Helicopter-borne radar system

• US 6,577,264 B1
• Filed: 03/25/2002
• Issued: 06/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: EADS Deutschland GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: EADS Deutschland GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Wolframm, Aribert
• Primary Examiner(s): Lobo, Ian J.
• Application Number:
  US10/088,896
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: 342/25, 342/191, 342/202
• US Class Current: 342/25.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/9082 Rotating SAR [ROSAR]

Abstract

A helicopter-borne radar system has a synthetic aperture with rotating antennae (ROSAR). The antennae for transmitting and receiving radar pulses are arranged at the end of each arm rotating with the rotor, and are connected with the radar system which has at least one transmitting module, one electronic module with a central control device and an image processor as well as a display. In order to align the imaging on the display of the radar system with an inertial axis of the helicopter, and to limit the influence of a change of the rotational rotor on the imaging, a signal generator arranged at the rotor of the helicopter generates signals indicative of rotating positions of the rotor. The latter signals are transmitted to an electronic module of the radar system, which marks the flank of an individual signal from the signal sequence for a rotation of the rotor. This flank of a signal is defined as a “basic position” and is counted. The invention permits azimuthally phase-accurate synchronization between the viewing angle of a helicopter-borne radar system and an inertial axis of the helicopter, as well as a defined alignment of the image on the video screen with respect to an inertial axis of the helicopter (and thus with respect to the flight direction of the helicopter). The viewing direction of the radar system (ROSAR) can be adjusted by means of an electric regulator wheel, so that the pilot can set a desired defined viewing direction of the radar image on the video screen.

Claims

1. A synthetic aperture radar system, comprising:

rotating antennae for transmitting and receiving radar pulses, arranged at ends of rotating arms of a rotor;

at least one transmitter module;

one electronic module with a central control device;

an image processor with a display; and

a signal generator arranged on the rotor for generating signals with respect to the rotating positions of the rotor;

wherein,

signals from the signal generator are transmitted to the electronic module of the radar system and are processed there, such that a viewing angle of the antennas can be synchronized with an inertial axis and the generated signals can be supplied to the central control device; and

the central control device forms control signals which synchronize a pulse rate of the transmitter module with a rotating rate of the rotor, whereby a number of the radar pulses per rotation corresponds precisely to actual rotational speed of the rotor.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

one of the generated signals forms a basic position P1 which marks the beginning of a rotor rotation; and

the location of the basic position P1 on a full circle defines the position of the inertial axis.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein the location of the basic position P1 on the full circle can be changed.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

at least one transmitter is arranged on the rotor; and

at least one corresponding receiver is arranged on a fuselage.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

at least one signal generator is arranged on the fuselage; and

at least one corresponding receiver is arranged on the rotor.

6. The system according to claim 4, wherein:

the transmitters comprise magnets; and

the receivers comprise Hall elements.

7. The system according to claim 4, wherein:

the transmitters comprise opto-electronically transmitting modules; and

the receivers comprise opto-electronically operating receiving modules.

8. The system according to claim 4, wherein:

the transmitters comprise microwave transmitters; and

the receivers comprise microwave receivers.