DOA estimation and signal separation using antenna with time varying response

In this paper we suggest a new algorithm for Direction of Arrival (DOA) estimation and signal separation using a novel antenna element with a time variant radiation pattern. With the suggested approach, signals arriving from various spatial directions are acquired in this sensor with different time varying signatures, due to the antenna´s continuously changing radiation pattern. We show that if the radiation pattern is varied in a periodical manner and sufficiently fast compared to the bandwidth of the received signals, then multiple sources of radiation can be detected and their direction of arrival estimated. The suggested approach is a novel alternative to array based signal processing, as it allows to perform spatial processing tasks without exploiting multiple sensing elements.