Radar transponder

• US 4,980,689 A
• Filed: 03/22/1989
• Issued: 12/25/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Kawakami, Youichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Barron, Jr., Gilberto
• Application Number:
  US07/327,133
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 342/51
• US Class Current: 342/51
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/767 Responders; Transponders teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying using reflecting targets or active targets F41G3/26

Abstract

This is a radar transponder in which an amplifying means using a FET amplifier is inserted between a receiving antenna and a detecting means. Further, the radar transponder has a receiving on/off control circuit which stops the operation of the amplifying means in transmitting a response signal in order to enhance the receiving sensitivity thereof. Also, the radar transponder mounts the amplifying means, and the detecting mounts the amplifying means, and the detecting means via a metal body having resilience on an antenna housing. Each circuit unit of the radar transponder and connection wirings between each circuit unit are formed by flexible printed circuit boards.

Claims

1. A radar transponder comprising:

a receiving antenna for receiving a microwave signal emitted from a radar;

a waveguide for said receiving antenna and being comprised of an antenna housing including a resilient metal body;

an FET amplifier for amplifying said received microwave signal;

a direct diode detecting circuit for detecting the output of the FET amplifier;

said FET amplifier and said diode detecting circuit being mounted on said antenna housing by said resilient metal body;

a video amplifier for amplifying the output of the detecting circuit;

a control circuit for producing a signal which determines the transmission time of the transmitting microwave signal using the output signal of the video amplifier as a trigger;

a transmission gate circuit for producing transmission gate pulses in accordance with the output of the control circuit;

a sweep signal generator for generating a saw-tooth voltage waveform consisting of a required number of saw-tooth pulses in the period during which said transmission gate pulses are generated;

a microwave oscillator circuit for generating a frequency swept signal having a regulator frequency based on said saw-tooth voltage waveform in the period during which said transmission gate pulses are generated;

a transmitting antenna for emitting said frequency swept signal into space; and

a receiving on-off control circuit for generating a voltage control signal for biasing said FET amplifier and having a voltage level which varies in accordance with the presence or absence of said transmission gate pulses, said voltage level becoming the level at which the operation of said FET amplifier ceases when said transmission gate pulses are generated.

2. A radar transponder according to claim 1, wherein said FET amplifier includes a microwave gallium arsenide FET.

3. A radar transponder according to claim 1, wherein said metal body includes a springy metal wall having an end portion, with slits being provided at said end portion.

4. A radar transponder according to claim 1 wherein said metal body includes a springy metal wall having a central portion, with slits being provided at said central portion.

5. A radar transponder comprising:

a receiving antenna for receiving a microwave signal emitted from a radar;

a waveguide for said receiving antenna and including an antenna housing;

an FET amplifier including a gallium arsenide FET for amplifying said received microwave signal;

a direct diode detecting circuit for detecting the output of the FET amplifier;

a video amplifier for amplifying the output of the detecting circuit;

a control circuit for producing a signal which determines the transmission time of the transmitting microwave signal using the output signal of the video amplifier as a trigger;

a transmission gate circuit for producing transmission gate pulses in accordance with the output of the control circuit;

a sweep signal generator for generating a saw-tooth voltage waveform consisting of a required number of saw-tooth pulses in the period during which said transmission gate pulses are generated;

a microwave oscillator circuit for generating a frequency swept signal having a regulator frequency based on said saw-tooth voltage waveform in the period during which said transmission gate pulses are generated;

a transmitting antenna for emitting said frequency swept signal into space;

said FET amplifier and said diode detecting circuit being mounted on said antenna housing.

6. A radar transponder according to claim 5 wherein said antenna housing includes a resilient metal body comprising a springy metal wall having an end portion, with slits being provided at said end portion and wherein said FET amplifier and said diode detecting circuit are mounted on said resilient metal body.

7. A radar transponder according to claim 5 wherein said antenna housing includes a resilient metal body comprising a springy metal wall having a central portion, with slits being provided at said central portion and wherein said FET amplifier and said diode detecting circuit are mounted on said resilient metal body.