Array receiver with subarray selection
First Claim
1. An array receiver system, for receiving signals from a plurality of transmitting users, comprising an array of antenna elements (22/1, . . . , 22/10) and a receiver having a plurality of receiver sections (120, . . . , 127), each corresponding to a different one of the users, the receiver sections each having a signal processing unit (160) for processing and combining a subset of signals from the antenna elements to produce a received signal for the corresponding user, the receiver further comprising switching means (180) for selecting a plurality of different subsets of signals from the antenna elements for processing for the signal processing unit (160), each subset consisting of a predetermined number of said signals, each signal processing means serving to control the switching means to change the signals comprising the subset of signals used by the corresponding receiver section in dependence upon a measure of the potential performance of that receiver section with different subsets of said plurality of signals, said measure being based upon the combined subset of signals.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An array antenna system comprising an array of antenna elements and a receiver which uses a subset of the signals from the antenna elements, the selection of the subset of signals which should be used for a particular user is made on the basis of measurements of potential performance of the receiver with each subset of signals, combined, rather than of each individual signal.
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Citations
27 Claims
- 1. An array receiver system, for receiving signals from a plurality of transmitting users, comprising an array of antenna elements (22/1, . . . , 22/10) and a receiver having a plurality of receiver sections (120, . . . , 127), each corresponding to a different one of the users, the receiver sections each having a signal processing unit (160) for processing and combining a subset of signals from the antenna elements to produce a received signal for the corresponding user, the receiver further comprising switching means (180) for selecting a plurality of different subsets of signals from the antenna elements for processing for the signal processing unit (160), each subset consisting of a predetermined number of said signals, each signal processing means serving to control the switching means to change the signals comprising the subset of signals used by the corresponding receiver section in dependence upon a measure of the potential performance of that receiver section with different subsets of said plurality of signals, said measure being based upon the combined subset of signals.
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15. A method of receiving signals from a plurality of transmitting users using an array antenna having an array of antenna elements (22/1, . . . , 22/10) and a receiver having a plurality of receiver sections, each corresponding to a different one of the users, and coupled to the antenna elements by a switching means, the method comprising the steps of;
periodically selecting different subsets of signals from the antenna elements, processing and combining each subset of signals and determining potential performance of the receiver section of a particular user with that subset, determining which of the subsets would provide best performance, and controlling the switching means to change the signals comprising the subset of signals used by the corresponding receiver section. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A receiver for use with an array antenna having a plurality of antenna elements to receive signals from a plurality of transmitting users, the receiver having a plurality of receiver sections (120, . . . , 127), each corresponding to a different one of the users, the receiver sections each having a signal processing unit (160) for processing and combining a subset of signals from the antenna elements to produce a received signal for the corresponding user, the receiver further comprising switching means (180) for selecting a plurality of different subsets of signals from the antenna elements for processing for the signal processing unit (160), each subset consisting of a predetermined number of said signals, each signal processing means serving to control the switching means to change the signals comprising the subset of signals used by the corresponding receiver section in dependence upon a measure of the potential performance of that receiver section with different subsets of said plurality of signals, said measure being based upon the combined subset of signals.
Specification