Radar system and method having variable tracking range
AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.
InventorsNorman F. Powell, Carl E. Nothnick
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A segmented stretch waveform for wide band high duty cycle tracking application. The waveform is divided into multiples of two spaced segments as the tracking range closes. Target returns received during spaced segments are combined to correspond to the complete waveform; and range is determined in accordance with the combined waveform. Tracking range can be varied without changing bandwidth, FM slope, duty cycle or processing time.
Claims13
A method of varying the tracking range in a wide bandwidth high duty factor radar system, wherein frequency modulated linear RF stretched waveforms having a predetermined bandwidth and duty factor are generated during successive transmit cycles, and return signals having frequency content corresponding to a predetermined target range are received during successive receive cycles of a predetermined duration, the method comprising the steps of:
- segmenting each generated waveform into a plurality of successive waveform segments, each of the plurality of waveform segments having a duration and frequency corresponding to a specific portion of the respective generated waveform;
- delaying commencement of each waveform segment a predetermined time interval subsequent to cessation of a preceding waveform segment of a respective generated waveform;
- receiving target returns of the segmented waveforms during the predetermined time intervals between cessation of one waveform segment and commencement of a successive waveform segment;
- providing motion compensation to received target signals such that the signals from successive segments can be processed via a common Fast Fourier Transform algorithm;
- combining the target return waveform segments to correspond to a target return of a generated waveform;
- and
- Fast Fourier Transform processing for determining the range of the target in accordance with the frequency of the combined waveform.
A radar system having a variable target tracking range, the system comprising:
- means for generating during successive transmit cycles frequency modulated linear RP stretch waveforms having a predetermined bandwidth and duration
- wherein the generating means includes segmenting the generated waveforms into a plurality of successive waveform segments and delaying commencement of each waveform segment a predetermined time interval subsequent to cessation of each preceding waveform segment, each segment having a duration and frequency corresponding to a specific portion of the respective generated waveform;
- means for receiving target returns of the waveform segments during the successive predetermined time intervals;
- means for combining the target returns of the waveform segments of a respective waveform to correspond to a target return having a duration corresponding to the respective waveform;
- and
- means for determining the range of the target return of the combined waveform segments.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.