This dissertation proposes an iterative confidence passing (ICP) approach for parameter estimation. The dissertation describes three different algorithms that follow from this ICP approach. These three variations of the ICP approach are applied to (a) macrodiversity and user cooperation diversity reception problems, (b) the co-operative multipoint MIMO reception problem (pertinent to the LTE Advanced system scenarios), and (c) the satellite beamforming problem. The first two of these three applications are some of the significant open DSP research problems that are currently being actively pursued in academia and industry. This dissertation demonstrates a significant performance improvement that the proposed ICP approach delivers compared to the existing known techniques. The proposed ICP approach jointly estimates (and, thereby, separates) two sets of unknown parameters from the receiver measurements. For applications (a) and (b) mentioned above, one set of unknowns is comprised of the discrete-valued information-bearing transmitted symbols in a multi-channel communication system, and the other set of unknown parameters is formed by the coefficients of a Rayleigh or Rician fading channel. Application (a) is for interference-free, cooperative or macro, transmit or receive, diversity scenarios. Application (b) is for MIMO systems with interference-rich reception. Finally, application (c) is for an interference-free spacecraft array calibration system model in which both the sets of unknowns are complex continuous valued variables whose magnitude follows the Rician distribution. The algorithm described here is the outcome of an investigation for solving a difficult channel estimation problem. The difficulty of the estimation problem arises because (i) the channel of interest is intermittently observed, and (ii) the partially observed information is not directly of the channel of interest; it has dependency on another unknown and uncorrelated set of complex-valued random variables. The proposed ICP algorithmic approach for solving the above estimation problems is based on an iterative application of the Weighted Least Squares (WLS) method. The main novelty of the proposed algorithm is a back and forth exchange of the confidence or the belief values in the WLS estimates of the unknown parameters during the algorithm iterations. The confidence values of the previously obtained estimates are used to derive the estimation weights at the next iteration, which generates an improved estimate with a greater confidence. This method of iterative confidence (or belief) passing causes a bootstrapping convergence to the parameter estimates. Besides the ICP approach, several alternatives are considered to solve the above problems (a, b and c). Results of the performance simulation of the alternative methods show that the ICP algorithm outperforms all the other candidate approaches. Performance benefit is significant when the measurements (and the initial seed estimates) have non-uniform quality, e.g., when many of the measurements are either non-usable (e.g., due to shadowing or blockage) or are missing (e.g., due to instrument failures). / Ph. D.

This dissertation focuses on an efficient cooperative communication method for wireless ad hoc networks. Typically, performance enhancement via cooperative communications can be achieved at the cost of other system resources such as additional bandwidth, transmit power, or more complex synchronization methods between cooperating signals. However, the proposed ooperative transmission scheme in this research utilizes system resources more efficiently by reducing the redundant and wasteful cooperating signals typically required, while maintaining the desired performance improvement. There are four main results in this dissertation. First, an efficient cooperative retransmission scheme is introduced to increase bandwidth efficiency by reducing wasteful cooperating signals. The proposed cooperative transmission method does not require any additional information for cooperation. Furthermore, we ensure good quality for the cooperating signals through a simple yet effective selection procedure. Multiple cooperating nodes can be involved in the cooperation without prior planning via distributed beamforming. The proposed cooperative retransmission scheme outperforms traditional retransmission by the source as well as other cooperative methods in terms of delay and packet error rate (PER). Secondly, the outage probabilities of the cooperative retransmission scheme are analyzed for both the perfect synchronization case and when offset estimation is performed for distributed beamforming. The performance with offset estimation is close to the perfect synchronization case, especially for short data packets. A low-rate feedback channel is introduced to adjust the phase shift due to channel variation and the residual frequency offset. It is shown that substantial gain can be achieved with a low-rate feedback channel, even for long data packets. Third, the throughput efficiency and average packet delay of the proposed cooperative retransmission scheme are analyzed using a two-state Markov model for both a simple automatic repeat request (ARQ) and a hybrid ARQ technique. The benefits of the cooperative ARQ approach are also verified in a multihop network with random configurations when there are concurrent packet transmissions. The average transmit power for the cooperating signals is also investigated in the proposed cooperative transmission scheme with various power control approaches. Finally, cooperative multiple input multiple output (MIMO) systems are examined, mainly focusing on power allocation methods to increase overall channel capacity. An efficient and simple power allocation method at the cooperating node is proposed which can be used for an arbitrary number of antennas without any additional information. / Ph. D.

