Estimation of channel matrix rank for multielement antenna arrays working in multipath fading environment

The knowledge of the rank of the multichannel impulse response (MCIR) matrix is necessary for the construction of the optimal space-time signal processing in the receive adaptive antenna array in communication systems. A statistical threshold method for the rank MCIR matrix estimate is proposed. This technique uses a priori information about the additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) in the receive antennas.