High-resolution small-aperture angle of arrival detection using nonlinear analog processing

This paper presents a method for obtaining increased functionality in a small antenna array by adding analog nonlinear processing to the receiver circuit. As an example, high-resolution angle-of-arrival detection using a small aperture antenna is presented. In specific, a two-element patch antenna array with a measured directivity equivalent to that of a 5-element array is demonstrated at 2GHz using off-the-shelf components and nonlinear transmission lines for pulse compression.