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phased.Collector

Narrowband signal collector

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Description

The phased.Collector System object™ implements a narrowband signal collector. A collector converts incident narrowband wave fields arriving from specified directions into signals to be further processed. Wave fields are incident on antenna and microphone elements, sensor arrays, or subarrays. The object collects signals in one of two ways controlled by the Wavefront property.

  • If the Wavefront property is set to 'Plane', the collected signals at each element or subarray are formed from the coherent sum of all incident plane wave fields sampled at each array element or subarray.

  • If the Wavefront property is set to 'Unspecified', the collected signals are formed from an independent field incident on each individual sensor element.

You can use this object to

  • model arriving signals as polarized or nonpolarized fields depending upon whether the element or array supports polarization and the value of the Polarization property. Using polarization, you can receive a signal as a polarized electromagnetic field, or receive two independent signals using dual (i.e. orthogonal) polarization directions.

  • model incoming acoustic fields by using nonpolarized microphone and sonar transducer array elements and by setting the Polarization to 'None'. You must also set the PropagationSpeed to a value appropriate for the medium.

  • collect fields at subarrays created by the phased.ReplicatedSubarray and phased.PartitionedArray objects. You can steer all subarrays in the same direction using the steering angle argument, STEERANG, or steer each subarray in a different direction using the subarray element weights argument, WS. You cannot set the Wavefront property to 'Unspecified' for subarrays.

To collect arriving signals at the elements or arrays:

  1. Create the phased.Collector object and set its properties.

  2. Call the object with arguments, as if it were a function.

To learn more about how System objects work, see What Are System Objects?

Creation

Syntax

collector = phased.Collector
collector = phased.Collector(Name,Value)

Description

collector = phased.Collector creates a narrowband signal collector object, collector, with default property values.

collector = phased.Collector(Name,Value) creates a narrowband signal collector with each property Name set to a specified Value. You can specify additional name-value pair arguments in any order as (Name1,Value1,...,NameN,ValueN). Enclose each property name in single quotes.

Example: collector = phased.collector('Sensor',phased.URA,'OperatingFrequency',300e6) sets the sensor array to a uniform rectangular array (URA) with default URA property values. The beamformer has an operating frequency of 300 MHz.

Properties

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Unless otherwise indicated, properties are nontunable, which means you cannot change their values after calling the object. Objects lock when you call them, and the release function unlocks them.

If a property is tunable, you can change its value at any time.

For more information on changing property values, see System Design in MATLAB Using System Objects.

Sensor element or sensor array, specified as a System object belonging to Phased Array System Toolbox. A sensor array can contain subarrays.

Example: phased.URA

Signal propagation speed, specified as a positive scalar. Units are in meters per second. The default propagation speed is the value returned by physconst('LightSpeed'). See physconst for more information.

Example: 3e8

Data Types: double

Operating frequency, specified as a positive scalar. Units are in Hz.

Example: 1e9

Data Types: double

The type of incoming wavefront, specified as 'Plane' or 'Unspecified':

  • 'Plane' — input signals are multiple plane waves impinging on the entire array. Each plane wave is received by all collecting elements.

  • 'Unspecified' — collected signals are independent fields incident on individual sensor elements. If the Sensor property is an array that contains subarrays, you cannot set the Wavefront property to 'Unspecified'.

Data Types: char

Sensor gain measure, specified as 'dB' or 'dBi'.

  • When you set this property to 'dB', the input signal power is scaled by the sensor power pattern (in dB) at the corresponding direction and then combined.

  • When you set this property to 'dBi', the input signal power is scaled by the directivity pattern (in dBi) at the corresponding direction and then combined. This option is useful when you want to compare results with the values predicted by the radar equation that uses dBi to specify the antenna gain. The computation using the 'dBi' option is expensive as it requires an integration over all directions to compute the total radiated power of the sensor.

Dependencies

To enable this property, set the Wavefront property to 'Plane'.

