A new structure for adaptive broad-band beamforming

The performance characteristics of adaptive array systems with derivative constraints have been investigated by several authors. As a result of the derivative constraints, the array beamwidth in the look direction could be made as broad as desired; however, this increased beamwidth was achieved at the price of reducing array gain. A structure is proposed for an adaptive broadband beamforming system in a manner that can produce a broader beamwidth in the look direction without any derivative constraints imposed on the adaptive processor. Compared to the conventional Frost beamformer with derivative constraints, the computer simulations illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed structure, which broadens the beamwidth in the look direction with only slight sacrifice of array gain.>