Method for locating radioelectric sources using two-channel high resolution radiogoniometer

• US 6,989,789 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2001
• Issued: 01/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thales SA
• Original Assignee: Thales SA
• Inventors: Ferreol, Anne, Monot, Jean-Jacques
• Primary Examiner(s): Gregory, Bernarr E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mull, Fred H.
• Application Number:
  US10/204,562
• Publication Number:
  US 20030063029A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,796 Days
• Field of Search: 342/374, 342/378, 342/444, 342/440, 342/441
• US Class Current: 342/440
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/043 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/48 the waves arriving at the antennas being continuous or intermittent and the phase difference of signals derived therefrom being measured
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/74 Multi-channel systems specially adapted for direction-finding, i.e. having a single antenna system capable of giving simultaneous indications of the directions of different signals systems in which the directions of different signals are determined sequentially and displayed simultaneously G01S3/04, G01S3/14

Abstract

A process for locating radio sources by a two-channel high resolution radiogoniometer including a network of a specified number N of sensors. The process multiplexes the signals supplied by the N sensors on the inputs of only two receivers. Then, with the aid of a calculation device coupled to the outputs of the two receivers, the angles of arrival of the waves emitted by the sources are estimated on the basis of an estimation of the covariance matrix of the signals supplied by the two receivers.

Claims

1. A process for locating radio sources by a two-channel high resolution radio goniometer including a network of a predetermined number of sensors, the process comprising:

multiplexing signals supplied by the sensors on inputs of first and second receivers;

estimating a covariance matrix of signals supplied by the first and second receivers by calculating successive cross-correlations respectively between signals multiplexed through the first receiver and a signal supplied by a reference sensor and obtained at an output of the second receiver; and

estimating angles of arrival of waves emitted by the radio sources based on the estimated covariance matrix.

2. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the estimating comprises determining a cross-correlation vector based on a cross-correlation elements and applying a MUSIC type algorithm.

3. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the estimating comprises concatenating all the cross-correlations to form one and a same vector and applying a method of maximum likelihood type.

4. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the estimating is obtained through calculation of cross-correlation between pairs of sensors.

5. The process as claimed in claim 1, further comprising supplementing one of the first and second receivers with a gage filter.

6. A two-channel high resolution radiogoniometer for locating radio sources comprising:

a predetermined number of sensors;

first and second receivers coupled, respectively, to the sensors, through a multiplexer, and to a reference sensor and a calculation device;

wherein the calculation device is coupled to outputs of the first and second receivers, and performs the steps;

calculating successive cross-correlations, respectively, between signals multiplexed through the first receiver and a signal supplied by the reference sensor and obtained at an output of the second receiver, and

estimating angles of arrival of waves emitted by the radio sources based on an estimated covariance matrix.