Digital Antenna Array Research Articles

Особенности структурного синтеза алгоритмов обработки радиолокационной информации при многочастотном наблюдении

Setting and solving the problem of structural synthesis of the algorithm for detecting and measuring parameters of mobile objects against the background of correlated interference and noise in multi-frequency radar surveillance systems based on multibeam digital antenna arrays are considered. The processing algorithm is synthesized under the assumption of Gaussian observation statistics with separate spatial and temporal characteristics of signals and interference. As part of the study, a phenomenological model of the radar situation was developed, adequate to the formation of observations in multi-frequency space-time signal processing systems against the background of correlated interference and noise. On its basis, a structure of an optimal, in terms of Bayesian quality criteria, algorithm for detecting a multi-part signal at the outputs of multipath digital antenna arrays is obtained. On the basis of the adaptive Bayesian approach, ways of solving the problem of detecting and measuring parameters of mobile objects in conditions of multi-frequency observations with parametric a priori uncertainty about interference characteristics are determined. Recommendations on selection of adaptive algorithms for radar information processing in case of non-stationary observations are given. The results of structural synthesis make it possible to present processing in the form of a multichannel system in space, time and radial speed. Sufficient statistics on the set of radiation frequencies are accumulated. This view opens up a wide range of possibilities for using parallel computing systems. It is shown that the obtained algorithms can serve as the basis for detecting the beginning of maneuvering of an observation object at the stage of primary processing of radar information.

Adaptive digital antenna array signal processing algorithm based on LDL decomposition

Two algorithms for inverting correlation matrices of digital antenna array signals are compared: LDL decomposition and the fringing method. The idea of comparing algorithms was to take into account the limitations on the length of the input data mantissa in the process of space-time processing using FPGAs. It has been found that rounding errors in the signal processing process in FPGAs can lead to the destruction of the directivity pattern. This is due to the fact that when implementing various algorithms for matrix inversion, the distribution of errors in the channels becomes interconnected. This means that when implementing adaptive antenna arrays on FPGAs, it is necessary to carefully choose the length of the mantissa and the conversion algorithm. In this regard, an algorithm for signal processing in an adaptive antenna array is proposed, its difference from the known ones is that when implemented on FPGAs, floating-point arithmetic of limited mantissa bit is used. When comparing two computationally efficient matrix inversion algorithms (the LDL method and the fringing method), the LDL method has higher stability. It was found that with an increase in the rank of the correlation matrix, the effect of rounding errors will be stronger. In this regard, it is necessary to determine in advance at what ratio of power sources and internal noise it is planned to use an adaptive processor.

The main directions of enhancement of digital antenna arrays

The development of modern radio electronic systems causes an increase in the requirements for the parameters of antenna devices (AU) and causes the transition from previously used mirror antennas and passive phased array antennas (FAA) to active FAA (AFAA), the considerable advantage of which is a significant reduction in energy losses of transmitted and received signals by reducing the distance of the low-noise amplifier input and output of power amplifier to the antenna element. Further development of the AU is the transition from AFAA with analog beamforming to digital antenna arrays (DAR) with digital beamforming, the advantages of which are due to the possibility of forming multibeam receiving and transmitting radiation patterns with independent control of the direction and shape of the beams, as well as the possibility of flexible change of operating modes. The use of a DAR with two-dimensional electronic scanning provides a significant increase in the efficiency of radio-electronic systems. Thus, their use in radar provides a gain in the efficiency of using the time, energy, frequency and spatial resources of radar with CAR up to 13 times compared with radar with passive FAA and AFAA with one-dimensional scanning. The disadvantages of the DAR are the high cost and increased energy consumption due to the installation of active elements in each transceiver channel, as well as the long time required to create new products, associated with a large amount of software and a complex structure for building a CAR. To overcome these disadvantages, manufacturers of antenna arrays and developers of the radio-electronic element base are creating new technical solutions. The main directions of development of technologies for the production of DAR functional devices that reduce the cost and reduce the time needed to create new products are shown: the development of common modules that allow you to create scalable DAR, increasing the integration of microwave monolithic integrated circuits with the placement of the maximum number of transceiver channels on one chip, increasing the integration of ASIC, including ADCs, DACs and digital signal processing devices, increasing the clock frequencies of digital functional nodes, as well as the development of circuit solutions for building nodes with low energy consumption.

