False reflected target elimination and automatic reflector mapping in secondary surveillance radar
AssigneeNorthrop Grumman Corporation
InventorYair Alon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for eliminating signals from false targets in a secondary surveillance radar system includes the steps of obtaining plots of radar data for the same target. The range from the radar system to the targets is determined, and the target plot having smallest range of all target plots that indicate reflection of radar signals from the same target is accepted as being a real target. Other target data is rejected as being from a radar reflector. The coordinates of radar reflectors may be stored in a database to form a map of reflectors in the vicinity of the radar.
Claims17
A method for identifying false target signals on a radar display caused by reflection of radar signals from a reflector object in a surveillance region using a radar system that includes a radar interrogator comprised of a radar transmitter/receiver arranged to display plots of radar signals that indicate positions of targets in the surveillance region, comprising the steps of:
- obtaining a first plot of radar data for target position at a first time;
- obtaining a second plot of radar data for target position at a second time;
- comparing the first and second plots of radar data to determine whether they represent multiple reports of a single target or whether they represent different targets;
- determining a first range from the radar interrogator for the first plot of radar data if the first and second plots of radar data represent multiple reports of a single target;
- determining a second range from the radar interrogator for the second plot of radar data if the first and second plots of radar data represent multiple reports of a single target;
- comparing the first and second ranges to determine which has the larger magnitude;
- and
- identifying the plot of radar data having the larger range as being a false target signal.
A method for identifying false target signals caused by reflection of radar signals from a reflector object in a surveillance region using an air traffic control radar system that includes a radar interrogator formed to comprise a radar transmitter/receiver arranged to display plots of radar signals that indicate positions of targets and to process mode code radar signals from the targets that identify each target, comprising the steps of:
- producing a first plot of radar data for the position of a first target having a selected mode code;
- producing a second plot of radar data for the position of a second target having the selected mode code, thus indicating that the first and second plots of radar data are multiple reports of a single target;
- determining a first range from the radar interrogator for the first plot of radar data;
- determining a second range from the radar interrogator for the second first plot of radar data;
- subtracting the first range from the second range to provide a range difference;
- and
- identifying the plot of radar data having the larger range as being a false target signal.
A method for identifying false target signals caused by reflection of radar signals from a reflector object in a surveillance region using an air traffic control radar system that includes a radar interrogator formed to comprise a radar transmitter/receiver arranged to display plots of radar signals that indicate positions of targets and to process mode code radar signals from the targets that identify each target, the radar interrogator being arranged to rotate so that it scans the surveillance region in a scan time, comprising the steps of:
- producing a first plot of radar data for coordinates of a first target having a selected mode code as a function of time;
- producing a second plot of radar data for coordinates of a second target having the selected mode code as a function of time;
- propagating the coordinates of the first and second plots to a common time;
- determining a range from the interrogator to the first target;
- determining a range from the interrogator to the second target;
- and
- identifying the plot of radar data having the larger range as being a false target signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.