A novel concept in noise control devices for landing gears is presented. These devices consist of elastic membranes creating a fairing around the major noise sources. The purpose of these devices is to reduce wake interactions and to hide components from the flow, thus, reducing the noise emission. The design of these fairings was focused on the major noise sources identified in a 777 main landing gear. To find the major noise sources, an extensive noise source identification process was performed using phased arrays. To this end, phased array technologies were developed and a 26%-scale 777 main landing gear model was tested at the Virginia Tech Stability Wind Tunnel. Since phased array technologies present some issues leading to misinterpretation of results and inaccuracy in determining actual levels, a new approach to the deconvolution of acoustic sources has been developed. The goal of this post-processing is to "simplify" the beamforming output by suppressing the sidelobes and reducing the sources mainlobe to a small number of points that accurately identify the noise sources position and their actual levels. To this end, the beamforming output is modeled as a superposition of "complex" point spread functions and a nonlinear system of equations is posted. Such system is solved using a new 2-step procedure. In the first step an approximated linear problem is solved, while in the second step an optimization is performed over the nonzero values obtained in the previous step. The solution to this system of equations renders the sources position and amplitude. The technique is called: noise source Localization and Optimization of Array Results (LORE). Numerical simulations as well as sample experimental results are shown for the proposed post-processing. / Ph. D.

Yes / A major drawback in deploying beamforming scheme in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) is to obtain the optimal weights that are associated with information beams. Two beam weighting methods, namely co-phasing and singular vector decomposition (SVD), are considered to maximize the signal beams for such beamforming scheme. Initially the system performance with and without interleaving is investigated using coded fast Fourier transform (FFT)-OFDM and wavelet-based OFDM. The two beamforming schemes are applied to the wavelet-based OFDM as confirmed to perform better than the FFT-OFDM. It is found that the beam-weight by SVD improves the performance of the system by about 2dB at the expense of the co-phasing method. The capacity performances of the weighting methods are also compared and discussed.

Two experiments were conducted to investigate Adaptive Noise Cancelling and Cepstrum echo removal post-processing techniques on acoustic data from a linear microphone array in an anechoic chamber. A point source speaker driven with white noise was used as the primary signal. The first experiment included a background speaker to provide interference noise at three different Signal-to-Noise Ratios to simulate noise propagating down a wind tunnel circuit. The second experiment contained only the primary source and the wedges were removed from the floor to simulate reflections found in a wind tunnel environment. The techniques were applicable to both signal microphone and array analysis. The Adaptive Noise Cancellation proved successful in its task of removing the background noise from the microphone signals at SNRs as low as -20 dB. The recovered signals were then used for array processing. A simulation reflection case was analyzed with the Cepstral technique. Accurate removal of the reflection effects was achieved in recovering both magnitude and phase of the direct signal. Experimental data resulted in Cepstral features that caused errors in phase accuracy. A simple phase correction procedure was proposed for this data, but in general it appears that the Cepstral technique is and would be not well suited for all experimental data. / Master of Science

