System aspects and transmission impairments of active phased arrays for satellite communications

The communications link and system aspects of active phased arrays that are used in multiple-beam satellite systems are assessed through measurements and analysis. Three link parameters are investigated and their effects on the overall carrier-to-interference ratio (CIR) are quantified. The first parameter is the intermodulation components that are generated at the nonlinear amplifier outputs and contribute to well-formed interference in the far-field radiation of the array. The second is the bit-error ratio (BER) degradation due to the multi-carrier operation of the active array. Measurement results are shown to demonstrate this effect. The third link parameter is the cochannel interference caused by frequency reuse in multiple-beam systems. The paper starts by reviewing early developments of phased arrays for multiple-beam satellite communications applications. A key component in these developments is the modular monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) beam-forming matrices that generate a number of simultaneous and independently digitally controlled beams     

Blind GPS receiver with a modified despreader for interference suppression

The global positioning system (GPS) was designed to provide location estimates for various civilian and military applications using at least four satellites. Since GPS signals have a low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), they also have a low signal-to-jammer ratio so that the accuracy of location estimates is influenced by cochannel interference and intentional jammers. We propose a low-complexity blind adaptive receiver that is based on a novel modified despreader and the constant modulus (CM) array. This system is capable of ing directional interference and capturing the GPS signal of interest without requiring explicit angle-of-arrival (AOA) information. We also consider the multiple satellite problem and extend the proposed receiver to capture several GPS signals of interest. Representative computer simulation examples are presented to illustrate the performance of the multicomponent system for the suppression of different jammer types.     

Steered Beam and LMS Interference Canceler Comparison

The performance of two kinds of interference cancelers is compared, namely, a constrained steered beam interference canceler (CSBIC) and a least mean square interference canceler (LMSIC). For simplicity, this is done for a two-element array. In our comparison we use the array output desired signal-to-interference power ratio (SIR) and the desired signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). These power ratios are obtained for the CSBIC and LMSIC under two sets of conditions: 1) The error in the assumed angle of incidence for the CSBIC is small, and the LMSIC operates in a codetracking mode. 2) The error in the assumed angle of incidence for the CSBIC is large, and the LMSIC operates in a code-acquisition mode. Comparison of the corresponding power ratios obtained under these two sets of conditions then establishes the condition under which it is more desirable to use a CBSIC as compared with an LMSIC.     

Maximum-Likelihood Detection of Unresolved Radar Targets and Multipath

Interference in the form of multipath or uncooperative targets can seriously degrade the angle-of-arrival estimation accuracy of mutiplebeam processors. In this paper, the generalized likelihood ratio test is used to derive a test to detect the presence of interference for multiple beam processors. The detector performance is then analyzed in detail with respect to its dependence on signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), signal-to-interference ration (SIR), and on the relative phase between the target and interfering signals. It is shown that good detection performance can be obtained unless the phase difference between the target and interference signals is either in or out of phase.     

An Analysis of Helicopter Rotor Modulation Interference

In satellite-to-helicopter communications, interference exists on the incoming signal when the receiving antenna is located below the rotor blades. A bound is established for the performance of a coherent fixed-tone ranging system operating at L band in this interference environment. The scalar diffracted field beneath the rotating blades, at L band and above, is found to satisfy the criterion of Fresnel diffraction, and is computed using the techniques of Fourier optics. The diffracted field is expressed in terms of a narrow-band signal. The amplitude and phase components are calculated from a Fourier Series expansion using the FFT algorithm. The significant harmonics of the phase component of the interference combine with the baseband of the narrow-band, phase-modulated ranging signal. This results in CW interference, and in rearrangement of the first-order, sideband, ranging-tone channel powers. The degradation in ranging accuracy is evaluated by computing the signal-to-interference (SIR) ratio for a set of ranging tones. The post-detection (SIR)PD at the output of the correlator is shown to be a function of the amplitude of the phase harmonics of the interference, the relative difference between the ranging tone and interference center frequencies (a function of rotor speed), the rangetone modulation indices, and the post-detection filter noise bandwidth.     

