Large time-bandwidth chirp pulse generator
AssigneeRockwell International Corporation
InventorsCharles H. Hightower, Ralph I. Kratzer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Low time-bandwidth product linear frequency modulated chirp pulses are repetitively generated as contiguous subpulses to form a pulse of extended duration with each subpulse respectively mixed with one of a plurality of stepped intermediated frequencies so that the bandwidth of the contiguous subpulses is increased to the frequency bandwidth of all of the stepped intermediate frequencies such that the contiguous signal formed has a linearly varying frequency over the increased bandwidth and increased pulse duration, providing a large time-bandwidth product linear frequency modulated chirp waveform particularly useful in radar systems.
Claims16
A linear frequency modulated pulse signal generator comprising,
- a plurality of linear frequency modulators for generating a plurality of contiguous linear frequency modulated subpulses,
- an intermediate frequency means for generating a plurality of intermediate frequencies,
- a mixer means for mixing together said linear frequency modulated subpulses and said intermediate frequencies, and
- control means connected to said linear frequency means and to said intermediate frequency means, said control means for controlling the generation of a plurality of contiguous linear frequency modulated subpulses respectively mixed with said plurality of intermediate frequencies.
An extended linear frequency modulated pulse signal generator comprising,
- contiguous chirp generator means having two chirp pulse generators for alternately providing a plurality identical linear frequency modulated subpulses in contiguous sequence,
- an intermediate frequency means for generating intermediate frequencies,
- a mixer means for respectively mixing together said subpulses with said intermediate frequencies over a finite number of contiguously generated chirp subpulses, and
- control means connected to said contiguous chirp generator means and to said intermediate frequency means, said control means for stimulating said alternating contiguous subpulses respectively mixed with said intermediate frequencies.
An extended linear frequency modulated pulse signal generator comprising,
- two chirp pulse generators for alternately providing identical linear frequency modulated subpulses in contiguous sequence,
- two phase lock loops for providing alternating intermediate frequencies in frequency steps forming a frequency staircase,
- a mixer for respectively mixing together said subpulses with said intermediate frequencies over a finite number of contiguously generated subpulses and frequency steps,
- a phase lock loop switch means for alternately selecting said plurality of intermediate frequency for conduction to said mixer,
- a reference frequency generator means for providing said phase lock loops with a high frequency reference signal,
- control means connected to said two chirp pulse generators and said two phase lock loops, said control means for stimulating, selecting and controlling the alternating generation of said contiguous subpulses respectively mixed with said intermediate frequencies, and
- clocking means for providing reference signals to said two phase lock loops, said reference frequency generator and said control means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.