Abstract: A beam forming device and method as well as to a beam steering device and method are described. The imaging beam forming device comprises a wideband transmit unit comprising at least one transmit antenna, a receiver unit comprising at least two receive antennas and at least one receive element that receive radiation from said scene and that generate receive signals from said received radiation, and a beam forming unit that performs beam forming to form a receive beam and obtain beam formed output signals from said receive signals by use of beam forming weights. For different samples or groups of subsequent samples of a receive signal, a sample representing said receive signal at a different frequency, a frequency-dependent weight is used for beam forming, which frequency-dependent weights are adapted to result in a predetermined shape of said receive beam.

Abstract: Communication systems and methods are disclosed. A number of interference sources are obtained based on received signals. A communication is performed using a plurality of antennas and a transmission directivity of the antennas is controlled when transmitting signals. At least null-steering from among null-steering and beam-forming is performed in relation to the transmission directivity of the antennas, when the number of interference sources is less than a first threshold value. Only the beam-forming is performed from among the null-steering and the beam-forming in relation to the transmission directivity of the antennas, when the number of interference sources is greater than the first threshold value.

Abstract: A motor vehicle is equipped for radio communication with at least one further motor vehicle. An antenna structure is used to transmit and receive useful signals. The antenna structure can be controlled with the aid of a control device in such a way that it is possible to change the setting of the main lobe of the antenna. A method is also disclosed for operating an antenna structure which is installed in a motor vehicle.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in transmit beamforming to a beamformee having NR receive antennas. The apparatus includes a controller configured to i) construct a partial channel matrix that describes a multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) channel between a beamformer and M receive antennas, wherein M is less than NR, and ii) generate L independent vectors using the partial channel matrix, wherein L is a rank of the partial channel matrix. When a number NS of one or more streams is greater than L, the controller is further configured to i) select the L independent vectors as steering vectors to steer L streams of the plurality of streams, and ii) select NS?L orthogonal vectors in a null space of the L independent vectors as steering vectors to steer a remainder of the streams in the plurality of streams.

Abstract: A mechanism for processing beamforming steering matrices in a transceiver system. A plurality of beamforming steering matrices associated with a plurality of subcarriers of an RF signal received at the transceiver system are generated. The beamforming steering matrices are compressed and stored. The beamforming steering matrices may also be grouped or sub-sampled prior to being stored. The beamforming steering matrices are decompressed and ungrouped before being applied to data to be transmitted. Prior to ungrouping the beamforming steering matrices, a phase difference between corresponding beamforming steering vectors of consecutive beamforming steering matrices is determined. Phase rotation is performed on the corresponding beamforming steering vectors based on the determined phase difference associated with the corresponding beamforming steering vectors to improve phase continuity between consecutive beamforming steering matrices.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for improving the performance of a beamforming antenna array in a wireless communications system. By observing a predetermined times of channel spatial signatures, one or more test spatial signatures are generated based on statistical analysis of the observed spatial signatures for predicting channel characteristics. A beamforming weight is derived based on the generated test spatial signatures for beamforming by an antenna subsystem of the wireless communication system.

Abstract: A method for iterative estimation of a set of unknown channel parameters in a beamforming network including determining a first order estimate of offsets at measurement nodes and an estimate of the confidence in the initial estimate of the measurement nodes' offsets, and iterating, until a desired estimation accuracy is obtained, determining an improved estimate of a parameter set, and the confidence in the estimates, using the prior estimate of the offsets at the measurement nodes and determining an improved estimate of the offsets at the measurement nodes and the associated confidence values using the prior estimate of the parameter set and the corresponding confidence values.

Abstract: The present invention refers to an active antenna array having a plurality of antenna elements comprising: at least one first subset of the plurality of antenna elements, the at least one first subset relaying a first radio signal having a first antenna beam pattern; and at least one second subset of the plurality of antenna elements, the at least one second subset relaying a second radio signal having a second antenna beam pattern, wherein at least one of the plurality of antenna elements is a common antenna element belonging to both the first subset and the second subset. A method for operating the active antenna array is also disclosed.

