Pattern diversity for narrowband direction finding with sensor arrays

Each sensor in an array is characterized by a spatial response pattern. Despite the fact that the patterns of individual sensors have a large impact on array performance, these patterns are not typically viewed as "free parameters" during array design. This paper presents a framework that allows explicit consideration of the sensor patterns in the array design process. Procedures are developed for choosing the sensor patterns to achieve a desirable array manifold. Numerical examples are included to illustrate the pattern diversity array design procedures. (C) 2001 The Franklin Institute. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.