Digital antenna array based on programmable logic integrated circuits for mobile radio networks

Currently, there is a need to develop new technical solutions for antenna systems for central (base) stations of mobile radio networks, which not only have improved electrical characteristics, but also allow them to adjust from intentional and unintended interference, while providing a reliable communication channel between several correspondents. The purpose of the work is to develop methods for constructing digital antenna arrays with adaptive DN control for VHF mobile radio networks. The presented solution of the ring car allows you to form the DN in the specified directions, to work in multipath mode, as well as the proposed solutions of ring cars can be used both in the center (base) stations of mobile radio communication systems and on mobile objects operating, including in the relay mode.

Method for measuring radiation patterns of digital antenna arrays

Formulation of the problem. The Digital Beamforming Antenna Arrays (DBAA) are widely used as the directional antennas in radio systems today. However, such arrays typically do not have a radiofrequency output. Consequently, the standard methods for measuring the Radiation Patterns (RP), based on the transmitting of a monochromatic probing signals, reception of the signals in the far field, as well as measuring the output power of the antenna array, cannot be used to measure the RP of the DBAA. The method considered in this work involves the transmitting a probing signal modulated by a pseudonoise sequence and processing the DBAA output signal at the zero intermediate frequency (base-band) using a matched filter or a correlator. Target. A method for measuring the radiation pattern of the DBAA is considered, based on the correlation processing of its output signal. Results. The paper presents a description of the setup for measuring the DBAA RP, as well as a mathematical explanation of the measurement procedure. It is shown that the accuracy of the RP measurement depends on the Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) at the outputs of the receivers of the DBAA channels, and the number of array channels and the number of symbols of the pseudonoise sequence used for the modulation of the radiated signal. The error in the RP measurement decreases by 3 dB each time as the number of the DBAA channels or the number of symbols of the pseudonoise sequence used in the measurements is doubled. This result is confirmed by simulation the measurement of RP of the eight- and sixteen-channel linear DBAA using pseudo-noise sequences of maximum length (M-sequences) with a number of symbols equal to 1023 and 2047. Practical significance. The proposed method does not require the usage of the up-converter to convert the base-band DBAA output signal from the base-band to a carrier frequency, and it also does not require the usage of a power meter for measurement the analog signal at the output of this converter.

Electrodynamic modeling of a four-channel antenna with an operating frequency band of octave

The actual problem of electrodynamic modeling of a four-channel antenna with an octave operating frequency range has been considered. The results of numerical electrodynamic modeling of a four-channel antenna have been presented. The considered antenna with an octave operating frequency range is a rectangular curtain comprising four independent non-equidistant channels. Numerical electrodynamic modeling of a four-channel antenna has been carried out in the ANSYS HFSS software package, with the convergence parameter DeltaS = 0.01. As a result of the simulation, the frequency characteristics of each channel have been obtained: VSWR, gain, reflection coefficient, directional pattern. The antenna provides a scanning angle as part of an ultra-wideband digital antenna array of at least ±30° in azimuth and from 0° to 60° in elevation. The gain of the antenna channels in the operating frequency range is not lower than 6 dB. According to the simulation results, the VSWR of each channel of the antenna in the operating frequency range does not exceed 2.55. To minimize the influence of mutual coupling of channels on the antenna characteristics, the distance from the phase centers of the curtain emitters to other elements of the ultra-wideband digital antenna array should be at least a wavelength in free space at the lower frequency of the operating frequency range. It has been shown that the considered four-channel antenna provides an octave operating frequency band and can be used as part of an ultra-wideband digital antenna array for direction finding of radiation sources.

Spatial Selection-Based Intelligent N-OFDM Signal Processing in Wireless Communication Systems

The method of joint processing of pulses and OFDM (N-OFDM) signals is proposed. The corresponding analytical relations for the lower Cramer-Rao boundary on the dispersion of OFDM (N-OFDM) signals amplitude ratings in the presence of sources of pulsed radiation are obtained. Using mathematical modeling properties and limitations of the demodulation method of OFDM (N-OFDM) signals in the background of impulse signals in the integrated radar and telecommunication systems are established. It is determined that the use of the angular distance between the pulsed and OFDM signals sources at a value that is not less than 0.75 widths of the secondary beam of the digital antenna array pattern does not affect the accuracy of the OFDM signal amplitudes. The same applies to the active interferences.

