An alternative approach to linearly constrained adaptive beamforming

TLDR

The paper proposes a beamforming structure capable of implementing a wide range of linearly constrained adaptive array processors. The structure is built for time‑delay‑steered arrays, enabling the desired signal to appear in phase at the steered outputs and incorporating both existing and novel adaptive beamforming algorithms. The structure offers the advantage of implementing constraints with simple hardware differencing amplifiers, facilitates analysis of steering‑error effects, and demonstrates performance gains in numerical examples.

Abstract

A beamforming structure is presented which can be used to implement a wide variety of linearly constrained adaptive array processors. The structure is designed for use with arrays which have been time-delay steered such that the desired signal of interest appears approximately in phase at the steered outputs. One major advantage of the new structure is the constraints can be implemented using simple hardware differencing amplifiers. The structure is shown to incorporate algorithms which have been suggested previously for use in adaptive beamforming as well as to include new approaches. It is also particularly useful for studying the effects of steering errors on array performance. Numerical examples illustrating the performance of the structure are presented.