Adaptive Array Behavior with Periodic Phase Modulated Interference

We consider a least mean square (LMS) adaptive array [1] receiving a phase modulated interference signal. The phase modulation is assumed to be periodic and to have finite bandwidth. Under these assumptions, we determine the time-varying array weights, the modulation on the array output desired signal, and the time-varying output interference-to-noise ratio (INR) and SINR (signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio). We present numerical results describing the behavior of a 2-element adaptive array that receives an interference signal with sinusoidal phase modulation. We show how each signal parameter (arrival angle, power, modulation index, and modulation frequency) affects the performance of the array.     

Optical fiber wavelength division multiplexing

During flight, aircraft avionics transmit and receive RF signals to/from antennas over coaxial cables. As the density and complexity of onboard avionics increases, the electromagnetic interference (EMI) environment degrades proportionately, leading to decreasing signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) and potential safety concerns. The coaxial cables are inherently lossy, limiting the RF signal bandwidth while adding considerable weight. To overcome these limitations, we have investigated a fiber optic communications link for aircraft that utilizes wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) to support the simultaneous transmission of multiple signals (including RF) over a single optical fiber. Optical fiber has many advantages over coaxial cable, particularly lower loss, greater bandwidth, and immunity to EMI. In this paper, we demonstrate that WDM can be successfully used to transmit multiple RF signals over a single optical fiber with no appreciable signal degradation. We investigate the transmission of FM and AM analog modulated signals, as well as FSK digital modulated signals, over a fiber optic link (FOL) employing WDM. We present measurements of power loss, delay, SNR, carrier-to-noise ratio (CNR), total harmonic distortion (THD), and bit error rate (BER). Our experimental results indicate that WDM is a fiber optic technology suitable for avionics applications.     

Coordinated adaptive beamformer over distributed antenna network

The spatial diversity of distributed network demands the individual filter to accommodate the topology of interference environment. In this paper, a type of distributed adaptive beamformer is proposed to mitigate interference over coordinated antenna arrays network. The proposed approach is formulated as generalized sidelobe canceller (GSC) structure to facilitate the convex combination of neighboring nodes’ weights, and then it is solved by unconstrained least mean square (LMS) algorithm due to simplicity. Numerical results show that the robustness and convergence rate of antenna arrays network can be significantly improved in strong interference scenario. And they also clearly illustrate that mixing vector is optimized adaptively and adjusted according to the spatial diversity of the distributed nodes which are placed in different power of received signals to interference ratio (SIR) environments.     

Capacities of mobile air/ground radio communication systemsemploying cylindrical cells

Cylindrical cells represent actual service volumes used in terminal areas (airports) for air traffic control (ATC) communications between pilots and ground controllers. The channel capacities of simplex and duplex frequency division multiplexing (FDM) mobile air/ground (A/G) radio communication systems employing cylindrical cells are compared assuming a network of identical cylindrical cells and a dedicated radio channel per group of aircraft and its ground controller. The two systems are compared considering both cochannel and adjacent channel interferences for analog and digital modulation. Then, capacities of duplex FDM and code division multiplexing (CDM) are compared under the same assumptions for digital modulation. The capacity of FDM depends mainly on the frequency reuse distance while the capacity of CDM is limited by the self users interference. This work shows that the capacity ratio of duplex and simplex FDM systems depends on the cell dimensions. It also shows that considering ATC requirements, FDM provides a higher capacity than CDM for all the cell dimension ranges considered     

Interception Algorithm of S-cubed Signal Model in Stealth Radar Equipment

Radar equipment of stealth platforms such as aircraft have adopted the newest modern technology to design the signal waveforms. One of the important and effective methods is the hybrid waveform called spread spectrum stretch (S-cubed) which combines linear frequency modulation (LFM) and discrete phase code. In order to investigate the function of enemy’s stealth radar equipment, the interception algorithm of S-cubed is needed. In this paper, a novel detection and parameter estimation approach for the reconnaissance S-cubed radar signal is presented. First, the generalized time-frequency representation of Zhao, Atlas, and Marks (ZAM-GTFR) and Hough transforms (HT) are applied to detecting the signal, and then the initial frequency and modulation slope of LFM are estimated from the ZAM-GTFR. On the basis of LFM information, the reconstructing signal is generated. Finally, the code rate of discrete phase code is extracted from the negative peaks of the ZAM-GTFR. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm has higher estimation accuracy when the signal to noise ratio (SNR) is above 3 dB.     

