Decoupled parameter estimation of multiple distributed sources for uniform linear array with low complexity

A novel algorithm is presented for estimating the nominal angles and angular spreads of multiple coherently distributed sources in a uniform linear array (ULA). Based on a decoupled generalised array response vector and symmetric ULA, the proposed algorithm can estimate the nominal angles without any angular signal density model assumptions of the sources. The angular spread for each source is then estimated in one-dimensional (1-D) parameter space, and L multiple sources localised using L + 1 1-D searches instead of a 2-D search.