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US 6,720,908 B1Granted
Sensor front-end for range and bearing measurement
AssigneeM/A-Com, Inc.
InventorKenneth V. Puglia
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for measuring range and bearing of an object. At least a portion of a first signal is transmitted from a sensor. The transmitted signal is reflected from an object and received by the sensor. At least a portion of the first signal is applied a first mixer and a second mixer. The received signal is applied to the first mixer and the second mixer. A second signal is generated from the first mixer, and a third signal is generated from the second mixer when the portion of the first signal that was transmitted overlaps the reflected signal at least partially. Bearing angle, degree on or off boresight and object range may be determined from the second and third signals, or a combination thereof. Also disclosed is a sensor for object range and bearing measurement.
Claims44
A method of determining object location comprising:
- transmitting at least a portion of a first signal;
- receiving a reflected signal;
- applying at least a portion of the first signal to a first mixer and a second mixer;
- applying the received signal to the first mixer and the second mixer;
- generating a second signal from the first mixer, and a third signal from the second mixer when the portion of the first signal that was applied to the first and second mixers at least partially overlaps the reflected signal;
- performing one or more measurements based on one or more signals from the group consisting of the second signal, the third signal and a combination of the second and third signals;
- and,
- increasing signal isolation in a first channel by providing a switching assembly through which the reflected signal passes prior to being input to the second mixer.
5 more elements
A method of determining object location comprising:
- transmitting at least a portion of a first signal;
- receiving a reflected signal;
- applying at least a portion of the first signal to a first mixer and a second mixer;
- applying the received signal to the first mixer and the second mixer;
- generating a second signal from the first mixer, and a third signal from the second mixer when the portion of the first signal that was applied to the first and second mixers at least partially overlaps the reflected signal;
- performing one or more measurements based on one or more signals from the group consisting of the second signal, the third signal and a combination of the second and third signals,
- wherein the first signal is segmented into a first segment and a second segment the first segment is the transmitted portion of the first signal;
- wherein the received pulse is the transmitted first segment reflected from an object;
- wherein the second segment is the portion of the first signal applied to the first mixer and the second mixer;
- and,
- wherein the first signal is segmented by a switching assembly.
8 more elements
A method of measuring object range and bearing comprising:
- segmenting a radio frequency pulse into a first pulse segment and a second pulse segment;
- transmitting the first pulse segment;
- receiving the first pulse segment reflected from an object;
- applying the second pulse segment to a Σ-mixer and simultaneously to a Δ-mixer;
- applying the received first pulse segment to the Σ-mixer and simultaneously to the Δ-mixer;
- generating a Σ-video pulse from the Σ-mixer and a Δ-video pulse from the Δ-mixer when the received first pulse segment at least partially overlaps the second pulse segment;
- and
- performing one or more measurements from the group consisting of:
- measuring a video pulse amplitude difference between the Σ-mixer video pulse and the Δ-mixer video pulse, and determining the bearing angle based on the measured video pulse amplitude difference;
- determining an object range based on the Σ-mixer video pulse output;
- and
- measuring a video pulse phase difference between the Σ-mixer video pulse and the Δ-mixer video pulse, and determining whether the object is to the right or left of boresight based on the measured video pulse phase difference
- wherein the radio frequency pulse is segmented by a switching assembly.
10 more elements
A sensor for object range and bearing measurement comprising:
- a first mixer to mix at least a portion of a first signal with a received signal;
- a second mixer to mix at least a portion of the first signal with the received signal;
- wherein the first mixer generates a second signal and the second mixer generates a third signal when the portion of the first signal that was applied to the first and second mixers at least partially overlaps the reflected signal;
- and
- wherein the sensor performs one or more measurements based on one or more signals from the group consisting of the second signal, the third signal and a combination of the second and third signals, further comprising:
- a switching assembly;
- wherein the switching assembly segments the first signal into a first segment and a second segment and causes the first segment to be transmitted from an antenna, and the second segment to be applied to the first mixer and the second mixer simultaneously.
4 more elements
A sensor for object range and bearing measurement comprising:
- It first mixer to mix at least a portion of a first signal with a received signal;
- a second mixer to mix at least a portion of the first signal with the received signal;
- wherein the first mixer generates a second signal and the second mixer generates a third signal when the portion of the first signal that was applied to the first and second mixers at least partially overlaps the reflected signal;
- and
- wherein the sensor performs one or more measurements based on one or more signals from the group consisting of the second signal, the third signal and a combination of the second and third signals,
- further comprising a switching assembly between the second mixer and an antenna assembly to increase signal isolation.
3 more elements
A method of determining object location comprising:
- transmitting at least a portion of a first pulse;
- receiving a reflected pulse;
- applying at least a portion of the first pulse simultaneously to a Σ-mixer and a Δ-mixer;
- applying the received pulse simultaneously to the Σ-mixer and the Δ-mixer;
- generating a first video pulse from the Σ-mixer, and a second video pulse from the Δ-mixer when the portion of the first pulse that was transmitted at least partially overlaps the reflected pulse;
- performing one or more measurements from the group consisting of:
- measuring a video pulse amplitude difference between the first video pulse and the second video pulse, and determining the bearing angle based on the measured video pulse amplitude difference;
- determining an object range based on the first video pulse output;
- and
- measuring a video pulse phase difference between the first video pulse and the second video pulse, and determining whether the object is to the right or left of boresight based on the measured video pulse phase difference,
- wherein the first pulse is segmented into a first segment and a second segment;
- wherein the first segment is the transmitted portion of the first pulse;
- wherein the received pulse is the transmitted first segment reflected from an object;
- wherein the second segment is the portion of the first pulse applied simultaneously to the Σ-mixer and the Δ-mixer;
- and,
- wherein the first pulse is segmented by a switching assembly.
13 more elements
A method of determining object location comprising:
- transmitting at least a portion of a first pulse;
- receiving a reflected pulse;
- applying at least a portion of the first pulse simultaneously to a Σ-mixer and a Δ-mixer;
- applying the received pulse simultaneously to the Σ-mixer and the Δ-mixer;
- generating a first video pulse from the Σ-mixer, and a second video pulse from the Δ-mixer when the portion of the first pulse that was transmitted at least partially overlaps the reflected pulse;
- performing one or more measurements from the group consisting of:
- measuring a video pulse amplitude difference between the first video pulse and the second video pulse, and determining the bearing angle based on the measured video pulse amplitude difference;
- determining an object range based on the first video pulse output;
- and
- measuring a video pulse phase difference between the first video pulse and the second video pulse, and determining whether the object is to the right or left of boresight based on the measured video pulse phase difference, further comprising:
- increasing signal isolation in a first channel by providing a switching assembly through which the reflected pulse passes prior to being input to the Δ-mixer.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.