Method for using pulse compression in weather radar
AssigneeVaisala Oyj
InventorsFritz O'Hora, Richard E. Passarelli, Jr., Alan D. Siggia, Chandrasekaran Venkatachalam, Nitin Bharadwaj
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Abstract
A system and method for processing data related to weather phenomena in a meteorological radar system. The method includes receiving an echo signal generated by transmitting a long pulse and employing a mismatched windowed filter on the echo signal such that the echo signal is compressed in time to achieve fine range resolution without substantially degrading sensitivity and while achieving low range time side lobes for Doppler velocities expected to be measured by the meteorological radar system.
Claims21
A method for processing data related to weather phenomena in a meteorological radar system, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving an echo signal from weather phenomena generated by transmitting a long pulse;
- and
- employing a mismatched windowed filter on the echo signal such that the echo signal is compressed in time to achieve fine range resolution without substantially degrading sensitivity and while achieving low range time side lobes for Doppler velocities expected to be measured by the meteorological radar system.
A method for processing data related to weather phenomena in a meteorological radar system having an antenna connected to a transmitter, wherein the transmitter is connected to a signal processor, which is connected to a receiver, the method comprising the steps of:
- generating long pulses at IF in the signal processor with amplitude shaping and frequency modulation;
- using an exciter to up convert said long pulses to RF;
- using a linear power amplifier style transmitter in the signal processor to produce high power output from the low power input from the exciter;
- radiating said pulses into space;
- receiving echoes from weather phenomena using the antenna;
- and
- employing a mismatched windowed filter on the echoes such that the echoes are compressed in time to achieve fine range resolution without substantially degrading sensitivity and while achieving low range time side lobes for Doppler velocities expected to be measured by the meteorological radar system.
A radar system comprising:
- an antenna;
- a transmitter for providing a pulse signal to the antenna;
- a signal processor having a waveform design utility that:
- accepts input criteria from a user such as desired pulse width, bandwidth, modulation and shaping to create the pulse signal from a constrained space of pulse signals;
- and practices in realtime an algorithm that searches a constrained waveform space and provides a waveform and mismatched window and then automatically installs said waveform and filter in signal processor for immediate use;
- and
- a receiver connected to the signal processor.
A radar system comprising:
- an antenna;
- a transmitter for providing a pulse signal to the antenna;
- a signal processor having a waveform design utility that:
- accepts input criteria from a user such as desired pulse width, bandwidth, modulation and shaping to create the pulse signal from a constrained space of pulse signals;
- and computes an optimal waveform and windowing filter to meet the user criteria while minimizing PSL and ISL value, providing Doppler tolerance, fine range resolution and high sensitivity;
- and
- a receiver connected to the signal processor.
A radar system comprising:
- an antenna;
- a transmitter for providing a pulse signal to the antenna;
- a signal processor having a waveform design utility that:
- accepts input criteria from a user such as desired pulse width, bandwidth, modulation and shaping to create the pulse signal from a constrained space of pulse signals;
- and provides the user with the ability to adjust the slope of the modulation at distinct times of the pulse signal and to shape an amplitude tapering on edges of the pulse;
- and
- a receiver connected to the signal processor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.