Sequential Digital Processing for Adaptive Nulling Antennas

Sequential digital processing in an adaptive system permits the use of common hardware elements and high speed pipeline configurations. These architectures are advantageous for applications where prime power, weight, volume and hardware complexity are to be minimized. This paper discusses a phased array adaptive antenna, where sequential digital processing is used instead of the conventional sampled control Applebaum algorithm. The sequential algorithm converges to a stable solution for a sample rate smaller than that required for the conventional approach. If a common digital processor is used, the number of operations during the sample interval is considerably reduced, however, the adaptation settling time is proportionally increased.