Multi-user transmit beamforming for broadband acoustic systems

Abstract

Multi-user transmit beamforming for acoustic systems based on orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) modulation is studied and demonstrated. Transmit beamforming consists of assigning weight coefficients to multiple transmit elements, such that the signals transmitted from the array add constructively at the users' receive sides. In an optimal setting, the transmitter assigns weights that are proportional to the channel transfer functions to the users. However, the assumption of complete channel knowledge is not entirely accurate, as the transmitter obtains the channels via feedback from the users. Thus, the transmitter has partial knowledge of the channels, as their estimates are not only noisy, but can be outdated if the channels have changed during the time it took to close the feedback loop. These adversities are notably pronounced in time-varying acoustic channels, as the feedback delay is large as compared to the channel coherence time due to the low speed of sound propagation. To counteract this problem, a technique that targets only those features of the channels that can withstand the feedback delay is proposed. Such features are the users' angles of arrival of the principal propagation paths. The principal paths are stable paths that do not experience rapid fluctuations and are thus varying sufficiently slowly that they can tolerate long feedback delays. The design concepts are demonstrated using experimental over-the-air transmissions in an indoor environment of an acoustic communications testbed.