Signal processing system and method for use in multi beam sensing systems

摘要

The present invention is a system and technique for reducing the effective beam width of a receive beam for a sensing system, for example a sonar or radar system. The sensing system includes a plurality of physical sensors each for measuring a receive signal wherein each receive signal includes a first and second data processing unit. The sensing system may include means for computing sensor data for at least one extrapolated-sensor, including, first extrapolation means for computing a first extrapolated-sensor data unit of the at least one extrapolated-sensor by extrapolation of a first data processing unit of the plurality of physical sensors, and second extrapolation means for computing a second extrapolated-sensor data unit of the at least one extrapolated-sensor by extrapolation of a second data processing unit of the plurality of physical sensors. The system may also include means for combining the first and second extrapolated-sensor data units of the at least one extrapolated-sensor to the first and second data processing units of the plurality of physical sensors to thereby generate a narrower effective beam width of a receive beam.