Conical scan weather radar
AssigneeThe Tomorrow Companies Inc.
InventorJames R. Carswell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A new measurement approach is disclosed that facilitates significantly smaller size, weight, and power (SWaP) spaceborne radar systems that can provide wide swath, high resolution observations. Multiple beams employed in the scan and the complex volume and/or surface backscatter signals of each beam is recorded. Each beam is electronically swept in azimuth where each beam is held at a constant incidence angle over the azimuth sector that covers the swath. Once the sweep is complete, the platform moves forward, by one along track pixel, and the sweep is repeated in order to provide continuous mapping of the volume and surface covered by the swath. Complex volume backscatter is recorded and mapped to each altitude layer to provide full mapping of the atmosphere.
Claims21
A radar operational method comprising:
- providing at least one radar device including an electronically steerable radar array;
- generating a plurality of beams with said electronically steerable radar array;
- indexing each of the plurality of beams generated by said electronically steerable radar array to defined points on a predetermined grid having a cross track perpendicular to a direction of travel of said radar array and an along track in line with said direction of travel of said radar array;
- performing a scan by independently directing said plurality of beams to scan respective fixed incidence angles along at least one scan path that sweeps across said cross track;
- and
- capturing and recording return signals from each of said plurality of beams.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.