Data Types: char

Polarization configuration, specified as 'None', 'Combined', or 'Dual'. When you set this property to 'None', the incident fields are considered scalar fields. When you set this property to 'Combined', the incident fields are polarized and represent a single arriving signal whose polarization reflects the sensor's inherent polarization. When you set this property to 'Dual', the H and V polarization components of the fields are independent signals.

Example: 'Dual'

Data Types: char

Enable weights input, specified as false or true. When true, use the object input argument W to specify weights. Weights are applied to individual array elements (or at the subarray level when subarrays are supported).

Data Types: logical

Usage

Syntax

Y = collector(X,ANG)
Y = collector(X,ANG,LAXES)
[YH,YV] = collector(X,ANG,LAXES)
[___] = collector(___,W)
[___] = collector(___,STEERANG)
[___] = collector(___,WS)

Description

Y = collector(X,ANG) collects the signals, X, arriving from the directions specified by ANG. Y contains the collected signals.

example

Y = collector(X,ANG,LAXES) also specifies LAXES as the local coordinate system axes directions. To use this syntax, set the Polarization property to 'Combined'.

[YH,YV] = collector(X,ANG,LAXES) returns an H-polarization component of the field, YH, and a V-polarization component, YV. To use this syntax, set the Polarization property to 'Dual'.

[___] = collector(___,W) also specifies W as array element or subarray weights. To use this syntax, set the WeightsInputPort property to true.

[___] = collector(___,STEERANG) also specifies STEERANG as the subarray steering angle. To use this syntax, set the Sensor property to an array that supports subarrays and set the SubarraySteering property of that array to either 'Phase' or 'Time'.

[___] = collector(___,WS) also specifies WS as the weights applied to each element within each subarray. To use this syntax, set the Sensor property to an array that supports subarrays and set the SubarraySteering of that array to 'Custom'.

Input Arguments

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Arriving signals, specified as a complex-valued M-by-L matrix or complex-valued 1-by-L cell array of structures. M is the number of signal samples and L is the number of arrival angles. This argument represents the arriving fields.

  • If the Polarization property value is set to 'None', X is an M-by-L matrix.

  • If the Polarization property value is set to 'Combined' or 'Dual', X is a 1-by-L cell array of structures. Each cell corresponds to a separate arriving signal. Each struct contains three column vectors containing the X, Y, and Z components of the polarized fields defined with respect to the global coordinate system.

The size of the first dimension of the input matrix can vary to simulate a changing signal length. A size change can occur, for example, in the case of a pulse waveform with variable pulse repetition frequency.

Dependencies

To enable this argument, set the Polarization property to 'None' or 'Combined'.

Data Types: double
Complex Number Support: Yes

Arrival directions of signals, specified as a real-valued 2-by-L matrix. Each column specifies an arrival direction in the form [AzimuthAngle;ElevationAngle]. The azimuth angle must lie between –180° and 180°, inclusive. The elevation angle must lie between –90° and 90°, inclusive. When the Wavefront property is false, the number of angles must equal the number of array elements, N. Units are in degrees.

Example: [30,20;45,0]

Data Types: double

Local coordinate system, specified as a real-valued 3-by-3 orthogonal matrix. The matrix columns specify the local coordinate system's orthonormal x, y, and z axes with respect to the global coordinate system.

Example: rotx(30)

Dependencies

To enable this argument, set the Polarization property to 'Combined' or 'Dual'.

Data Types: double

Element or subarray weights, specified as a complex-valued N-by-1 column vector where N is the number of array elements (or subarrays when the array supports subarrays).

Dependencies

To enable this argument, set the WeightsInputPort property to true.

Data Types: double
Complex Number Support: Yes

Subarray element weights, specified as complex-valued NSE-by-N matrix or 1-by-N cell array where N is the number of subarrays. These weights are applied to the individual elements within a subarray.

