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Detecting and processing weak signals using an array of antennas

  • US 9,660,772 B2
  • Filed: 12/16/2014
  • Issued: 05/23/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2014
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for detecting and processing signals, comprising:

  • receiving a weak radio frequency (RF) signal by an array of antennas;

    digitally sampling the weak RF signal from each antenna of the array of antennas;

    storing digital samples of the weak RF signal from each antenna;

    detecting a presence of the weak RF signal, wherein detecting the presence of the weak RF signal comprises determining a correlation between the weak RF signal received by each of the antennas of the array of antennas using the digital samples of the weak RF signal from each antenna, wherein determining the correlation between the weak RF signal received by each of the antennas of the array of antennas comprises;

    producing a phase difference between digital samples of signals of respective pairs of antennas of the array of antennas;

    combining the digital samples of signals for each respective pair of antennas using the phase difference between the combined digital samples of signals to provide a resulting signal from each pair of antennas, each resulting signal being receivable by a virtual antenna; and

    iteratively combining the resulting signals from respective pairs of virtual antennas using a phase difference between the combined resulting signals to provide a single resultant signal.

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