As multimedia devices advance, current high-speed wireless standards may soon struggleto support their growing demand for data speeds. This results in limitations in bandwidthfor applications, notably affecting activities like streaming high-definition television andultra-high-definition video. The proposed solution is to go up in frequency (millimeterwaves) allowing for use of greater bandwidths, in new bands. A problem is, however,that the path loss at mmWave frequencies is substantially greater than at frequencies below6GHz, currently the main frequency range used by both cellular and Wi-Fi. In order tocompensate for the increase in pathloss, wireless systems operating at mmWave frequenciesneed to use high gain antennas e.g. antenna arrays. Such arrays operate using digital oranalog beamforming. In this thesis the design, fabrication and verification of an analogbeamforming network connected to a four-antenna element patch array implemented at26GHz on a four-layer printed circuit board is presented. The components of the structuresof the Butler matrix beamforming network were designed and evaluated in simulationsusing CST. The stack up is a four-layer PCB-board with antenna elements and feedingnetwork on opposite outer layers. All structures in the Butler matrix were constructedin micro strip line with characteristic impedance of 50 ohm on Rogers RT-duroid 5880substrate to reduce dielectric losses. The designed 4x4 Butler matrix aimed at four set stateswith progressive phase differences ±45 and ±135 resulting in main lobes with direction -40,-15, 14 and 39 degrees. In the simulation, a progressive phase difference up to a deviationof up to 8.6 degrees was observed for all states. The fabricated Butler matrix was verified onan antenna measurement range to have main lobe directions of -45, -15, 15 and 40 degreesand with half power beam widths (HPBW) of 27.5, 25, 25 and 27.5 degrees respectively.The nulls between each lobe in the radiation pattern had a relative gain compared to peakvalue of -12.2 dBi resulting in similar magnitude as noise floor. The side lobe suppressionwere evaluated to minimum of 6.3 dB. The high directivity and well-defined nulls confirmthe hybrid couplers properties of equal power division as well as phase difference betweenoutput ports. The patch antennas were verified to have a dominant linear polarization butthe peak value for all lobes shows a deviation of -4.1 dB for all measurements comparedto simulation. In conclusion the final patch antenna array and Butler matrix performed asexpected from the simulation. Indicating that the proposed analog beam forming antennadesign is robust and well suited to be used in e.g. Open RAN applications.

Deployment of antenna arrays is a very promising solution to reduce the Multiple Access Interference (MAI) from high data rate users in the Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA) system. Combining the antenna array with a RAKE receiver, both of which exploits multipath diversity, can significantly improve the system performance. In this research, we investigate the performance of these beamformer-RAKE receivers, also known as two-dimensional (2-D) RAKE receiver, for the reverse link of the W-CDMA system. We consider three different Pilot Symbol Assisted (PSA) beamforming techniques, Direct Matrix Inversion (DMI), Least-Mean Square (LMS) and Recursive Least Square (RLS) adaptive algorithms. Two different Geometrically Based Single Bounce (GBSB) statistical channel models are considered, one, which is more suitable for array processing, and the other is conductive to RAKE combining. The performances of the 2-D RAKE receivers are evaluated in these two channel models as a function of the number of antenna elements and RAKE fingers. It is shown that, in both the cases, the 2-D RAKE receiver outperforms the conventional RAKE receiver and the conventional beamformer by a significant margin. Also, the output SINR expression of a 2-D RAKE receiver with the general optimum beamformer is derived. / Master of Science

Milieu où les ultrasons se propagent environ 10% plus rapidement qu’au sein des tissus environnants, le cristallin est connu pour être la source majeure d’aberrations de phase du milieu oculaire. De fait, l’échographie ophtalmique trans cornéenne est affectée par ses effets qui se manifestent sur les B-scans par une dégradation marquée de la résolution spatiale et du contraste, accompagnée de plus, d’importantes distorsions, particulièrement notables au niveau du fond de l’œil. Face à ce problème et en vue de l’arrivée prochaine de barrettes US HF dans la pratique ophtalmologique, un beamforming adapté a été développé au cours de cette thèse. Basé sur un lancer de rayon à 2 points fixes, il permet le calcul de délais de focalisation qui compensent les aberrations induites par le cristallin, en prenant en compte les effets réfractifs à son interface avec les humeurs. Les résultats obtenus in vitro et ex vivo avec une barrette 20MHz et un échographe de recherche (ECODERM) sont rapportés. / In ophthalmic ultrasonography the crystalline lens is known to be the main source of phase aberration, as ultrasounds (US) propagate about 10% faster than in the surrounding intra-ocular medium. Hence, it impairs significantly both spatial and contrast resolution of axial B-scans, and in addition causes important distortion, especially on the ocular fundus. To deal with this issue and in view of the next coming of US arrays in ophthalmologic practice, we developed in this thesis an adapted beamforming (BF) free from crystalline lens aberrations. It lies on a two point ray tracing approach to compute focusing delays that take into account crystalline lens aberrations including refraction at the interface. Initially developed considering a uniform US velocity in the lens, the adapted BF has been extended to consider the velocity gradient that exists in the real lens. In vitro and ex vivo results obtained with a 20 MHz linear array driven by a US research scanner (the ECODERM) are reported.

