Amplitude selected phase interferometer angle measuring radar
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorCarl F. Schaefer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A phase interferometer elevation angle measurement radar has its antennas tilted slightly relative to each other so as to detect differences in amplitude from ground return signals; the phase difference in signals (normally utilized as an indication of depression angle below boresight in an interferometer radar) is checked for a positive rate of change; it is then compared against amplitude differences and is accepted as valid for use in generating an elevation angle only if within prescribed limits thereof. This resolves ambiguity in phase which results from a wide spread of antennas with respect to the wavelength of the radar.
Claims8
In a phase interferometer radar elevation angle measuring system, the combination comprising:
- receiver means, including a pair of antennas, relatively displaced and tilted in a plane within which elevation angles to radar targets are to be determined, for presenting a pair of time varying signals representing target return signals received by the respective antennas;
- phase means responsive to said receiver means for generating a phase function signal as a function of the phase difference between said pair of signals;
- amplitude function means responsive to said receiver means for generating an amplitude function signal as a function of the difference of the amplitudes of said pair of signals;
- and
- gate means responsive to said phase function signals generated by said phase means and to said amplitude function signals generated by said amplitude means for comparing said phase function signals with said amplitude function signals and for presenting signals representing elevation angles to targets in response to related ones of said phase function signals being within prescribed limits of corresponding ones of said amplitude function signals.
In a phase interferometer radar elevation angle measuring system, the combination comprising:
- receiver means, including a pair of antennas, relatively displaced and tilted in a plane within which elevation angle to radar targets is to be determined, for presenting a pair of time varying signals representing target return signals received by the respective antennas;
- phase means including phase detection means responsive to said receiver means for generating phase signals representing phase differences between said pair of signals;
- amplitude means responsive to said receiver means for generating an amplitude signal as a function of the differences of the amplitudes of said pair of signals;
- elevation means for generating signals representing elevation angles to targets in response to related phase signals received thereat;
- and
- gate means responsive to phase signals generated by said phase means and to amplitude signals generated by said amplitude means for comparing said phase signals with said amplitude signals and for passing said phase signals to said elevation means in response to said phase and amplitude signals being within prescribed limits of one another.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.