ENHANCED-RESOLUTION PHASED ARRAY RADAR

• US 20120038504A1
• Filed: 08/11/2010
• Published: 02/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Yu, Kai-Bor, Bachmann, Svetlana M., Fernandez, Manuel F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,736,484 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/81
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/0254 Active array antenna
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/74 Multi-channel systems specially adapted for direction-finding, i.e. having a single antenna system capable of giving simultaneous indications of the directions of different signals systems in which the directions of different signals are determined sequentially and displayed simultaneously G01S3/04, G01S3/14
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/061 Two dimensional planar arrays

Abstract

A system and method for increasing the effective angular resolution of a multi-function phased array radar system is provided. The system is operative to simultaneously transmit a plurality of overlapping sub-beams covering a representative central beam. A de-convolution process is applied to received return signals. The process includes determining the reflectivity within sub-beamwidth resolution cells defined by the overlapping sub-beams. Generated sub-beamwidth data provides the radar system with an effective angular resolution beyond that of any single transmitted beam.

Claims

1. A phased array radar system comprising:

an antenna array,

a transceiver operatively connected to the array, the transceiver configured to simultaneously transmit a center beam and a plurality of at least partially overlapping sub-beams covering the center beam, and receive respective return signals from each of the sub-beams;

a processing module for processing received return signals from each of the sub-beams.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing module is operative to generate resolution data corresponding to the overlapping portions of the transmitted sub-beams.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the processing module performs a de-convolution operation, wherein the resolution data corresponding to the overlapping portions of the transmitted sub-beams is generated by applying a weighting matrix to the received return signals.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the weighting matrix is derived from a matrix representative of the antenna pattern of the antenna array.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a control processor operatively connected to the transceiver, the control processor capable of operating the antenna array in multiple modes.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the antenna array comprises a multi-function, phased array antenna.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the center beam comprises a resolution cell, the resolution cell defining the minimum area in which two targets can be individually distinguished.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the partial overlap of the sub-beams forms a plurality of sub-resolution cells within the resolution cell of the center beam.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the processing module is operative to generate resolution data for each of the sub-resolution cells.

10. A method of operating a phased array radar system, the method comprising the steps:

transmitting a central beam and a plurality of overlapping sub-beams covering the central beam;

receiving return signals from the central beam and the overlapping sub-beams; and

generating resolution data corresponding to the overlapping portions of the sub-beams.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of generating resolution data includes applying a weighted matrix representative of the antenna pattern to the received return signals.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of forming a plurality of sub-resolution cells within a resolution cell defined by the central beam.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of generating resolution data corresponding to the overlapping portions of the sub-beams comprises generating resolution data for each of the sub-resolution cells.