US 12,665,655 B1Granted

Scalable method for digital beamforming without channel state information

AssigneeRockwell Collins, Inc.

InventorBenjamin Peiffer

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Abstract

A scalable algorithm may be used for determining beam/nullforming weights with minimal computation and minimal coordination between elements or subarrays. The algorithm may beamform large numbers of elements without channel state information and without knowing the signal of interest. The algorithm may optimize the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio of signals received at an array. The algorithm may remove the requirement for explicit channel state information (CSI) or for iterative co-estimation of CSI, remove the requirement for coordination with or knowledge of signals transmitted from null targets, and/or remove the requirement for knowledge of the number of targets by estimating and optimizing overall SINR, rather than jointly optimizing each received signal. The algorithm interprets the N-element arrays view of the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio as a N-dimensional gradient ascent. The search explores this N-D space to find a direction of ascent and applies a simultaneous search and track loop.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An adaptive digital beamformer comprising:

N-number of analog-to-digital converters (ADC0 to ADCN-1), wherein the N-number of analog-to-digital converters (ADC0 to ADCN-1) are configured to generate N-number of in-phase and quadrature signals (s0(t) to sN-1(t));
a search loop, wherein the search loop is configured to multiply the in-phase and quadrature signals (s0(t) to sN-1(t)) with search gains (gS,0[k] to gS,N-1[k]), wherein the search gains (gS,0[k] to gS,N-1[k]) are complex gains based on search phases (ΘS,0[k] to ΘS,N-1[k]), wherein subsequent search phases (ΘS,0[k+1] to ΘS,N-1[k+1]) are defined by the search phases (ΘS,0[k] to ΘS,N-1[k]) plus a product of search step directions (DS,0[k] to DS,N-1[k]) and a search phase precision (φS[k]), wherein the search loop is configured to determine a search signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINRS[k]), and
a track loop, wherein the track loop is configured to multiply the in-phase and quadrature signals (s0(t) to sN-1(t)) with track gains (gT,0[k] to gT,N-1[k]), wherein the track gains (gT,0[k] to gT,N-1[k]) are based on track phases (ΘT,0[k] to ΘT,N-1[k]), wherein subsequent track phases (ΘT,0[k+1] to ΘT,N-1[k+1]) are defined by the track phases (ΘT,0[k] to ΘT,N-1[k]) plus a product of track step directions (DT,0[k] to DT,N-1[k]) and a track phase precision (φT), wherein the track loop is configured to determine a track signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINRT[k]);
wherein the search step directions (DS,0[k] to DS,N-1[k]) and the track step directions (DT,0[k] to DT,N-1[k]) are random discrete variables, wherein the search loop is configured to update the subsequent search phases (θS,0[k+1] to ΘS,N-1[k+1]) and the search step directions (DS,0[k] to DS,N-1[k]) and the track loop is configured to update the subsequent track phases (ΘT,0[k+1] to ΘT,N-1[k+1]) and the track step directions (DT,0[k] to DT,N-1[k]) using the search signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINRS[k]) and the track signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINRT[k]) as feedback.

1 more element

A radio system comprising:

an adaptive digital beamformer comprising:
N-number of analog-to-digital converters (ADC0 to ADCN-1), wherein the N-number of analog-to-digital converters (ADC0 to ADCN-1) are configured to generate N-number of in-phase and quadrature signals (s0(t) to sN-1(t));
a search loop, wherein the search loop is configured to multiply the in-phase and quadrature signals (s0(t) to sN-1(t)) with search gains (gS,0[k] to gS,N-1[k]), wherein the search gains (gS,0[k] to gS,N-1[k]) are complex gains based on search phases (ΘS,0[k] to ΘS,N-1[k]), wherein subsequent search phases (ΘS,0[k+1] to ΘS,N-1[k+1]) are defined by the search phases (ΘS,0[k] to ΘS,N-1[k]) plus a product of search step directions (DS,0[k] to DS,N-1[k]) and a search phase precision (φS[k]), wherein the search loop is configured to determine a search signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINRS[k]), and
a track loop, wherein the track loop is configured to multiply the in-phase and quadrature signals (s0(t) to sN-1(t)) with track gains (gT,0[k] to gT,N-1[k]), wherein the track gains (gT,0[k] to gT,N-1[k]) are based on track phases (ΘT,0[k] to ΘT,N-1[k]), wherein subsequent track phases (ΘT,0[k+1] to ΘT,N-1[k+1]) are defined by the track phases (ΘT,0[k] to ΘT,N-1[k]) plus a product of track step directions (DT,0[k] to DT,N-1[k]) and a track phase precision (φT), wherein the track loop is configured to determine a track signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINRT[k]);
wherein the search step directions (DS,0[k] to DS,N-1[k]) and the track step directions (DT,0[k] to DT,N-1[k]) are random discrete variables, wherein the search loop is configured to update the subsequent search phases (ΘS,0[k+1] to ΘS,N-1[k+1]) and the search step directions (DS,0[k] to DS,N-1[k]) and the track loop is configured to update the subsequent track phases (ΘT,0[k+1] to ΘT,N-1[k+1]) and the track step directions (DT,0[k] to DT,N-1[k]) using the search signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINRS[k]) and the track signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINRT[k]) as feedback.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 19/020,376Filed 14 Jan 2025 · us provisional application
Priority: 16 Jan 2024
Granted: 23 Jun 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

H04B 7/0857
Joint weighting: using maximum ratio combining techniques, e.g. signal-to- interference ratio [SIR], received signal strenght indication [RSS]
H01Q 3/2611
Array of radiating elements provided with a feedback control over the element weights, e.g. adaptive arrays: means for null steering; Adaptive…
H04B 7/0617
Of weighted versions of same signal: for beam forming
H04B
Transmission