Abstract: An advanced multiple-beam GPS receiving system is achieved that is capable of simultaneously tracking multiple GPS satellites independently, detecting multiple interference signals individually, and suppressing directional gain in the antenna pattern of each beam in the interference directions. The GPS receiving system can be used for both planar and non-planar receiving arrays, including arrays that are conformally applied to the surface of a platform such as an aircraft. The GPS receiver combines spatial filtering and acquisition code correlation for enhanced rejection of interfering sources. Enhanced gain in the direction of GPS satellites and the ability to shape the beam patterns to suppress gain in the direction of interfering sources make the GPS receiving system largely insensitive to interfering and jamming signals that plague conventional GPS receivers.

Abstract: A base station is capable of transmitting a signal in a wireless communication network. The base station decides channel state information matrices of respective channels by determining a state of the channels corresponding to respective transmission antennas. The base station calculates transmission beam forming vectors for the respective transmission antennas by a combination of a dot product and a cross product of the channel state information matrices. Thereafter, the base station beam-forms signals for the respective transmission antennas by using the respective transmission beam forming vectors, and transmitting the beam-formed signals.

Abstract: A method and system for beamforming a multi-element array using time delays is provided. The array includes transmit array elements and receive array elements. Each of the array elements includes a processor. Modulation and demodulation functions are performed at the processors of each array element. The modulation and demodulation functions utilize receive time offsets and phase shifts, and transmit time offsets and phase shifts, respectively. The receive time offsets and phase shifts, and the transmit time offsets and phase shifts are determined by a central processing unit in order to beamform received signals and transmitted signals, respectively. The array elements are arranged in a daisy chain fashion in order to facilitate communication of control parameters, communication of bits to be transmitted and distributed combining of demodulated baseband samples from one array element to another and communicating the combined samples to the central processing unit.

Abstract: Methods of operating a transceiver including an antenna having a plurality of antenna feed elements are presented. The methods include defining a plurality of antenna gain constraint values gk associated with K geographic constraint points within a geographic region, iteratively generating M antenna feed element weights wM that result in antenna response values fK at the K geographic constraint points based on the corresponding antenna gain constraint values gK, forming an antenna beam from the antenna to the geographic region using the antenna feed element weights wM, and communicating information over the antenna beam. Related transceivers, satellites, and satellite gateways are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and a system for calibrating at least one antenna (1,1-1,3. 1,j). At least a first antenna (1,4) within a first antenna array (102) can be selected as a primary reference antenna. At least one antenna (4,3) that is not within the first antenna array can be selected as a secondary reference antenna. At least a first signal propagation characteristic (122) can be measured based on at least one signal wirelessly communicated between the primary reference antenna and the secondary reference antenna. At least a second signal propagation characteristic (118) can be measured based on at least one signal wirelessly communicated between the secondary reference antenna and at least a second antenna (1,2) within the first antenna array. At least a first calibration coefficient can be determined for the second antenna.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for directing radiated energy from a transmitting device towards a receiving device using multiple antennas. Channel weights, representing signal attenuation and a phase rotation induced by a transmission medium, are determined at a transmitting device. A set of steering weights are determined based on applying an iterative linear transform to an initial value of the steering weights, where the linear transform depends on the determined channel weights. A final value of the steering weights is applied to an input signal to produce a transmit signal, and the transmit signal is transmitted using multiple antennas.

Abstract: A technique for determining the angles of arrival of signals incident on an antenna array from directions within an angular region of interest involves supplying outputs of antenna elements of the antenna array to a number of different weight generators. Each of the weight generators produces a set of beam-forming weights that maximizes a signal-to-interference ratio of a locally generated signal corresponding to a look angle that is outside the region of interest, with signals at different look angles being supplied to the different weight generators. An annihilation operator is determined from the sets of beam-forming weights generated by the weight generators and from beam-forming vectors representing the look angles of the locally generated signals used in the weight generators. The annihilation operator is applied to a group of beam-forming vectors representing angles within the region of interest to determine angles of arrival of signals within the region of interest.

Abstract: A motion compensation method and system is included in a radar antenna system mounted on a moving platform which is subject to pitch, yaw and roll. The radar antenna system includes a main array antenna, and an auxiliary antenna. The auxiliary channel associated with the auxiliary antenna utilizes roll, pitch and yaw angle motion compensations as its auxiliary antenna always steers a horizontal fan shape beam at the horizon to blank any surface (land or sea) based EM interferences. Such motion compensations are provided by a ship motion compensator component and process included within the antenna system. The ship motion compensator component in response to platform motion signals indicative of changes in platform motion angles generates new sets of values using an initial set of weighting coefficient values as a function of such angle motion changes.

