Waveform warping for general frequency-modulated radar waveforms

A method, comprising:

• generating an FM waveform for output by a radar antenna that is mounted to an airborne platform that is flying over a scene;
• modifying the FM waveform based upon a time-shift parameter, the time-shift parameter based upon a velocity of the radar antenna relative to a reference point in a target area in the scene and a change in echo return time of a first pulse of the radar antenna relative to a second pulse;
• and
• outputting the modified waveform to the radar antenna, wherein the modified waveform is a motion-compensated waveform that is compensated for motion of the radar antenna relative to the reference point, and further wherein an image of the scene is generated based upon the modified waveform.

A waveform generator that generates motion-compensated signals for output by a radar antenna, the waveform generator comprising:

• a frequency modulation generator that outputs a time-varying frequency signal, wherein the frequency signal is non-linear;
• a first multiplier circuit that outputs a second frequency signal based upon multiplying the frequency signal by a first parameter, the first parameter based upon a velocity of the radar antenna relative to a reference point in a target area of the antenna;
• an integrator that receives the second frequency signal and outputs a first phase signal based upon the second frequency signal;
• a second multiplier circuit that receives the second frequency signal and outputs a phase offset based upon multiplying the second frequency signal by a second parameter, the second parameter based upon a velocity of the radar antenna relative to the reference point and a change in echo return time of a first pulse of the radar antenna relative to a second pulse;
• a summing circuit that receives the first phase signal and the phase offset and outputs a second phase signal, the second phase signal comprising a sum of the first phase signal and the phase offset;
• and
• a processing component that outputs a motion-compensated FM waveform based upon the second phase signal.