Phase noise simulation model for pulse doppler radar target detection

• US 10,025,890 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2015
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Testing Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Advanced Testing Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Minassian, Shahen, Baker, John L, Levi, Eli
• Primary Examiner(s): JOHNSON, CEDRIC D
• Application Number:
  US14/796,797
• Publication Number:
  US 20160012164A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,103 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/5244 Adaptive clutter cancellation specially adapted for airborne MTI, G01S13/5242
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/40 Means for monitoring or calibrating
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/20 Design optimisation, verification or simulation optimisation, verification or simulation of circuit designs G06F30/30

Abstract

Method for generating a model of the effect of phase noise during use of a Doppler radar system including calculating, using a processor, an initial signal-to-clutter ratio (SCR) representing a ratio of power received from echoes from a target by the radar system to power resulting from clutter reflection received by the radar system. The initially calculated SCR is modified as a function of a range ambiguity and range resolution. A Doppler frequency of interest is calculated based on velocity of a target, target heading and radar frequency, along with a Doppler filter bandwidth, frequency components and a measure of clutter signal passing through the Doppler filter of interest by summing products of the phase noise for each frequency by the Doppler filter bandwidth. This measure indicates effectiveness of target detection by the Doppler radar system as a function of distance.

Claims

1. A method for designing a Doppler radar system, comprising:

configuring a first set of components that enable operation of the Doppler radar system;

generating a first model of effect of phase noise during operation of the Doppler radar system configured with the first set of the components by;

calculating, using a processor, an initial signal-to-clutter ratio (SCR) representing a ratio of power received from echoes from a target by the Doppler radar system to power resulting from clutter reflection received by the Doppler radar system;

modifying, using a processing unit, the initially calculated SCR as a function of a range ambiguity and range resolution; and

calculating, using the processing unit, a Doppler frequency of interest based on velocity of a target, target heading and radar frequency, a Doppler filter bandwidth, frequency components, and a measure of clutter signal passing through a Doppler filter of interest by summing products of the phase noise for each frequency by the Doppler filter bandwidth;

changing the Doppler radar system by configuring a second set of the components that enable operation of the Doppler radar system, which second set of components is different than the first set of components;

generating a second model of the effect of phase noise during operation of the Doppler radar system configured with the second set of the components by;

calculating, using a processor, an initial signal-to-clutter ratio (SCR) representing a ratio of power received from echoes from a target by the Doppler radar system to power resulting from clutter reflection received by the Doppler radar system;

modifying, using a processing unit, the initially calculated SCR as a function of a range ambiguity and range resolution; and

calculating, using the processing unit, a Doppler frequency of interest based on velocity of a target, target heading and radar frequency, a Doppler filter bandwidth, frequency components, and a measure of clutter signal passing through a Doppler filter of interest by summing products of the phase noise for each frequency by the Doppler filter bandwidth;

analyzing the first and second models to determine which of the first and second sets of components has a lower effect of phase noise during operation of the Doppler radar system; and

operating the Doppler radar system with the first or second set of components depending on the analysis of which of the first and second models has a lower effect of phase noise during operation of the Doppler radar system.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, when generating the first model of the effect of phase noise during operation of the Doppler radar system configured with the first set of the components or generating the second model of the effect of phase noise during operation of the Doppler radar system configured with the second set of the components, modifying the SCR, using the processing unit, to compensate for clutter range and target range for situations when the target and clutter ranges are not co-located.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, when generating the first model of the effect of phase noise during operation of the Doppler radar system configured with the first set of the components or generating the second model of the effect of phase noise during operation of the Doppler radar system configured with the second set of the components, modifying the SCR, using the processing unit, to compensate for folded ranges of the clutter reflection.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, when generating the first model of the effect of phase noise during operation of the Doppler radar system configured with the first set of the components or generating the second model of the effect of phase noise during operation of the Doppler radar system configured with the second set of the components, deriving, using the processing unit, the first or second model from the calculated measure of clutter signal passing through the Doppler filter of interest.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising visually presenting the derived first or second model on a display coupled to the processing unit.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first or second model is generated such that phase noise is a variable which when applied to the Doppler radar system parameters, yields impact of phase noise on the Doppler radar system'"'"'s target detection.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first or second model is generated such that phase noise and the clutter environment are variables which when applied to the Doppler radar system parameters, yields impact of phase noise on the Doppler radar system'"'"'s target detection.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a plurality of the components required for operation of the Doppler radar system; and