Abstract: A phased array antenna system with intermodulation beam nulling device includes nulling phase shifters.

Abstract: A community antenna system in a closed loop mode and a method thereof are provided, the system includes two groups of pre-weighting processing modules, beamforming modules and antenna arrays connected in turn. The method includes the following processes: performing the pre-weighting processing on a transmission signal respectively according to the channel information corresponding to each of two antenna arrays; determining beamforming weight vectors according to two groups of steering vectors corresponding to the two antenna arrays, and performing weighting processing on the two pre-weighting processed transmission signals respectively to form two directional beams directed to the receiving antenna of a target mobile terminal; and transmitting the two directional beams via two antenna arrays with orthogonal polarization modes respectively.

Abstract: A signal wave arrival angle measuring device includes: an observation data vector generation section generating an observation data vector necessary for an angle measurement of a signal wave from an electrical signal having been converted at a sensor group converting the signal wave of an observation target to the electrical signal; an ESPRIT angle measurement processing section calculating an arrival angle of the signal wave from the generated observation data vector; an arriving signal wave estimation section estimating information other than the arrival angle of the arriving signal wave from an angle measurement processing process data of the ESPRIT angle measurement processing at the ESPRIT angle measurement processing section; and a reliability determination section determining whether or not an angle measurement result of the calculated arrival angle is correct based on an estimation result of the arriving signal wave estimation section, and excluding an erroneous angle measurement result.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for improving the performance of a beamforming antenna array in a wireless communications system. A predetermined number of spatial signatures are observed for a communications channel between a base station and a mobile terminal during a predetermined time period. One or more test spatial signatures are generated based on statistical analysis of the observed predetermined number of spatial signatures. A beamforming weight is derived based on the generated test spatial signatures for beamforming by an antenna subsystem of the base station.

Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for channel estimation in a MIMO communication system with multiple RF chains for WCDMA/HSDPA may comprise receiving a plurality of communication signals from a plurality of transmit antennas. A plurality of vectors of baseband combined channel estimates may be generated based on phase rotation of the received plurality of communication signals. A matrix of processed baseband combined channel estimates may be generated based on the generated plurality of vectors of baseband combined channel estimates. A plurality of amplitude and phase correction signals may be generated based on the generated plurality of vectors of baseband combined channel estimates. An amplitude and a phase of at least a portion of the received plurality of communication signals may be adjusted based on the generated plurality of amplitude and phase correction signals, respectively.

Abstract: This invention discloses a method for enhancing a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), such as Global Positioning System (GPS), location calculation by supplying carrier phase corrections within a GNSS receiver used with a multiple element Controlled Reception Pattern Antenna (CRPA) receiver. GNSS carrier phase measurements should be compensated for receiver hardware and directionally dependent antenna errors to obtain desired accuracies for high precision GNSS positioning applications. One technique successfully employed in Fixed Reception Pattern Antenna (FRPA) GPS sensors applies a simple directionally dependent set of correction factors to the measurement outputs. For the complex case of a GNSS receiver employing a CRPA and dynamic beam steering, however, the multiplicity of combinations of antenna element outputs makes the FRPA compensation technique impractical. Compensation of carrier phase measurements is a problem not addressed in previous GPS CRPA beam steering sensors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitting beams of electromagnetic energy. A plurality of beams having a first number of frequencies and a number of beams having a second number of frequencies are transmitted. The plurality of beams and the number of beams overlap each other at an area with a pattern of intensities in the area. Difference frequency signals having a number of difference frequencies equal to a difference between the first number of frequencies and the second number of frequencies are monitored. The difference frequency signals are generated by an object having non-linear electrical characteristics in response to receiving the plurality of beams and the number of beams.

Abstract: A communications device for separating source signals provided by M signal sources includes an antenna array comprising N antenna elements for receiving at least N different summations of the M source signals. At least two of the N antenna elements are correlated and have different polarizations for receiving at least two of the N different summations of the M source signals, with N and M being greater than 1. A receiver is connected to the antenna array for receiving the at least N different summations of the M source signals. A blind signal separation processor is connected to the receiver for forming a mixing matrix comprising the at least N different summations of the M source signals, and for separating desired source signals from the mixing matrix. The mixing matrix has a rank equal to at least N.

