Random pulse type radar apparatus

• US 6,381,261 B1
• Filed: 11/23/1998
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GDS Company Limited, Yasuo Nagazumi
• Original Assignee: GDS Company Limited, Yasuo Nagazumi
• Inventors: Nagazumi, Yasuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Ghayour, Mohammad H.
• Application Number:
  US09/197,696
• Time in Patent Office: 1,254 Days
• Field of Search: 375/138, 375/130, 375/131, 375/135, 375/140, 375/308, 375/303, 342/130, 342/131, 342/132, 342/201
• US Class Current: 375/138
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/222 using random or pseudorandom pulse repetition frequency
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/286 frequency shift keyed
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/288 phase modulated

Abstract

A random pulse type radar apparatus sends out as an output signal a spectrum spread radio wave including a pseudo random signal-less period and receives echoes in this signal-less period to thereby significantly reduce transmission peak power. The random pulse type radar apparatus comprises a transmitter for generating a hybrid type spectrum spread signal by simultaneously using two kinds of modulations which are phase shift keying modulation for selecting a phase of a transmission radio wave in accordance with a pseudo noise digital code and outputting the transmission wave, and time hopping modulation for stopping transmission of a radio wave at random in accordance with the pseudo noise digital code; a receiving unit for selectively detecting an echo of a transmission signal radio wave, generated by the transmitter, from a target with a time delay; at least one a common antenna unit for use both for transmission and reception or antenna units installed close to each other and respectively serving single functional units; and a reception control unit for stopping an action of the receiving unit in a time zone in which the transmitter is outputting radio waves in accordance with the time hopping modulation, whereby a spatial distribution of an intensity of an echo of a transmitted radio wave is measured through computation of a cross-correlation function of a transmission signal and a reception signal.

Claims

1. A random pulse type radar apparatus comprising:

a transmitter for generating a hybrid type spectrum spread signal by simultaneously using two kinds of modulations which are phase shift keying (PSK) modulation for selecting a phase of a transmission radio wave in accordance with a pseudo noise digital code and outputting said transmission wave, and time hopping modulation for stopping transmission of a radio wave at random in accordance with said pseudo noise digital code;

a receiving unit for selectively detecting an echo of a transmission signal radio wave, generated by said transmitter, from a target with a time delay;

at least one a common antenna unit for use both for transmission and reception or antenna units installed close to each other and respectively serving single functional units; and

a reception control unit for stopping an action of said receiving unit in a time zone in which said transmitter is outputting radio waves in accordance with said time hopping modulation,

whereby a spatial distribution of an intensity of an echo of a transmitted radio wave is measured through computation of a cross-correlation function of a transmission signal and a reception signal.

3. The random pulse type radar apparatus according to claim 1, wherein as said hybrid type spectrum spread signal, a modulation state is determined by assigning a value of parallel data of two or more bits, obtained from values of individual sample points of PN (Pseudo Noise) code sequences of a binary or greater system, to a plurality of modulation states provided by adding a signal-less state added to individual phase states of phase shift keying (PSK).

4. The random pulse type radar apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a constant portion of a time zone where each modulation state assigned is maintained, is further assigned to a signal-less state.

5. The random pulse type radar apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a reception sensitivity or a reception signal level is compensated in accordance with a value of an autocorrelation function indicated by digital codes used in said time hopping modulation.

7. The random pulse type radar apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a reception sensitivity or a reception signal level is compensated in accordance with a value of an autocorrelation function indicated by digital codes used in said time hopping modulation.

8. The random pulse type radar apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a reception sensitivity or a reception signal level is compensated in accordance with a value of an autocorrelation function indicated by digital codes used in said time hopping modulation.

9. The random pulse type radar apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a code sequence like a maximal linear code sequence (M-sequence) indicating an approximately constant autocorrelation value except when code phase matching occurs is used as digital codes used in said time hopping modulation.

11. The random pulse type radar apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a code sequence like a maximal linear code sequence (M-sequence) indicating an approximately constant autocorrelation value except when code phase matching occurs is used as digital codes used in said time hopping modulation.

12. The random pulse type radar apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a code sequence like a maximal linear code sequence (M-sequence) indicating an approximately constant autocorrelation value except when code phase matching occurs is used as digital codes used in said time hopping modulation.

2. A random pulse type radar apparatus comprising:

a transmitter for generating a hybrid type spectrum spread signal by simultaneously using two kinds of modulations which are frequency shift keying (FSK) modulation for selecting a frequency of a transmission radio wave in accordance with a pseudo noise digital code and outputting said transmission wave, and time hopping modulation for stopping transmission of a radio wave at random in accordance with said pseudo noise digital code;

a receiving unit for selectively detecting an echo of a transmission signal radio wave, generated by said transmitter, from a target with a time delay;

at least one common antenna unit for use both for transmission and reception or antenna units installed close to each other and respectively serving single functional units; and

a reception control unit for stopping an action of said receiving unit in a time zone in which said transmitter is outputting radio waves in accordance with said time hopping modulation,

whereby a spatial distribution of an intensity of an echo of a transmitted radio wave is measured through computation of a cross-correlation function of a transmission signal and a reception signal.

6. The random pulse type radar apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a reception sensitivity or a reception signal level is compensated in accordance with a value of an autocorrelation function indicated by digital codes used in said time hopping modulation.

10. The random pulse type radar apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a code sequence like a maximal linear code sequence (M-sequence) indicating an approximately constant autocorrelation value except when code phase matching occurs is used as digital codes used in said time hopping modulation.