Subarray element weights

Sensor ArraySubarray weights
phased.ReplicatedSubarray

All subarrays have the same dimensions and sizes. Then, the subarray weights form an NSE-by-N matrix. NSE is the number of elements in each subarray and N is the number of subarrays. Each column of WS specifies the weights for the corresponding subarray.

phased.PartitionedArray

Subarrays may not have the same dimensions and sizes. In this case, you can specify subarray weights as

  • an NSE-by-N matrix, where NSE is now the number of elements in the largest subarray. The first Q entries in each column are the element weights for the subarray where Q is the number of elements in the subarray.

  • a 1-by-N cell array. Each cell contains a column vector of weights for the corresponding subarray. The column vectors have lengths equal to the number of elements in the corresponding subarray.

Dependencies

To enable this argument, set the Sensor property to an array that contains subarrays and set the SubarraySteering property of the array to 'Custom'.

Data Types: double
Complex Number Support: Yes

Subarray steering angle, specified as a length-2 column vector. The vector has the form [azimuthAngle;elevationAngle]. The azimuth angle must be between –180° and 180°, inclusive. The elevation angle must be between –90° and 90°, inclusive. Units are in degrees.

Example: [20;15]

Dependencies

To enable this argument, set the Sensor property to an array that supports subarrays and set the SubarraySteering property of that array to either 'Phase' or 'Time'

Data Types: double

Output Arguments

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Collected signal, returned as a complex-valued M-by-N matrix. M is the length of the input signal. N is the number of array elements (or subarrays when subarrays are supported). Each column corresponds to the signal collected by the corresponding array element (or corresponding subarrays when subarrays are supported).

Dependencies

To enable this argument, set the Polarization property to 'None' or 'Combined'.

Data Types: double
Complex Number Support: Yes

Collected horizontal polarization signal, returned as a complex-valued M-by-N matrix. M is the length of the input signal. N is the number of array elements (or subarrays when subarrays are supported). Each column corresponds to the signal collected by the corresponding array element (or corresponding subarrays when subarrays are supported).

Dependencies

To enable this argument, set the Polarization property to 'Dual'.

Data Types: double
Complex Number Support: Yes

Collected horizontal polarization signal, returned as a complex-valued M-by-N matrix. M is the length of the input signal. N is the number of array elements (or subarrays when subarrays are supported). Each column corresponds to the signal collected by the corresponding array element (or corresponding subarrays when subarrays are supported).

Dependencies

To enable this argument, set the Polarization property to 'Dual'.

Data Types: double
Complex Number Support: Yes

Object Functions

To use an object function, specify the System object as the first input argument. For example, to release system resources of a System object named obj, use this syntax:

release(obj)

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stepRun System object algorithm
releaseRelease resources and allow changes to System object property values and input characteristics
resetReset internal states of System object

Examples

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Open Live Script

Use the phased.Collector System object™ to construct a signal arriving at a single isotropic antenna from 10° azimuth and 30° elevation.

antenna = phased.IsotropicAntennaElement;
collector = phased.Collector('Sensor',antenna);
x = [1;0;-1];
incidentAngle = [10;30];
y = collector(x,incidentAngle)
y = 3×1

     1
     0
    -1
Open Live Script

Collect a far-field signal arriving at a 3-element uniform linear array (ULA) of isotropic antenna elements.

antenna = phased.ULA('NumElements',3);
collector = phased.Collector('Sensor',antenna,'OperatingFrequency',1e9);
x = [1;0;-1];
incidentAngle = [10 30]';
y = collector(x,incidentAngle)
y = 3×3 complex

  -0.0051 - 1.0000i   1.0000 + 0.0000i  -0.0051 + 1.0000i
   0.0000 + 0.0000i   0.0000 + 0.0000i   0.0000 + 0.0000i
   0.0051 + 1.0000i  -1.0000 + 0.0000i   0.0051 - 1.0000i
Open Live Script

Collect different signals at a three-element array. Each input signal comes from a different direction.

