Method and apparatus for all-polarization direction finding

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and apparatus for all-polarization direction finding. The method and apparatus generally include acquiring measurements at least partially corresponding to an emitted signal and generated utilizing a blind signal extraction algorithm, forming an all-polarization cost function utilizing the acquired measurements, and determining an angle of arrival for the emitted signal utilizing the formed all-polarization cost function. Such a configuration enables angles of arrivals to be easily determined for signals having any polarization without using a multiple signal classification (MUSIC) algorithm.

1 . A method of determining an angle of arrival for an emitted signal having any polarization, the method comprising:
 acquiring measurements at least partially corresponding to the emitted signal and generated utilizing a blind signal extraction algorithm;   forming an all-polarization cost function utilizing the acquired measurements; and   determining the angle of arrival for the emitted signal utilizing the formed all-polarization cost function.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the measurements include a weight vector. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the measurements include calibration measurements comprising a matrix having vertical and horizontal array calibration vectors. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the all-polarization cost function is formed to include calibration normalization. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the angle of arrival is determined by acquiring a maximum of the all-polarization cost function. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the angle of arrival is determined by acquiring a minimum of the all-polarization cost function. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cost function is operable to be utilized by a signal specific direction finding algorithm. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the signal specific direction finding algorithm corresponds to a Maximum Likelihood Direction Finding (MLDF) algorithm. 
   
   
       9 . A computer program for determining an angle of arrival for an emitted signal having any polarization, the computer program stored on a computer-readable medium for operating a computing element and comprising:
 a code segment operable to acquire measurements at least partially corresponding to the emitted signal and generated utilizing a blind signal extraction algorithm;   a code segment operable to form an all-polarization cost function utilizing the acquired measurements; and   a code segment operable to determine the angle of arrival for the emitted signal utilizing the formed all-polarization cost function.   
   
   
       10 . The computer program of  claim 9 , wherein the measurements include a weight vector. 
   
   
       11 . The computer program of  claim 10 , wherein the measurements include calibration measurements comprising a matrix having vertical and horizontal array calibration vectors. 
   
   
       12 . The computer program of  claim 9 , wherein the code segment forms the all-polarization cost function to include calibration normalization. 
   
   
       13 . The computer program of  claim 9 , wherein the code segment determines the angle of arrival by acquiring a minimum of the all-polarization cost function. 
   
   
       14 . The computer program of  claim 9 , wherein the cost function is operable to be utilized by a signal specific direction finding algorithm. 
   
   
       15 . The computer program of  claim 14 , wherein the signal specific direction finding algorithm corresponds to a Maximum Likelihood Direction Finding (MLDF) algorithm. 
   
   
       16 . A computing element operable to determine an angle of arrival for an emitted signal having any polarization, the computing element comprising:
 a memory operable to store measurements at least partially corresponding to the emitted signal and generated utilizing a blind signal extraction algorithm; and   a processor coupled with the memory and operable to—
 form an all-polarization cost function utilizing the stored measurements; and 
 determine the angle of arrival for the emitted signal utilizing the formed all-polarization cost function. 
   
   
   
       17 . The computing element of  claim 16 , wherein the acquired measurements include a weight vector 
   
   
       18 . The computing element of  claim 17 , wherein the stored measurements include calibration measurements comprising a matrix having vertical and horizontal array calibration vectors. 
   
   
       19 . The computing element of  claim 17 , wherein the processor forms the all-polarization cost function to include calibration normalization. 
   
   
       20 . The computing element of  claim 16 , wherein the processor determines the angle of arrival by acquiring a minimum of the all-polarization cost function. 
   
   
       21 . The computing element of  claim 16 , wherein the cost function is operable to be utilized by a signal specific direction finding algorithm. 
   
   
       22 . The computing element of  claim 21 , wherein the signal specific direction finding algorithm corresponds to a Maximum Likelihood Direction Finding (MLDF) algorithm.