obtaining a plurality of at least one of the identified components, each of the plurality of the at least one of the identified components having the same function but interacting with the remaining components to provide a different operation of the Doppler radar system.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of obtaining a plurality of at least one of the identified components comprises obtaining a plurality of each of the identified components.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of obtaining a plurality of at least one of the identified components comprises obtaining first and second oscillators, the first set of components includes the first oscillator, the step of changing the Doppler radar system by configuring a second set of the components that enable operation of the Doppler radar system comprises replacing the first oscillator with the second oscillator which is thus part of the second set of components.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

changing the Doppler radar system configured with the second set of components by configuring a third set of the components that enable operation of the Doppler radar system, which third set of components is different than the first and second sets of components;

generating a third model of the effect of phase noise during operation of the Doppler radar system configured with the third set of the components by;

calculating, using a processor, an initial signal-to-clutter ratio (SCR) representing a ratio of power received from echoes from a target by the Doppler radar system to power resulting from clutter reflection received by the Doppler radar system;

modifying, using a processing unit, the initially calculated SCR as a function of a range ambiguity and range resolution; and

calculating, using the processing unit, a Doppler frequency of interest based on velocity of a target, target heading and radar frequency, a Doppler filter bandwidth, frequency components, and a measure of clutter signal passing through a Doppler filter of interest by summing products of the phase noise for each frequency by the Doppler filter bandwidth;

analyzing the first, second and third models to determine which of the first, second and third sets of components has a lower effect of phase noise during operation of the Doppler radar system; and

operating the Doppler radar system with the first, second or third set of components depending on the analysis of which of the first, second and third models has a lower effect of phase noise during operation of the Doppler radar system.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second sets of components includes a frequency generator or oscillator, a frequency scanning antenna, a receiver configured to receive clutter and signals from a target and a signal processor that utilizes a plurality of Doppler filters.

13. A method for designing a Doppler radar system, comprising:

configuring a plurality of sets of components that enable operation of the Doppler radar system, each set being different from other sets;

generating a respective model of effect of phase noise during operation of the Doppler radar system configured with each set of the components by;

calculating, using a processor, an initial signal-to-clutter ratio (SCR) representing a ratio of power received from echoes from a target by the Doppler radar system to power resulting from clutter reflection received by the Doppler radar system;

modifying, using a processing unit, the initially calculated SCR as a function of a range ambiguity and range resolution; and

calculating, using the processing unit, a Doppler frequency of interest based on velocity of a target, target heading and radar frequency, a Doppler filter bandwidth, frequency components, and a measure of clutter signal passing through a Doppler filter of interest by summing products of the phase noise for each frequency by the Doppler filter bandwidth;

analyzing the respective models to determine which set of components has a lower effect of phase noise during operation of the Doppler radar system; and

operating the Doppler radar system with the set of components depending on the analysis of which of the respective models has a lower effect of phase noise during operation of the Doppler radar system.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

identifying a plurality of the components required for operation of the Doppler radar system; and

obtaining a plurality of at least one of the identified components, each of the plurality of the at least one of the identified components having the same function but interacting with the remaining components to provide a different operation of the Doppler radar system.

