Distributed adaptive combining system for multiple aperture antennas including phased arrays

A method for adjusting signals received by a plurality of antenna elements of an array antenna, comprising:

• receiving a first signal using at least a first antenna element of said array antenna;
• receiving a second signal using at least a second antenna element of said array antenna;
• generating an adjusting signal using said first signal and said second signal, wherein said generating step is conducted without using any-signal, having one or more frequencies, that is provided independently of at least one of said first and second signals, and wherein said generating step includes producing signals related to a first correlation envelope and a second correlation envelope using at least one of said first and second signals;
• and
• controlling a delay associated with said second signal after said generating step.

A method for adjusting signals received by a plurality of antenna elements of an array antenna, comprising:

• receiving a first signal using at least a first antenna element of said array antenna;
• receiving a second signal using at least a second antenna element of said array antenna;
• generating an adjusting signal using said first signal and said second signal, wherein said generating step is conducted without using any signal, having one or more frequencies, that is provided independently of at least one of said first and second signals, and wherein said generating step includes:
• dividing said first signal at a first power divider to create a first divided signal and a second divided signal;
• dividing said second signal at a second power divider to create a third divided signal and a fourth divided signal;
• routing said second and fourth divided signals to a power combiner to create a combined output signal;
• and
• determining a phase relationship between said first and second signals using said first divided signal and said third divided signal;
• and
• controlling a delay associated with said second signal after said generating step.

A method for combining signals received by at least two displaced apertures of a multiple aperture antenna, comprising:

• providing at least first and second apertures having a first plurality of antenna elements and a second plurality of antenna elements, respectively;
• outputting a first aperture output signal and a second aperture output signal using signals obtained from said first plurality of antenna elements and said second plurality of antenna elements, respectively;
• and
• determining a combined adjusting signal using said first and second output signals, wherein said combined adjusting signal depends on signals related to a first correlation envelope and a second correlation envelope;
• and
• controlling a delay related to said first and second aperture output signals using said combined adjusting signal.

An antenna apparatus, comprising:

• a first aperture including a first plurality of antenna elements that provides a first aperture output signal;
• a second aperture including a second plurality of antenna elements that provides a second aperture output signal;
• and
• determining circuitry responsive to said first and second aperture output signals to provide a combined adjusting signal used to adjust a delay related to said first and second aperture output signals, said combined adjusting signal being dependent on each of a time correlating signal and a phase correlating signal, said time correlating signal being related to an integer wavelength offset associated with said first and second antenna apertures and said phase correlating signal being related to a phase difference associated with said first and second antenna apertures.

An antenna apparatus, comprising:

• a first aperture including a first plurality of antenna elements that provides a first aperture output signal;
• a second aperture including a second plurality of antenna elements that provides a second aperture output signal;
• and
• determining circuitry responsive to said first and second aperture output signals to provide a combined adjusting signal used to adjust a delay related to said first and second aperture output signals, wherein said determining circuitry includes processing circuitry that generates signals related to first and second correlation envelopes obtained from said first and second aperture output signals.