Detection Performance of Soft-Limited Phase-Coded Signals

General analytic expressions are developed for the soft-limited digital pulse compressor (matched filter). This theoretical development is then used for the hardware realization of a two-channel (I,Q), 3-bit-limited digital pulse compressor with a compression ratio of 255: 1. The realized hardware uses state of the art integrated circuit devices. An experimental laboratory setup is described. This setup is used to study hard-limited versus 3-bit-limited matched-filter performance characteristics with the data in the following areas: 1) constant false alarm rate (CFAR) characteristics as a function of threshold settings and noise levels; 2) single target detection characteristics as a function of input signal-to-noise ratio (SNR); and 3) two target performance characteristics: a) the amplitude of a weaker target as a function of target ratio and target overlap; and b) the detection characteristics of a weaker target as a function of weaker target SNR, strong target SNR, and target overlap.     

基于周期LFM本振的同步Nyquist折叠接收机 多分量信号参数估计算法

 Nyquist折叠接收机(NYFR)为一种新型侦察接收机结构,可利用单/双片模数转换器(ADC)同时完成多Nyquist区域内的宽频段信号采集。本文对NYFR结构进行了改进,提出了多分量信号的参数估计算法。首先,引入了同步结构,对NYFR进行了改进,得到了同步NYFR(SNYFR);其次,以本振为周期性线性调频(LFM)为例,分析了多分量信号的输出结果;然后,提出了去斜函数(DF)以用于检测信号的Nyquist区域;最终,根据区域信息完成了信号的各参数估计。计算量分析与仿真表明,所提算法计算量小且在信噪比(SNR)优于-9 dB时性能已接近克拉美-罗(CRLB)下限。     

一种盲多波束形成GNSS天线阵抗干扰算法

天线阵抗干扰是现代卫星导航接收机抗干扰的重要手段。传统的天线阵波束形成类算法能够在抑制干扰的同时提升抗干扰后输出信噪比,但是在信号捕获阶段,由于缺少先验信息的支持,该类算法无法在信号方向形成增益。因此,提出了一种盲多波束形成的天线阵抗干扰算法,通过形成多个波束覆盖天线阵上半球面,可在无先验信息的条件下对卫星信号形成增益,从而提升信号捕获阶段信噪比,使得接收机在干扰环境中具备更强的信号捕获能力。仿真结果表明:与传统的天线阵抗干扰算法相比,提出的算法能够在有效抑制干扰的同时显著提升接收机信号捕获成功率。     

An improved LMS adaptive algorithm for narrowband interferencesuppression in direct sequence spread spectrum

In 1990 Vijayan and Poor proposed nonlinear predictive methods for suppressing narrowband interference in spread spectrum (SS) systems with a significant increase in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) improvement. The main drawback of their adaptive nonlinear filter is its slow convergence rate. A new adaptive least mean squares (LMS) algorithm to increase the slow convergence of their nonlinear adaptive filter is described. Computer simulation results are presented to support the advantages of the new filter     

一种信道系数服从高斯分布的8PSK信号信噪比盲估计算法

信噪比（SNR,Signalto Noise Ratio）是衡量通信系统性能的重要指标。针对传统信噪比估计算法要求利用训练序列或一帧数据范周内信道系数恒定等问题,提出了一种8PSK信号在信道系数服从高斯分布的衰落信道下肯信噪比估计算法。该算法取接收信号实部或虚部数值运算构成中间观测量,理论分析8PSK信号经过衰落信道后...     

