Polarization correlation signal processing for radiometers, ladars, and radars
First Claim
1. A correlating polarimeter for correlating a received waveform of a wideband electromagnetic signal with a predetermined waveform, comprising:
- a first antenna for receiving an electromagnetic signal;
a modulator interconnected with the first antenna for modulating the electromagnetic signal whereby a modulated electromagnetic signal results which contains a different polarization state for each frequency of the electromagnetic signal with the amplitude of each frequency component of the modulated electromagnetic signal being a function of the particular polarization state of each frequency component of the electromagnetic signal;
a linear polarizer configured to pass a first predetermined polarization of the modulated electromagnetic signal through a first output thereof;
a first receiver for receiving and demodulating the electromagnetic signal from the linear polarizer and outputting a received waveform; and
a correlator operatively interconnected with the first receiver and being configured to compare the received waveform to a predetermined waveform and output a correlation indicator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A correlating polarimeter is provided for correlating a received waveform of a wideband electromagnetic signal with a predetermined waveform. The correlating polarimeter may include a first antenna for receiving an electromagnetic signal and a modulator interconnected with the first antenna for modulating the electromagnetic signal whereby a modulated electromagnetic signal results which contains a different polarization state for each frequency of the electromagnetic signal with the amplitude of each frequency component of the modulated electromagnetic signal being a function of the particular polarization state of each frequency component of the electromagnetic signal. The correlating polarimeter may also include a linear polarizer that may be configured to pass a first predetermined polarization of the modulated electromagnetic signal through a first output thereof, a first receiver for receiving and demodulating the electromagnetic signal from the linear polarizer and outputting a received waveform and a correlator operatively interconnected with the first receiver and being configured to compare the received waveform to a predetermined waveform and output a correlation indicator.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A correlating polarimeter for correlating a received waveform of a wideband electromagnetic signal with a predetermined waveform, comprising:
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a first antenna for receiving an electromagnetic signal; a modulator interconnected with the first antenna for modulating the electromagnetic signal whereby a modulated electromagnetic signal results which contains a different polarization state for each frequency of the electromagnetic signal with the amplitude of each frequency component of the modulated electromagnetic signal being a function of the particular polarization state of each frequency component of the electromagnetic signal; a linear polarizer configured to pass a first predetermined polarization of the modulated electromagnetic signal through a first output thereof; a first receiver for receiving and demodulating the electromagnetic signal from the linear polarizer and outputting a received waveform; and a correlator operatively interconnected with the first receiver and being configured to compare the received waveform to a predetermined waveform and output a correlation indicator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A correlating device for correlating the polarimetry of a wideband electromagnetic signal reflected from a target, the correlating device comprising:
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a first antenna for receiving the electromagnetic signal; a modulator interconnected with the first antenna for modulating the electromagnetic signal, the modulator comprising; a first optically thick retarder of birefringent material wherein a fast and a slow axes of the first optically thick retarder define respective x and y axes of a rectangular coordinate system; and a second optically thick retarder of birefringent material and wherein the fast axis of the first optically thick retarder forms an angle of approximately forty-five degrees to the fast axis of the second optically thick retarder; a linear polarizer configured to pass a first predetermined polarization of the modulated electromagnetic signal through a first output thereof and to pass a second predetermined polarization of the modulated electromagnetic signal through a second output thereof; a first receiver comprising a detector for receiving and demodulating the modulated electromagnetic signal from the linear polarizer; an analog to digital converter connected to the detector for converting the modulated electromagnetic signal into a digital word; a memory device for storing a predetermined waveform; a processor operatively connected to the memory device and being configured to receive the digital word; a processor operatively connected to the memory device and being configured to receive the digital word and calculate at least one component of a Stokes polarization vector of the electromagnetic signal and wherein the processor is also configured to compare the digital word to the predetermined waveform, and output a correlation indicator; and the correlating device further comprising; a transmitter for transmitting the electromagnetic signal; a second receiver employed to receive the second predetermined polarization of the modulated electromagnetic signal; and a power combiner employed to combine the modulated electromagnetic signal received by each of the first and second receivers.
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22. A correlating polarimeter for correlating a received waveform of a reflected wideband electromagnetic signal to a predetermined waveform, the polarimeter comprising:
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means for receiving an electromagnetic signal; means for modulating the electromagnetic signal being interconnected with the receiving means whereby a modulated electromagnetic signal results which contains a different polarization state for each frequency of the electromagnetic signal with the amplitude of each frequency component of the modulated electromagnetic signal being a function of the particular polarization state of each frequency component of the electromagnetic signal; means for linearly polarizing the modulated electromagnetic signal; means for demodulating the modulated electromagnetic signal output from the linear polarizer, the demodulating means outputting a received waveform; and means for correlating the received waveform to a predetermined waveform and outputting a correlation indicator and wherein the correlating means is operatively connected to the receiving means. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A method for correlating a received waveform of a reflected wideband electromagnetic signal to a predetermined waveform, the method comprising:
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receiving an electromagnetic signal; modulating the electromagnetic signal to obtain a modulated electromagnetic signal containing a different polarization state for each frequency of the electromagnetic signal with the amplitude of each frequency component of the modulated electromagnetic signal being a function of the particular polarization state of each frequency component of the electromagnetic signal, the electromagnetic signal being modulated at a microwave frequency; linearly polarizing the modulated electromagnetic signal; demodulating the modulated electromagnetic signal output from the linear polarizer and outputting a received waveform; and correlating the received waveform to a predetermined waveform and outputting a correlation indicator.
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25. A correlating polarimeter for correlating Stokes vector components of a received waveform of a wideband electromagnetic signal with a predetermined set of Stokes vector components, comprising:
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a first antenna for receiving an electromagnetic signal; a modulator interconnected with the first antenna for modulating the electromagnetic signal whereby a modulated electromagnetic signal results which contains a different polarization state for each frequency of the electromagnetic signal with the amplitude of each frequency component of the modulated electromagnetic signal being a function of the particular polarization state of each frequency component of the electromagnetic signal; a linear polarizer configured to pass a first predetermined polarization of the modulated electromagnetic signal through a first output thereof; a first receiver for receiving and demodulating the electromagnetic signal from the linear polarizer and outputting a received waveform; and at least one processor operatively connected to the first receiver for inputting the received waveform and calculating at least one component of the Stokes polarization vector and the at least one processor being configured to compare the at least one component of the Stokes polarization vector to at least one predetermined component of a predetermined Stokes polarization vector and output a correlation indicator. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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Specification