Abstract: A method in a transmitter for selecting steering vectors for simultaneously transmitting a plurality of streams (NS) between the transmitter and a receiver, where the receiver has NR receive antennas, where the transmitter knows respective channels associated with M receive antennas of the receiver, and where M is less than NR, includes constructing a partial channel matrix that describes a multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) channel between the transmitter and the M receive antennas, generating L independent vectors using the partial channel matrix, wherein L is a rank of the partial channel matrix, selecting a respective steering vector for each of the plurality of streams to be transmitted to the receiver, including, if NS is less than or equal to L, selecting NS of the L independent vectors as the steering vectors, and, if NS is greater than L, (i) selecting the L independent vectors as steering vectors to steer L of the plurality of streams; and (ii) selecting NS?L orthogonal vectors in a null space o

Abstract: An apparatus and method is described for generating an electromagnetic, or acoustic field by use of a number of field sources in order to produce a field anomaly at a known target location. The field anomaly is characterized by having a wavefront at the target location that has a predetermined desired orientation so that at the target location the field appears to emanate from a different direction to that perceived at field locations away from the target.

Abstract: There are provided a method of determining real time location of a reflecting object and a system thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adaptive beam-steering are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises performing adaptive beam steering using multiple transmit and receive antennas, including iteratively performing a pair of training sequences, wherein the pair of training sequences includes estimating a transmitter antenna-array weight vector and a receiver antenna-array weight vector.

Abstract: Beamforming methods for operating a transceiver including an antenna having a plurality of antenna feed elements include defining a plurality of real valued antenna gain constraint values associated with a plurality of geographic constraint points within a geographic region, and generating complex valued antenna feed element weights that result in complex antenna gain values at the geographic constraint points based on the corresponding real valued antenna gain constraint values. An antenna beam is formed from the antenna to the geographic region using the complex valued antenna feed element weights, and information is transmitted over the antenna beam.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a communications system. The methods involve computing one or more complex weights to be applied to transmit signals and receive signals by beamformers. The complex weights are based at least on configuration data for the communications system. The methods also involve applying a first plurality of weight corrections to the complex weights based on phasing errors occurring in a communication path inclusive of a control system and antenna elements. The methods further involve applying a second plurality of weight corrections to the complex weights based on phase differences at the antenna elements relative to a reference location for the receive signals.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for transmitting/receiving data in a multi-user multi-antenna communication system. A data transmitting apparatus and method computes a RX filter or a TX filter for each user receiver in an improved scheme, selects a codebook correlating with the computed TX filter or the computed RX filter, and transmits an index of the selected TX filter codebook or an index of the selected RX filter codebook to a receiver. A data receiving apparatus and method receives the codebook index and detects a corresponding RX filter from the codebook by using the received codebook index.

Abstract: An active antenna array comprises a plurality of transmission paths, a variable common power supply unit, and an envelope detection system. The transmission paths are adapted to carry a plurality of similar transmission path signals, wherein at least one of the plurality of transmission paths comprises an amplifier having a power input and a signal input for one of the plurality of similar transmission path signals. The variable common power supply unit is connected to the power input of the amplifier for supplying power to the amplifier. The envelope detection system is connected to an envelope input of the variable common power supply unit and adapted to provide a common envelope signal for the plurality of similar transmission path signals to the variable common power supply unit. A method for envelope tracking and computer program products for manufacture and method execution are also claimed.

Abstract: A beam-forming antenna for transmission and/or reception of an electromagnetic signal having a given wavelength in a surrounding medium includes a transmission line electromagnetically coupled to an array of individually controllable antenna elements, each of which is oscillated by the signal with a controllable amplitude. The oscillation amplitude of each of the individual antenna elements is controlled by a switch. The antenna elements are arranged in various shapes such as a parabolic arc, a circular arc, a cylindrical surface or a conic surface. The antenna elements have various spacing such as uniform, parabolic, circular, or raised cosine.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for the unwrapping of a set of phase values observed for an incoming signal on a phased array antenna. The difference between values observed on adjacent elements in the array forms a first data set. The differences between adjacent ordinates in the first data set forms a second data set. The values in the second data set are rounded to the nearest whole multiple of one complete cycle before the differencing process is reversed to provide the values (representing a whole number of complete cycles) which are added to the observed phase values to provide the unwrapped phase values.