Phase noise of signal generators with multichannel digital synthesizers

Wide use of a direct digital synthesizer (DDS) and digital to analog converters (DAC) in digital antenna arrays permits for fast modulation parameters variations and beam positioning, and also improves the quality of beam forming due to high accuracy of signal generation. However, any systematic and random phase deviations of array channels not only lead to distortion of radiation pattern but also cause deterioration of signal processing at receiver end. Phase noise is one of critical parameters of such systems. Traditional theory and empirical methods assumes small or zero phase deviation of phase of channel output signal when combining these signals. We have proposed the model in which coupling of AM and PM noise persists for any arbitrary phase deviation of channels in multistage circuits comprising multichannel digital synthesizers. Absolute phase noise measurements of combined DACs outputs for zero phase offset and antiphase modes with two values of DAC output signal amplitude difference permit for estimation of residual phase noise of DAC and clock receiving and distribution circuitry and demonstrate good compliance of results of calculation.

Direction finding of sources of electromagnetic radiation signals by digital antenna arrays with invariant phase center

Direction finding of sources of electromagnetic radiation signals by digital antenna arrays with invariant phase center

Способ построения двухэлементной цифровой антенной решетки для оценки угловых координат радиосигналов со сверхразрешением с повышенной точностью на основе нижней границы Крамер-Рао

In the paper an effective method for optimal placement of directional antenna elements for digital spatial signal estimation is discussed. The digital antenna array evaluates spatial coordinates with the subsequent beamforming. However, as it is well known, the relative position of antenna elements, their number and the shape of the radiation pattern have a significant impact on the quality of the spatial pseudospectrum. The paper uses the previously obtained expression for estimating the Cramer-Rao lower bound to reduce the number of antenna elements without losing the accuracy of direction-of-arrival estimation of the signals. For example, a two-element array is obtained. The elements have a flat-top radiation pattern. It is shown that the accuracy of the MUSIC method in the obtained array is higher or comparable to the array composed of three elements.

ПРИНЦИП СУБЪЕКТИВНОЙ ИЗБЫТОЧНОСТИ И МЕТОД СЖАТИЯ ДАННЫХ, ПОЛУЧАЕМЫХ ОТ ЦИФРОВЫХ АНТЕННЫХ РЕШЕТОК

The problem of limiting the capacity of the diagram-forming circuit of the digital antenna array is considered, due to the capabilities of existing communication lines with serial data transmission from the receiving channels to the computer. This problem limits the possibilities of implementing various methods of signal processing in digital antenna arrays. The subject of the study is the possibility of increasing the capacity of the diagram-forming circuit of the digital antenna array due to software compression of radar data. The purpose of the work is to create a scientific and methodological apparatus that will increase the capcity of the diagram-forming scheme by using the principle of subjective redundancy in relation to radar data processing tasks. The results of the work include: justification and formulation of the principle of subjective redundancy of radar data and the method of compression of radar data, as well as the results of numerical studies confirming the operability of the proposed scientific and methodological apparatus. The principle of subjective redundancy is based on the independence of the separation of signal processing processes in the spatial and temporal domains when receiving a single echo signal, and in the case of receiving several echo signals, on the principle of superposition of fields from various sources in the far antenna zone. The method of radar data compression is based on the principle of subjective redundancy of radar data and differs from the known iterative procedure for approximating the matrix of complex samples in the form of a superposition of products of one-dimensional cosine spectra. It is shown that the application of the radar data compression method makes it possible to increase the transmission capacity of the digital antenna array transmission lines several times.

Застосування аналого-цифрових перетворювачів для підвищення ефективності цифрових антенних решіток

Застосування аналого-цифрових перетворювачів для підвищення ефективності цифрових антенних решіток

A Versatile Digital Antenna Array Transceiving System With Online Self-Calibration

A Versatile Digital Antenna Array Transceiving System With Online Self-Calibration