array = phased.ULA('NumElements',3);
collector = phased.Collector('Sensor',array,'OperatingFrequency',1e9,...
    'Wavefront','Unspecified');

Each column is a signal for one element.

x = rand(10,3)
x = 10×3

    0.8147    0.1576    0.6557
    0.9058    0.9706    0.0357
    0.1270    0.9572    0.8491
    0.9134    0.4854    0.9340
    0.6324    0.8003    0.6787
    0.0975    0.1419    0.7577
    0.2785    0.4218    0.7431
    0.5469    0.9157    0.3922
    0.9575    0.7922    0.6555
    0.9649    0.9595    0.1712

Specify three incident angles.

incidentAngles = [10 0; 20 5; 45 2]';
y = collector(x,incidentAngles)
y = 10×3

    0.8147    0.1576    0.6557
    0.9058    0.9706    0.0357
    0.1270    0.9572    0.8491
    0.9134    0.4854    0.9340
    0.6324    0.8003    0.6787
    0.0975    0.1419    0.7577
    0.2785    0.4218    0.7431
    0.5469    0.9157    0.3922
    0.9575    0.7922    0.6555
    0.9649    0.9595    0.1712
Open Live Script

Construct a 4-element uniform linear array (ULA). The array operating frequency is 1 GHz. The array element spacing is one half the corresponding wavelength. Model the collection of a 200 Hz sinusoid from the far field incident on the array at 45° azimuth and 10° elevation.

Create the array.

fc = 1e9;
lambda = physconst('LightSpeed')/fc;
array = phased.ULA('NumElements',4,'ElementSpacing',lambda/2);

Create the sinusoid signal.

t = linspace(0,1,1e3);
x = cos(2*pi*200*t)';

Construct the collector object and obtain the received signal.

collector = phased.Collector('Sensor',array, ...
    'PropagationSpeed',physconst('LightSpeed'),'Wavefront','Plane', ...
    'OperatingFrequency',fc);
incidentangle = [45;10];
receivedsig = collector(x,incidentangle);
Open Live Script

Use a dual-polarization system to obtain target scattering information. Simulate a transmitter and receiver where the vertical and horizontal components are transmitted successively using the input ports of the transmitter. The signals from the two polarization output ports of the receiver are then used to determine the target scattering matrix.

scmat = [0 1i; 1i 2];
radiator = phased.Radiator('Sensor', ...
    phased.CustomAntennaElement('SpecifyPolarizationPattern',true), ...
    'Polarization','Dual');
target = phased.RadarTarget('EnablePolarization',true,'ScatteringMatrix', ...
    scmat);
collector = phased.Collector('Sensor', ...
    phased.CustomAntennaElement('SpecifyPolarizationPattern',true), ...
    'Polarization','Dual');
xh = 1;
xv = 1;

Transmit a horizontal component and display the reflected Shh and Svh polarization components.

x = radiator(xh,0,[0;0],eye(3));
xrefl = target(x,[0;0],eye(3));
[Shh,Svh] = collector(xrefl,[0;0],eye(3))
Shh = 
0

Svh = 
0.0000 + 3.5474i

Transmit a vertical component and display the reflected Shv and Svv polarization components.

x = radiator(0,xv,[0;0],eye(3));
xrefl = target(x,[0;0],eye(3));
[Shv,Svv] = collector(xrefl,[0;0],eye(3))
Shv = 
0.0000 + 3.5474i

Svv = 
7.0947

Algorithms

If the Wavefront property value is 'Plane', phased.Collector collects each plane wave signal using the phase approximation of the time delays across collecting elements in the far field.

If the Wavefront property value is 'Unspecified', phased.Collector collects each channel independently.

For further details, see [1].

References

[1] Van Trees, H. Optimum Array Processing. New York: Wiley-Interscience, 2002.

Extended Capabilities

Version History

Introduced in R2011a

See Also

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