.

9. The smart antenna simulator of claim 1, wherein said means for tapping said reference signal with said delay spread effects comprises a controller using a digital signal processor and a tap delay line to sequentially generate said multipath signals.

10. The smart antenna simulator of claim 9, said controller further comprising means for selecting desired multipath signals from among said plurality of multipath signals.

11. A smart antenna channel simulator according to claim 8, further comprising a feedback circuit connecting said sensor signals to said operator interface.

12. A smart antenna simulator according to claim 11, further comprising independent means for adjusting said delay, Doppler, and angular spread effects in each said channel signal.

13. A smart antenna channel simulator according to claim 12, said means for adjusting comprising an RF phase shifter.

14. A smart antenna channel simulator according to 12, said means for adjusting comprising an attenuator.

15. A smart antenna simulator, comprising:

a reference signal;

a controller section for translating environmental and equipment conditions of a smart antenna array into signal conditioning parameters representing delay spread effects, Doppler spread effects, angular spread effects, and local scattering effects;

a multipath delay section for applying said delay spread effects to said reference signal to generate a plurality of multipath signals;

a splitter section for splitting each said multipath signal into a plurality of sets of correlated channel signals, each channel signal of each said set corresponding to a respective sensor of said smart antenna array;

a propagation delay section for incorporating said angular spread effects in each said channel signal;

a Doppler section for incorporating said Doppler spread effects into each said channel;

a local scattering effects section for incorporating said local scattering effects into each said channel; and

a summing section for summing respective said channel signals across said sets of channels signals into corresponding sensor signals.