Development of the Phaseless Calibration Algorithm for a Digital Antenna Array

In this paper, we will discuss a calibration algorithm for a digital antenna array that diagnoses its real performance. It can be applied at such stages of the antenna system life cycle as design, tuning, and especially maintenance. A calibration implementation using a scalar method for a multi-beam digital antenna array is proposed and investigated. On-the-fly calibration ensures a continuous improvement in beam pointing accuracy by reducing internal errors in the receiving (transmitting) channels. The purpose of the study is to experimentally examine the capabilities of digital beamforming to increase the angle-of-arrival estimation accuracy. A simulation model of the receiving antenna was created in an anechoic chamber with a planar antenna positioner. The possibility of precise estimation of the direction of arrival using the digital beamforming with electronic scanning was demonstrated. The proposed simulation model made it possible to observe the convergence of the antenna array calibration process using the proposed method for various errors in the signal paths, as well as different signal-to-noise ratios. It has been proven that even under adverse conditions early in the calibration algorithm, the phase error detection converges with high accuracy, and its value decreases uniformly even to the fractions of an angular degree.

Статистическая модель высоконаправленной цифровой антенной решетки пространственно-корреляционным методом обработки сигналов

The article presents a statistical model of a digital antenna array with a spatial correlation method of signal processing. The model is obtained on the basis of the Neumann-Pearson criterion for the conditions of a stationary Gaussian distribution of the output process in spatial correlation signal processing. This model makes it possible to numerically evaluate the probabilistic characteristics of radar signal detection for various orders of nonlinear processing under the influence of natural radio interference and can be recommended for the study and optimization of the construction of the antenna array aperture with spatial correlation signal processing, providing a given spatial noise immunity of radio engineering systems.

Integrated factor of efficiency of antenna system using in the radar

Integrated efficiency factors are used not only at the design stage, but also in the case of choosing a ready-made system. In this case, the purpose of the research is to get an answer to the question of the expediency of its purchase (deployment), or monitoring the effectiveness of the system during its operation and developing proposals for optimizing the ways of its use and modernization. Since any system has limited resources when solving assignment tasks, it is necessary to develop a generalized efficiency factor from the standpoint of analyzing the effective allocation of radar resources when using antenna systems of various types in its composition. The aim of the article is to increase the efficiency of the use of radar resources in the antenna system. Achieving this goal includes solving the following tasks: substantiation of an integrated efficiency factor of the use of the antenna system in the radar, the use of an integrated efficiency factor to compare different types of antenna systems in the radar. А comparison of the efficiency of using a digital antenna array (DAA) with two-dimensional electronic scanning of the radiation pattern and parallel space surveillance, a reflector antenna, a passive phased antenna array with one-dimensional scanning, as well as an active phased antenna array with one-dimensional scanning and parallel space surveillance has been performed. It has been shown that the efficiency of using a DAR with two-dimensional electronic scanning is 2.3...15.6 times higher than the efficiency of other types of antenna systems. The proposed efficiency factor makes it possible to compare the efficiency of the use of radar resources when using different types of antenna systems, taking into account the features of their construction and the requirements for the purpose of the radar.

Peculiarities of adaptive signal processing in circular antenna arrays

Formulation of the problem. Today, antenna arrays are often used as directional antennas of different radio systems. The main advantages of the such antennas over the mechanically steered directional antennas are the ability to steer the main lobe (beam) of the Radiation Pattern (RP) without the rotation of the array, and also the ability to control the shape of the RP. However, the antenna arrays also have some drawbacks. For example, a drawback of the linear and the planar antenna arrays is the varying beamwidth. This width increases as the orientation of the beam moves from the normal to the aperture to the plane of the aperture. This feature is due to the fact that when the beam is deflected, the effective aperture of the antenna array decreases, and this is the reason of the beam increase. If it is required to steer the beam in a wide range of angles while maintaining its width, then this restricts the usage of a linear and flat antenna arrays as the directional antennas. This disadvantage is practically absent in the circular antenna arrays. Therefore, such arrays are attractive for the usage, for example, in the radio communication systems, because they allow the beam to move within 360° in azimuth plane while maintaining its width practically fixed. If the antenna array is built using a digital beamforming architecture (digital array), then such an array can also be easily made as a multi-beam one, that will provide a parallel view of space. In multibeam digital antenna arrays, the same analog portion of each channel from the antenna to the digital output is used to form all the beams. And only in digital form, the separate devices for the forming of these beams are required, which multiply the channel output signal samples by the weights and add the weighted signals together to form the output signals of the antenna array. The access to the signals from the outputs also allows such an antenna array to easily become adaptive, because these signals are used to calculate the weights in all the adaptive algorithms. The adaptive signal processing allows to suppress the interferences. The suppression of the interference signals in the output signal of the antenna array is achieved due to the creation of the dips (low levels) in the RP towards the sources of these interferences. Such a change in the shape of the RP is provided by the changing weights calculated using an adaptive algorithm. Target. The paper deals with the circular adaptive antenna arrays with digital beamforming. The features of the such adaptive antenna arrays and their performance are considered. Results. The architecture of a single beam and a multibeam adaptive antenna array is considered, as well as a procedure (algorithm) for the calculation of its weights. It is also demonstrated the efficiency of a circular adaptive antenna array in terms of maintaining its beamwidth regardless of its direction and simultaneously suppressing interferences, that practically does not affect this beamwidth. Practical significance. The considered adaptive antenna array can be used as a directional antenna in radio systems where it is required to form a several beams simultaneously, to maintain their width regardless of steering directions, and also to suppress the interference signals in the output signal.