15. A method for optimizing operation of a Doppler radar system based on a theatre of operation, comprising:

generating a respective model of effect of phase noise during operation of the Doppler radar system in a plurality of different theatres of operation by, for each theatre of operation;

calculating, using a processor, an initial signal-to-clutter ratio (SCR) representing a ratio of power received from echoes from a target by the Doppler radar system to power resulting from clutter reflection received by the Doppler radar system;

modifying, using a processing unit, the initially calculated SCR as a function of a range ambiguity and range resolution; and

calculating, using the processing unit, a Doppler frequency of interest based on velocity of a target, target heading and radar frequency, a Doppler filter bandwidth, frequency components, and a measure of clutter signal passing through a Doppler filter of interest by summing products of the phase noise for each frequency by the Doppler filter bandwidth;

then

deriving from the respective models, system phase noise specifications for each theatre to achieve predetermined target detection distance criteria;

conveying using a presentation device, the derived system phase noise specifications to an operator or maintainer of the Doppler radar system; and

operating the Doppler radar system in each of the plurality of different theatres of operation in accordance with the theatre-specific system phase noise specifications.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

identifying a plurality of the components required for operation of the Doppler radar system; and

obtaining a plurality of at least one of the identified components, each of the plurality of the at least one of the identified components having the same function but interacting with the remaining components to provide a different operation of the Doppler radar system.

17. A scanning radar system, comprising:

an initial set of components including;

a frequency generator or oscillator,

a frequency scanning antenna,

a receiver configured to receive clutter and signals from a target, and

a signal processor that utilizes a plurality of Doppler filters, the signals from the target being situated in one of the Doppler filters dependent on a velocity of the target, said receiver being further configured to apply a quantified effect of the clutter on the one of the Doppler filters and provide an indication of reliability of determination of the target being situated in the one of the Doppler filters based on the clutter quantified effect, said receiver quantifying the effect of the clutter in the Doppler filters by summing products of phase noise for each Doppler filter by the Doppler filter bandwidth; and

at least one additional component selected from a group consisting of a frequency generator or oscillator, a frequency scanning antenna, a receiver and a signal processor, said at least one additional component being a substitute for the respective component in said initial set of components when the indication of the reliability of the determination of the target being situated in the one of the Doppler filters provided by said receiver when the scanning radar system includes said initial set of components is that the determination of the target being situated in the one of the Doppler filters is not reliable, and

the scanning radar system being operated with said at least one additional component and remaining components of said initial set of components to thereby constitute a second set of components when the indication of the reliability of the determination of the target being situated in the one of the Doppler filters provided by said receiver when the scanning radar system includes said initial set of components is that the determination of the target being situated in the one of the Doppler filters is not reliable.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said receiver of said initial set of components comprises signal processing componentry that derives data indicative of movement of the target, further comprising a display system that displays indicated movement of the target.

19. A method for designing a Doppler radar system, comprising:

configuring a plurality of sets of components that enable operation of the Doppler radar system, each set being different from other sets;

generating a respective model of effect of phase noise during operation of the Doppler radar system configured with each set of the components by;

calculating, using a processor, an initial signal-to-clutter ratio (SCR) representing a ratio of power received from echoes from a target by the Doppler radar system to power resulting from clutter reflection received by the Doppler radar system;

modifying, using a processing unit, the initially calculated SCR as a function of a range ambiguity and range resolution; and

calculating, using the processing unit, a Doppler frequency of interest based on velocity of a target, target heading and radar frequency, a Doppler filter bandwidth, frequency components, and a measure of clutter signal passing through a Doppler filter of interest by summing products of the phase noise for each frequency by the Doppler filter bandwidth;

analyzing the respective models to determine which set of components has a lower effect of phase noise during operation of the Doppler radar system; and

operating the Doppler radar system with one of the sets of components depending on the analysis of which of the respective models has a lower effect of phase noise during operation of the Doppler radar system.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

identifying a plurality of the components required for operation of the scanning radar system; and

obtaining a plurality of at least one of the identified components, each of the plurality of the at least one of the identified components having the same function but interacting with the remaining components to provide a different operation of the Doppler radar system.