This thesis contains design of beamforming network designed for passive radar antennas. The first part contains theory of passive radars and beamforming networks. The next part implies design of beamforming network at the block digram level. Then are choosed circuits for amplitude and phase control, including the design of control communication. It follows by realization of IQ phase shifter and his automatic measurement. Based on this results is phase shifter adjusted and PCB of 2x2 beamforming network is designed. Last part includes design of control application (Matlab) and control program for STM32F407VG microcontroller.

[ES] En la actualidad, cada vez existen más y más tareas que necesitamos exportar y automatizar en dispositivos portables de bajo consumo que se alimentan de baterías, en los cuales es imprescindible realizar un uso "optimo" de la energía disponible con la finalidad de no drenarlas rápidamente.En la sección primera de esta tesis, "Filtros de señales de audio digital", "optimizamos" las implementaciones de diferentes filtros, tanto generales como específicos, para aplicaciones de sonido digital diseñados e implantados en plataformas basadas en las arquitecturas ARM®. Como filtros generales, trabajamos con los filtros FIR, IIR y Parallel IIR, siendo este tipo de filtros implementados a bajo nivel con instrucciones vectoriales NEON®. Finalmente, se implementa un filtro de separación de señales conocido como "Beamforming", el cual plantea después de su estudio, la problemática de realizar una factorización QR de una matriz relativamente grande en tiempo real, lo cual nos lleva a desarrollar diferentes técnicas de "aceleración" de los cálculos de la misma. En la segunda parte, "Rellenado de mapa de profundidad de una escena", describimos el proceso de rellenado de un mapa de profundidad de una escena capturada a partir del uso de la imagen RGB y de un mapa de profundidad disperso donde únicamente tenemos valores de profundidad en los bordes de los objetos que componen la escena. Estos algoritmos de "rellenado" del mapa de profundidad, también han sido diseñados e implantados en dispositivos basados en la arquitectura ARM®. / [CA] Actualment, cada vegada existixen més i més tasques que tenen la necessitat d'exportar i automatitzar a dispositius portables de baix consum que s'alimenten amb bateríes, als quals es imprescindible realitzar un ús "óptim" de l'energia disponible amb la finalitat de no drenar-les ràpidament. Part I: Filtres de senyals d'àudio digital En aquesta secció "optimitzarem" les implementacions de diferents filtres, tant generals com específics, empreats a aplicacions de so digital disenyats e implantats a plataformes basades a les arquitectures ARM®. Com a filtres generals, treballem amb els filtres FIR, IIR y Parallel IIR, sent aquests tipus de filtres implementats a baix nivell amb instruccions vectorials NEON®. Finalment, s'implementa un filtro de separació de senyals conegut com "Beamforming", el qual planteja després del seu estudi, la problem`atica de realitzar una factorizació QR d'una matriu relativament gran en temps real, i açó ens porta a desenvolupar diferents tècniques "d'acceleració" dels càlculs de la mateixa. Part II: Emplenat del mapa de profunditat d'una escena A la secció d'image per computador, descrivim el procés d'emplenat d'un mapa de profunditat d'una escena capturada fent servir l'image RGB i un mapa de profunditat dispers on únicament tenim valors de profunditat als bordes dels objetes que composen l'escena. Aquests algoritmes "d'emplenat" del mapa de profunditat, també han sigut disenyats e implantats a dispositius basats en l'arquitectura ARM®. / [EN] Currently, there are more and more tasks that we need to export and automate in low-consumption mobile devices that are powered by batteries, in which it is essential to make an "optimum" use of the available energy in order to do not drain them quickly. Part I: Filters of digital audio signals In this section we "optimize" the implementations of different filters, both general and specific, for digital sound applications designed and implemented on platforms based on the ARM®. As general filters, we work with the FIR, IIR and Parallel IIR filters, these types of filters being implemented at a low level with NEON®vector instructions. Finally, a signal separation filter known as "Beamforming" is implemented, which set out after its study, the problem of performing a QR factorization of a relatively large matrix in real time, which leads us to develop different techniques of "acceleration" of the calculations of it. Part II: Filling the depth map of a scene In the computer image section, we describe the process of filling in a depth map of a captured scene using RGB image and a sparse depth map where we only have depth values at the edges of the objects that make up the scene. These depth map "filling" algorithms have also been designed and implemented in devices based on the ARM® architecture. / Alventosa Rueda, FJ. (2022). Algoritmos de imagen y sonido digital con restricciones de tiempo real [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/181573 / TESIS