Spectrum Sensing Algorithm in Cognitive Radio Based on Array Antenna and Covariance Matrix

A spectrum sensing algorithm based on covariance matrix and array antenna is reported. It can perform blind spectrum sensing under a condition of uncertainty noise. The new test statistics for spectrum sensing based on the covariance matrix is constructed and the decision threshold based on the test statistics is derived, thus allowing the comparison of the test statistics with the decision threshold to make a final decision. In order to enable cognitive users to fully receive signals of cognitive primary user in the case that the arrival direction of primary signal and the receiving antenna of cognitive users is not consistent, this algorithm applies array antenna to the spectrum sensing based on covariance matrix. Simulation results show that the performance of the proposed spectrum sensing algorithm is superior to the Covariance Absolute Value Spectrum Sensing (CAVSS) algorithm proposed by Zeng (2009).