Abstract: A system for testing radio frequency (RF) communications of a device capable of such communications is provided. The system includes a chamber for isolating the device from RF interference, an antenna that is suitable for RF communications with the device wherein the antenna is capable of communications over a range of frequencies, the antenna being located within the chamber, and a digital communication link for providing non-RF communications with the device.

Abstract: Systems and methods of training antennas for two devices equipped with phased array antennas in a wireless network are disclosed. In one embodiment, the methods include transmitting a plurality of estimation training sequences from a transmit phased array antenna to a receive phased array antenna, wherein a length of at least one of the plurality of training sequences is adapted to a number of antenna elements at one of the transmit and receive phased array antennas. The methods further include transmitting data to the receive phased array antenna via the transmit phased array antenna tuned with a transmit beamforming vector (BV) selected based at least in part on the plurality of estimation training sequences.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitting beams of electromagnetic energy. A plurality of beams having a first number of frequencies and a number of beams having a second number of frequencies are transmitted. The plurality of beams and the number of beams overlap each other at an area with a pattern of intensities in the area. Difference frequency signals having a number of difference frequencies equal to a difference between the first number of frequencies and the second number of frequencies are monitored. The difference frequency signals are generated by an object having non-linear electrical characteristics in response to receiving the plurality of beams and the number of beams.

Abstract: This device combines multiple elements that function like a single smart antenna that performs both connectivity and spatial discrimination functions. The antenna functions in both receive and transmit modes. The apparatus utilizes commonly used components to distinguish and separate desired satellite signals from those signals of satellites in close directional proximity. Disclosed are six methods for optimizing reception of desired satellite signals performed either mechanically or electronically and also included is an optimization technique when data stream reception is ?1 Gbps. The transmission apparatus uses many of the same components as the receiver antenna and additionally uses in-beam nulling to fine tune transmission.

Abstract: Calibrating signal processing paths for a plurality of transmission devices by obtaining calibration data for at least one of the signal processing paths for each of the transmission devices and determining a plurality of calibration weights from the calibration data for each of the transmission devices. A calibration variance is calculated between the plurality of calibration weights and it is determined if the calibration variance is below a calibration variance threshold. Additionally, a phase variation and a magnitude variation are calculated from the calibration data for each of the transmission devices with respect to a reference transmission signal obtained from a reference transmission device and it is determined for each of the transmission devices if the phase variation is below a phase variation threshold and if the magnitude variation is below a magnitude variation threshold.

Abstract: A phased array antenna system with two dimensional scanning includes a two dimensional array A of antenna elements A1,1 to A12,12 arranged in lines; each line is associated with a respective first rank corporate feed network 161 to 1612 having outputs 171,1 to 1712,12 connected to respective antenna elements A1,1 to A12,12 and inputs for variable relative phase input signals. These corporate feed networks each have first and second inputs A1/B1 to A12/B12 connected respectively to outputs 171 CD/1712CD to 171EF/1712EF of different second rank corporate feed networks 16CD and 16EF. The corporate feed networks 161 to 16EF convert input signals of variable relative phase into relatively greater numbers of output signals for a phased array.

Abstract: A method and system for analog beamforming in a wireless system is provided. Analog beamforming involves performing an iterative beam acquisition process based on beam search training, determining transmit and receive beamforming vectors including phase weighting coefficients, based on the iterative beam acquisition process. Each iteration includes estimating the receive and transmit beamforming coefficients alternatively, until the receive and transmit beamforming coefficients converge.

Abstract: A method and system for beamforming with partial channel knowledge comprises beamforming one or more streams from a beamformer to one or more receive antennas of a beamformee whose channels are known to the beamformer. In response to the beamformer having a larger number of streams to transmit to the beamformee than a rank of a partial channel matrix between the beamformer and the beamformee, beamforming is used to steer remaining streams through a null space of the partial channel matrix.

Abstract: An apparatus, logic and method are provided to improve beamformed space time code (STC) wireless communication. A first device comprising a plurality of antennas receives signals at the plurality of antennas transmitted from a first antenna of a second device. A testing spatial signature for a second antenna of the second device is computed based on the signals received at the plurality of antennas of the first device from the first antenna of the second device. Using the testing spatial signature and the signals received at the plurality of antennas of the first device from the first antenna of the second device, beamforming weights are computed to be applied to a space time code signal to be transmitted from the first device to the second device via the plurality of antennas of the first device.

