Pulse radar detection system

• US 6,879,281 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2003
• Issued: 04/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Veoneer, Inc. (SSW Partners LP)
• Original Assignee: M/A Com
• Inventors: Gresham, Robert Ian, Egri, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALSOMIRI, ISAM A
• Application Number:
  US10/442,790
• Publication Number:
  US 20030193430A1
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 342 70- 74, 342/90, 342 94- 97, 342/110, 342/118
• US Class Current: 342/70
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/106 using transmission of pulses having some particular characteristics G01S13/12, G01S13/22, G01S13/24, G01S13/26, G01S13/28 and G01S13/30 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/18 wherein range gates are used
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/288 phase modulated
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/282 Transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/288 Coherent receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/2886 using I/Q processing

Abstract

A radar based sensor detection system comprises a microwave source operative to provide a continuous wave signal at an output. A pulse-former is coupled to the output of the source and is operative to provide at an output a variable length pulse that increases the transmitted energy of the radar system according to the range of object detection. A modulator is coupled to the output of the pulse-former for providing a modulated pulse signal when required. A transmit/receive switch coupled to the output of the modulator is selectively operative between a first transmit position and a second receive position. A transmit channel coupled to the transmit/receive switch transmits the pulse signal when the switch is operated in the transmit position. A receiving channel coupled to the transmit/receive switch receives the modulator signal when the switch is operated in the receive position. First and second voltage multipliers each have a local oscillator input for receiving the modulator signal in the receive position, and each have an input signal port, and an output port. A receiver channel receives a reflected transmitted signal from an object and applies the received signal to the receive signal input ports of the voltage multipliers. An autocorrelator coupled to the output ports of the voltage multipliers correlates the received signal to produce an output signal indicating the detection and position of the object.

Claims

1. A transmitter for a high resolution radar system, comprising:

a pulse-former having an input and a first and a second switchable output whereby an input signal can be applied to either output according to a control signal applied to a control terminal of said pulse-former,

a switch driver having an output coupled to said control terminal of said pulse-former and operative to select said first and second outputs to provide at said first output a pulse comprising a number of oscillator cycles indicative of a desired pulse to pulse interval and selected according to a range gated time delay, and

a bi-phase modulator having an input coupled to said first output of said pulse-former to provide at an output a bi-phase modulated signal.

2. The transmitter according to claim 1, further comprising:

an amplifier having an input coupled to the output of said phase modulator and an output coupled to said antenna, said amplifier having a gain control input,

a variable gain control circuit coupled to said gain control input of said amplifier for varying the gain of said amplifier and therefore the magnitude of the transmitted signal.

3. The transmitter according to claim 2, further comprising:

a modulation driver coupled to said modulator for controlling the number of phase inversion of said modulator as a function of said selected object range.

4. The transmitter according to claim 1, further comprising:

a dissipative load coupled to said second switchable output of said pulse-former for dissipating said oscillator signal when said pulse-former is switched to said second output.

5. A transmitter for a high resolution radar system, comprising:

a pulse-former having an input and a first and a second switchable output whereby an input signal can be applied to either output according to a control signal applied to a control terminal of said pulse-former,

a switch driver having an output coupled to said control terminal of said pulse-former and operative to select said first and second outputs to provide at said first output a pulse comprising a number of oscillator cycles indicative of a desired pulse to pulse interval and selected according to a range gated time delay.