Antenna beamforming using multiplicative array processing

Abstract

Beamforming with conventional array processing utilizes linear, additive processing techniques to combine the signals from the different array elements. In this project, a multiplicative processing technique is proposed for combining the signals from antenna arrays for beamforming. The multiplicative processing technique is shown to emulate the performance of larger array apertures than the aperture size of the actual array measurements. Simulations are used to show that the proposed method produces direction-of-arrival (DoA) estimates commensurate with those produced by linear processing of measurements from much larger aperture sizes. It is also shown that the multiplicative processing of measurements from smaller apertures performs as well as linear processing of measurements from larger apertures, for separating signals from multiple sources. The sensitivity of the multiplicative processing technique to noise is also investigated.