System and method for dual polarization radar with automatic built-in test equipment and calibration

• US 7,554,486 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2007
• Issued: 06/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baron Services Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Baron Services Incorporated
• Inventors: Walker, William H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gregory; Bernarr E
• Application Number:
  US11/952,206
• Publication Number:
  US 20080224920A1
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 342 5- 11, 342 26 R- 26 D, 342/59, 342165-175, 342/188, 342/195, 342361-366, 342 82-103, 342189-197
• US Class Current: 342/174
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/95 for meteorological use
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/025 involving the transmission of linearly polarised waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/03 Details of HF subsystems specially adapted therefor, e.g. common to transmitter and receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4052 by simulation of echoes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4065 involving a delay line
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4069 involving a RF signal injection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

A calibration system for the receiver of a dual polarization radar system has been developed. The system includes a radar transmitter that transmits signals in horizontal and vertical polarizations and a radar receiver that receives the horizontal and vertical polarization signals. The system also includes a test signal generator that generates a continuous wave test signal. A calibration circuit for the radar receiver modifies the test signal to simulate weather conditions by adjusting the attenuation and Doppler phase shift of a continuous wave test signal.

Claims

1. A calibration system for a dual polarization radar system, comprising:

a radar transmitter that transmits signals in horizontal and vertical polarizations;

a radar receiver that receives the horizontal and vertical polarization signals;

a test signal generator that generates a continuous wave test signal; and

a calibration circuit for the radar receiver that simulates a weather condition by adjusting the attenuation and Doppler phase shift of a continuous wave test signal.

2. The system of claim 1, where the test signal generator generates a pulse wave test signal.

3. The system of claim 1, where the simulated weather condition comprises wind speed.

4. The system of claim 1, where the simulated weather condition comprises rainfall.

5. A calibration system for a dual polarization radar system comprising:

a radar transmitter that transmits signals in horizontal and vertical polarizations;

a radar receiver that receives the horizontal and vertical polarization signals;

a noise source generator that produces a background noise signal that is 30 dB higher than standard atmospheric noise;

a 3 dB power divider that divides the background noise signal; and

a calibration circuit for the radar receiver that calibrates the system to compensate for atmospheric background noise with the divided background noise signal.

6. The system of claim 5, where the test signal generator generates a pulse wave test signal.

7. The system of claim 5, where the power level of the background noise signal is evenly divided between a horizontal polarization channel and a vertical polarization channel.

8. The system of claim 7, where the background noise signal noise level in both the horizontal polarization channel and the vertical polarization channel is 27 dB.