N-tuple coprime sensor arrays.

Abstract

Until now, coprime sensor arrays have used two sparsely spaced subarrays to emulate the performance of a single uniform array with many more sensors (generally on the order of the product of each subarrays' number of sensors). This allows for similar results with fewer sensors, or the observation of higher frequencies (above the Nyquist limit) with a similar number of sensors. The theory rests on the cross-referencing (using directional filter banks) or cancellation (using product processing) of the M grating lobes in one subarray's beampattern and N grating lobes in the other, where M and N are coprime integers. Sets of coprime integers can consist of more than two integers, however, and introducing another coprime factor theoretically multiplies observable frequency (or further decreases the number of array elements needed for the same frequency). Any amount, n, of coprime integers and corresponding subarrays may be used. In this work, "n-tuple coprime sensor array" theory is expounded and implemented. Experimentally measured beampattern results of a triple coprime sensor array (with three subarrays) are shown, using an extension of the authors' previously established product processing. Results also confirm that the usable range of an n-tuple coprime array extends below its design frequency.