Algorithm for forming a fan of identical beams in digital antenna arrays

Digital antenna arrays allow you to implement multipath reception using a grid or a fan of beams. For multiple beams forming the linear phasing method is usually used. The disadvantage of this method is that the directional characteristics of each fan beam depend on the orientation direction of the maximum of the radiation pattern. When the beam deviates from the direction of the normal to the aperture, the following effects occur: expansion of the beam, a decrease in the directivity coefficient and a decrease in the norm of the radiation pattern. This feature of antennas in radar leads to a decrease in the accuracy of measurements of the angular coordinates of targets during electronic scanning. In this regard, it seems urgent to develop new methods and algorithms that ensure the formation of a grid of beams of a digital antenna array consisting of beams with the same directional characteristics. The goal of the article is to form a fan of identical receiving beams of a digital antenna array in a given angular sector. The problem of constructing a fan of beams in a given angular sector with close values of the directivity coefficient and the same beam width has been solved. The proposed algorithms increase the speed of spatial viewing by 20–25%, stabilize the level of the intersection of the beams in the entire sector of electronic scanning and reduce the side lobe level by 23 dB in the central part of the beam grid and by 5 dB for the extreme beams.

Computer simulation, visualization, and synthesis of a digital antenna array used for transmitting and receiving signals in industrial applications

AbstractThe article is devoted to computer modeling, visualization, and synthesis of a digital antenna array used for transmitting and receiving signals in industrial applications. The paper proposes an iterative method for the amplitude-phase synthesis of an antenna array according to the requirements for the envelope of the side lobes. The proposed method allows to determine the complex amplitudes of the elements of a digital antenna array for any given weight function, based on the theorems of matrix theory. The difference of the method lies in the iterative procedure for choosing the weight function, taking into account the excess level of the side lobes of the digital antenna array. In this regard, in the course of solving the synthesis problem, a weight function was found that leads to the fulfilment of the requirements for radiation patterns and does not lead to a decrease in the directivity coefficient. The signal-to-noise ratio was used as a criterion. For the first time, an analytical expression is given for the formation of a weight function in the course of an iterative process that takes into account the requirements for the envelope of the side lobes. The operability and convergence of the proposed method was confirmed in the course of numerical studies on the example of a digital antenna array. The performed numerical analysis confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed synthesis method.

Algorithm for beam grid forming in digital antenna arrays with an asymmetric envelope of side lobes

In digital antenna arrays with a parallel view of space, the linear phasing method is usually used to distribute beams in space. At the same time, the requirements for the side lobe level are sufficiently fulfilled if the amplitude distribution falling to the edges of the opening is used. In this case, the envelope of the side lobes does not take into account the distribution of noise temperature in space. For different orientation of the beams in space, the noise quality of the antenna depends on the spatial orientation of the formed beams. In this regard, the problem of forming a beam grid taking into account the spatial distribution of the noise temperature is of interest. The aim of the article is to increase the noise quality of the antenna in conditions of uneven distribution of noise temperature in space. The algorithm for forming a beam grid with a uniform angular pitch and a constant directivity has been proposed, taking into account the uneven distribution of noise temperature in space based on previously developed methods for the synthesis of antenna arrays: with a simplified gradient procedure and according to the requirements for the envelope of the side lobes. The proposed algorithm makes it possible in the considered example to achieve a gain in noise quality by 1.5 dB.