Patent ID: 6188915
Filing Date: 2001-02-13
Classification: H01Q,H04B

Abstract:
A method of processing signals representative of outputs of antenna elements of a phased array antenna to derive amplitude and phase weighting coefficients, through which signal coupling paths of said antenna elements are controllably weighted to control a directivity pattern of said phased array antenna, said method comprising the steps of:(a) providing values of said weighting coefficients;(b) modifying said signals representative of outputs of said antenna elements in accordance with said values of said weighting coefficients provided in step (a);(c) generating estimates of information signal contents of signals representative of outputs of said antenna elements as modified in step (b); and(d) iteratively adjusting said signals representative of outputs of said antenna elements by(d1) subjecting said signals representative of outputs of said antenna elements and estimates of information signal contents of signals representative of outputs of said antenna elements to a prescribed signal processing operator, which combines estimates of said information signal contents of signals representative of outputs of said antenna elements and signals representative of information signal contents and noise signal contents of outputs of said antenna elements to produce respective sets of signal and noise covariances, and generates improved values of said weighting coefficients in accordance with said respective sets of signal and noise covariances, and(d2) adjusting said signals representative of outputs of said antenna elements in accordance with said improved values of said weighting coefficients to produce improved signal outputs of said antenna elements, and(d3) iteratively repeating steps (d1) and (d2) a number of times N, where N is greater than or equal to zero.