A searcher unit realizes stable operation of the a communication system and improves
system capacity by improving path detection characteristics in the baseband processing
unit of a receiving apparatus using an array antenna. An array antenna radio communication
apparatus comprises a searcher unit operable to receive signals from at least a
portion of an array antenna having a plurality of antenna elements and operable
to detect a path-timing of the received signals, the searcher unit comprising a
correlation unit operable to obtain first correlation values as correlation values
of the received signals, an antenna-to-antenna correlation unit operable to obtain
second correlation values as correlation values of the first correlation values,
and a path-timing detecting unit operable to detect path-timing based on amplitude
information obtained from the second correlation values, and a signal processing
unit operable to execute despreading of signals received from the antenna elements
based on the path-timing obtained from the searcher unit.