Radar imaging system and method
First Claim
1. An imaging system comprising:
- first means for generating a beam of electromagnetic energy;
second means for causing the first means to scan the beam over a predetermined scan volume consisting of-a predetermined range of scan angles relative to a reference vector; and
third means for causing the first means to generate multiple simultaneous beams of electromagnetic energy over a subset of the predetermined range of scan angles.
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Abstract
An imaging system and method. The invention provides an intra-pulse repetition interval (PRI) agile beam technique for enhanced resolution that can be used at aspect angles near the velocity vector of a host vehicle. It is particularly useful at small scan angles where beam sharpening array times become large. At these scan angles, the bandwidth of the clutter is narrower than at higher scan angles and allows large PRIs without degradation from Doppler ambiguities. In accordance with the present teachings, sequential illumination is performed within a PRI to multiple beam locations using an agile beam. The interleaving of beams reduces map formation times compared to conventional techniques using sequential arrays. The inventive system is adapted for use with an electronically scanned (e.g., synthetic aperture array radar) antenna. The inventive method includes the steps of activating the antenna to generate a beam of electromagnetic energy; causing the beam to scan over a predetermined scan volume consisting of a predetermined range of scan angles relative to a reference vector; and generating multiple simultaneous beams of electromagnetic energy over a subset of the predetermined range of scan angles.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An imaging system comprising:
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first means for generating a beam of electromagnetic energy;
second means for causing the first means to scan the beam over a predetermined scan volume consisting of-a predetermined range of scan angles relative to a reference vector; and
third means for causing the first means to generate multiple simultaneous beams of electromagnetic energy over a subset of the predetermined range of scan angles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A radar system comprising:
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a synthetic aperture array antenna;
a radar timing and control system coupled to the array antenna;
a processor coupled to the radar timing and control system; and
software running on the processor effective to cause the processor to generate signals to the antenna via the radar timing and control system to cause the antenna to scan a beam of electromagnetic energy over a-predetermined scan volume consisting of a predetermined range of scan angles relative to a reference vector and for causing the antenna to generate multiple simultaneous beams of electromagnetic energy over a subset of the predetermined range of scan angles.
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13. An imaging method including the steps of:
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generating a beam of electromagnetic energy;
causing the beam to scan over a predetermined scan volume consisting of a predetermined range of scan angles relative to a reference vector; and
generating multiple simultaneous beams of electromagnetic energy over a subset of the predetermined range of scan angles. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification