Distributed conformal adaptive antenna array for SATCOM using decision direction
View Patent ↗An apparatus comprises a distributed array of antenna elements for receiving a radio frequency signal on a satellite communications link, wherein the radio frequency signal includes a known preamble; a plurality of mixers for translating the radio frequency signal to a plurality of baseband signals having in-phase and quadrature components; a processor for applying weights to the baseband signals, wherein the weights are found adaptively in response to the preamble in combination with decision-directed feedback when the preamble is not present; and a receiver for processing the weighted baseband signals. A pre-processor can be used to create sub-arrays of the antenna elements using maximal-ratio weighting. A method performed by the apparatus is also provided.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a distributed array of antenna elements for receiving a radio frequency signal on a satellite communications link, wherein the radio frequency signal includes a known preamble;
a plurality of mixers for translating the radio frequency signal to a plurality of baseband signals having in-phase and quadrature components;
a processor for applying weights to the baseband signals, wherein the weights are found adaptively in response to the preamble in combination with decision-directed feedback when the preamble is not present; and
a receiver for processing the weighted baseband signals.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the distributed array of antenna elements is a conformal array.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the weights maximize signal-to-noise ratio in the baseband signals.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a pre-processor for creating a sub-array of the antenna elements using maximal-ratio weighting.
5. A method comprising the steps of:
receiving a radio frequency signal using a distributed array of antenna elements, wherein the radio frequency signal includes a known preamble;
translating the radio frequency signal to a plurality of baseband signals having in-phase and quadrature components;
applying weights to the baseband signals, wherein the weights are found adaptively in response to the preamble in combination with decision-directed feedback when the preamble is not present; and
processing the weighted baseband signals.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising the step of:
creating sub-arrays of the antenna elements using maximal-ratio weighting.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising the step of:
using default patterns of the sub-arrays of the antenna elements to select an active sub-array.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising the step of:
using separate adaptive signal processing on signals received by each sub-array.
9. The method of claim 5 , wherein the distributed array of antenna elements is a conformal array.
10. The method of claim 5 , wherein the weights maximize signal-to-noise ratio in the baseband signals.