Multi-beamforming system and method

A signal processing circuit for forming multiple beams, the signal processing circuit comprising:

• a plurality of basic modules associated with a respective plurality of antenna elements;
• each basic module of the basic modules being configured for connection in between a first port associated with a respective one of the antenna elements and a plurality of N second signal ports;
• and wherein signals at said first port are provided with at least a first sampling rate SR1 and signals at said plurality of N second signal ports are provided with a second sampling rate SR2 lower than said first sampling rate SR1, such that SR2<SR1;
• said basic module comprising:
• first and second successive processing stages connected respectively to the first signal port and to the N second signal ports, and operative for introducing time delays with respective temporal resolutions of said first and second sampling rates, SR1 and SR2, and a path selector multiplexer module for managing signal coupling between the first and second successive processing stages, wherein:
• (i) the first processing stage comprises a network of first type digital time delay channels connectable via one or more signal splitters/combiners to define L signal paths through the network capable of introducing L different time delays of temporal resolution higher than said second sampling rate SR2;
• (ii) the second processing stage comprises an array of N second type digital time delay channels connected to said N second signal ports, respectively, and each of the second type digital time delay channels being operable at the second sampling rate SR2 for shifting a signal communicated therethrough by any number between 0 and K samples of the second sampling rate;
• and
• (iii) the path selector multiplexer module comprises a set of switches configured and operable for selectively linking any one of said L signal paths with any one or more of said N second type digital time delay channels.