The Effect of a Pulsed Interference Signal on an Adaptive Array

The performance of a least mean square (LMS) adaptive array in the presence of a pulsed interference signal is examined. It is shown that a pulsed interference signal has two effects. First, it causes the array to modulate the desired signal envelope (but not its phase). Second, it causes the array output signal-to-interferenceplus-noise ratio (SINR) to vary with time. The desired signal modulation is evaluated as a function of signal arrival angles, powers and interference pulse-repetition frequency (PRF) and pulsewidth. It is shown that the signal modulation is small except when the interference arrives close to the desired signal. To evaluate the effect of the time-varying SINR, it is assumed that the array is used in a differential phase-shift keyed (DPSK) communication system. It is shown that the SINR variation causes a noticeable but not disastrous increase in the bit error probability.     

Adaptive Array Behavior with Sinusoidal Envelope Modulated Interference

The behavior of a LMS (least mean square) adaptive array with modulated interference is described. An interference signal with sinusoidal, double-sideband, suppressed-carrier modulation is assumed. It is shown that such interference causes the array to modulate the desired signal envelope but not its phase. The amount of the desired signal modulation is determined as a function of signal arrival angles and powers and the modulation frequency of the interference. Such interference also causes the array output signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) to vary with time. However, it is shown that when the desired signal is a digital communication signal, the averaged bit error probability is essentially the same as for continuous wave (CW) interference.     

Nonredundant error correction DQPSK for the aeronautical-satellitechannel

The performance of differentially encoded quadrature phase-shift keying (DQPSK) system employing nonredundant error correction (NEC) receivers with single- and double-error correction capability is analyzed and evaluated for the aeronautical satellite channel. The NEC is an attractive coding technique which employs differential detectors with more than one symbol delay elements and which does not introduce any redundancy as other coding schemes do. As typical for aeronautical satellite communications, a Rician fading channel with Gaussian power spectrum has been considered. Unlike the additive, uncorrelated from symbol to symbol interference such as additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) or static cochannel interference (CCI) which has been investigated in the past, analysis of the performance in a fading channel is much more difficult. The difficulty arises from the multiplicative and correlative nature of the fading interference. Bit error rate (BER) performance evaluation results have been obtained by means of computer simulation for various channel conditions, including different values of the K-factor and the fading B_DT. These results have indicated that considerable performance gains as compared with conventional differentially detected systems are achieved for high values of K and for very fast fading. Both of these conditions are encountered in typical aeronautical communication systems. Wherever possible, heuristic explanations of the trend of the obtained BER performance evaluation results are also given     

Effect of Sampling Time Jitter on Array Performance

The effect on array SNR of errors in sampling times (jitter) isan analyzed for the "Bryn processor." Jitter is modeled as a discrete-paramter er random process, and expressions for array SNR are determined as a function of signal and noise spectra and jitter characteristics. For a plane wave signal, it is found that jitter in the data used to design the processor has no effect on output SNR if the noise is independent between channels. However, jitter in the input (evaluation) n) data can cause a substantial loss in peak array SNR and in the array's frequency selectivity. These losses can be expected to increase as the high-frequency content of the data increases. The Bryn processor also loses its interpretation as a likelihood ratio processor in the presence of jitter. The effect of jitter can be reduced in many cases by increasing the sampling rate.     

Interference in Frequency-Locked Doppler Tracking Loops

The effects of interference on frequency-locked Doppler tracking loops are investigated. Conditions for jump from locking on the desired signal to locking on the interfering signal are established. Parasitic frequency modulation of the desired signal results when the other signal interferes with it. The index of this parasitic modulation as a function of the interference-to-desired signal amplitude ratio is computed. Both critical amplitude ratio and critical parasitic modulation index at the occurrence of jump are derived. Comparing frequency-locked loops with phase-locked loops with phase-locked loops in the presence of interference shows the former performs better for most cases of practical importance in Doppler tracking systems.