J4 ›› 2015, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (3): 122-128.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1001-2400.2015.03.021

• Original Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Algorithm for conformal array DOA estimation with an unknown number of sources

YANG Qun;CAO Xiangyu;GAO Jun;LI Sijia   

  1. (Information and Navigation Institute, AFEU, Xi'an  710077, China)
  • Received:2014-04-22 Online:2015-06-20 Published:2015-07-27
  • Contact: YANG Qun E-mail:yangqunjyb@163.com

Abstract:

An algorithm for conformal array DOA estimation with an unknown number of sources is developed to solve the problem that most of the DOA algorithms are based on the prior knowledge of the number of sources and the estimation error of the number of sources leads to the degradation of DOA algorithm performance. This method is realized by introducing the pseudo expected signal. Firstly, the received narrow band signal of the conformal array is modeled and the adaptive beamforming theory is introduced. The optimum weight deduced by the Maximum signal to inference and noise ratio (SINR) is applied to the received signal and the pseudo expected signal and the conformal array output signal to noise ratio (SNR) is regarded as the parameter of the DOA to accomplish the estimation. During the processing, the proposed method does not need the prior knowledge of the number of sources and the signal number estimation is avoided. Finally the validity of the algorithm is verified by simulation experiments. The simulation results show that the algorithm is effective and superior to the MUSIC (multiple signal classification) algorithm.

Key words: conformal array, direction of arrival, estimation of source number, virtual pseudo expected signal