Adaptive equalization of multipath signals

Abstract

Method and apparatus for using a plurality of correlators to improve the estimate of direct signal arrival time by identifying detailed features of a correlation function at and adjacent to the correlation peak. The errors in location of the center point of a correlation function R(.tau.), formed by the received signal and a stored copy of the expected signal, are assumed to be strongly correlated for narrow sample spacing and wide sample spacing of the correlation function. Alternatively, the multipath signal strengths and phases are estimated by a least mean squares analysis, using multiple sampling of a correlation function of an expected signal and an arriving composite signal that includes the direct signal and one or more multipath signals. Times of arrival or path delays of the direct signal and the multipath signals are determined separately. Path delays can be determined by at least three approaches: (1) identification of slope transition points in the correlation function R(.tau.); (2) Cepstrum processing of the received signal, using Fourier transform and inverse transform analysis; and (3) use of a grid of time shift points for the correlation function, and identification of time shift values, associated with certain solution parameters for a least mean squares analysis that have the largest absolute values, as times of arrival of the direct and multipath signals. Separate identification of path delays reduces the least mean squares analysis to a solvable linear problem. A modified received signal is constructed, with multipath signal(s) approximately removed.