Abstract: A multi-antenna transmitting apparatus wherein a relatively simple selection procedure can be used to reconcile the data transmission rate and the received data quality. When a transport signal, which is required to have a higher quality than other signals, is to be transmitted, a vector multiplexing part (105) reduces the number of transport beams (i.e., reduces the number of unique paths used for transmission), and further gives a higher priority to a unique vector belonging to a large unique value and uses that unique vector to vector multiplex the transport signal, thereby forming a transport beam (i.e., gives a higher priority to a signal, which is required to have a high quality, and transmits that signal by use of a unique path having a large path gain).

Abstract: Techniques are provided for computing beamforming weight vectors useful for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) wireless transmission of multiple signals streams from a first device to a second device. The techniques involve computing a plurality of candidate beamforming weight vectors based on the one or more signals received at the plurality of antennas of the first device. A sequence of orthogonal/partially orthogonal beamforming weight vectors are computed from the plurality of candidate beamforming weight vectors. The sequence of orthogonal/partially orthogonal beamforming weight vectors are applied to multiple signal streams for simultaneous transmission to the second device via the plurality of antennas of the first device.

Abstract: Techniques are provided herein to combine the advantages of beamforming with the advantages of multiple-input multiple output (MIMO) technology in a frequency division duplex (FDD) communication system, even when the uplink and downlink frequency separation exceeds the coherent bandwidth of the over-the-air-channels. At a first wireless communication device having M plurality of antennas, a wireless transmission is received that is sent from a second wireless communication device having P plurality of antennas. The first device computes spatial components associated with the transmission received at the M plurality of antennas. The first device selects the N strongest spatial components among the computed spatial components. The first device computes N beamforming weight vectors based on the N strongest spatial components. The first device then computes N MIMO beamforming weight vectors based on the N beamforming weight vectors.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a plurality of antenna elements, a plurality of digital signal processing devices for supplying phase-and-amplitude-weighted digital baseband signals, a beamforming processor for processing the weighted digital baseband signals to adaptively form a plurality of beam patterns for the antenna elements, a plurality of digital modulators for converting the digital baseband signals into intermediate frequency digital signals, and a modulator for modulating in-phase and quadrature components of the intermediate frequency digital signals to produce composite radio frequency output signals for the antenna elements. Receiving apparatus, and methods of transmitting and receiving a plurality of signals on a plurality of antenna elements are also provided.

Abstract: A system and a method for operating a radar system in a continuous wave mode for communicating information are provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a method for operating a radar system, having an antenna including a plurality of active array elements, in a continuous wave mode to communicate information, the method including receiving an instruction to enter the continuous wave mode, loading a plurality of tables, where each table includes information indicative of a primary group of the active array elements to be activated and a secondary group of elements to be deactivated, receiving a communication signal to be transmitted, and providing, repeatedly, the communication signal, for a preselected period of time, to the primary group of elements of each of the plurality of tables.

Abstract: Techniques are provided to compute beamforming weights at a communication device, e.g., a first communication device, based on transmissions received at a plurality of antennas from another communication device, e.g., a second communication device. A plurality of transmissions are received at the plurality of antennas of the first communication device from the second communication device. A covariance matrix associated with reception of a plurality of transmissions at the plurality of antennas of the first communication device is computed. Corresponding elements (e.g., all the rows or all the columns) of the covariance matrix are combined to produce a weighted channel signature vector. A receive beamforming weight vector is computed from the weighted channel signature vector.

Abstract: A beamformer includes a number (T) of consecutive combining stages. A Tth combining stage includes a converging unit. Each of first to (T?1)th combining stages includes a plurality of converging units. The number of the converging units in a preceding combining stage is greater than that of a succeeding combining stage. Each converging unit in the first combining stage combines three arrival signals from an antenna array in accordance with corresponding weights so as to form an output signal. Each converging unit in each of second to (T?1)th combining stages combines output signals of three corresponding converging units in an immediately preceding combining stage in accordance with corresponding weights so as to form an output signal. The converging unit of the Tth combining stage combines the output signals from the converging units in the (T?1)th combining stage in accordance with corresponding weights so as to form an output signal that serves as an array pattern.