Unbalanced non-linear radar

• US 8,035,550 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2008
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Koumvakalis, Nicholas, Holly, Sandor
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza; Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): BYTHROW, PETER M
• Application Number:
  US12/264,153
• Publication Number:
  US 20100001899A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,072 Days
• Field of Search: 342 13- 20, 342/128, 342/129, 342/175
• US Class Current: 342/175
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0075 the high-energy beam being a radiofrequency beam
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/87 Combinations of radar systems, e.g. primary radar and secondary radar
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/88 Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications electromagnetic prospecting or detecting of objects, e.g. near-field detection, G01V3/00

Abstract

A transmitter system can have a higher power transmitter and a lower power that are configured to transmit a pair of unbalanced radio frequency beams to a target so as to produce a difference frequency in the target. The difference frequency can disrupt operation of a device, such as a weapon. The difference frequency can provide a radar return. The use of a higher power transmitter and a lower power transmitter reduces costs, size, and weight as compared to the use of two higher power transmitters.

Claims

1. A transmitter system comprising at least two transmitters that are configured to transmit a plurality of unbalanced radio frequency beams to a cooperative target so as to produce a difference frequency current and re-radiated field in the cooperative target.

2. A microwave difference frequency generator comprising:

a first transmitter configured to provide a first output at a first frequency and a first intensity;

a second transmitter configured to provide a second output at a second frequency and a second intensity, the second frequency being different from the first frequency and the second intensity being different from the first intensity; and

a receiver configured to receive an input from a cooperative target that re-radiates an electric field at a difference frequency of the first and second frequencies.

3. The microwave difference frequency generator as recited in claim 2, wherein the first frequency and the second frequency are radio frequencies.

4. The microwave difference frequency generator as recited in claim 2, wherein the first frequency and the second frequency are microwave frequencies.

5. The microwave difference frequency generator as recited in claim 2, wherein the first intensity is more than ten times the second intensity.

6. The microwave difference frequency generator as recited in claim 2, wherein the first intensity is more than one hundred times the second intensity.

7. The microwave difference frequency generator as recited in claim 2 comprising at least one third transmitter, each third transmitter being configured to provide an output at a frequency that is different from all of the other transmitters and being configured to provide an intensity that is different from the first intensity.

8. A non-linear radar system comprising:

a first transmitter configured to provide a first output at a first frequency and a first intensity;

a second transmitter configured to provide a second output at a second frequency and a second intensity, the second frequency being different from the first frequency and the second intensity being different from the first intensity; and

a receiver configured to receive an input at a difference frequency of the first and second frequencies.

9. The non-linear radar system as recited in claim 8, wherein the first frequency and the second frequency are radio frequencies.

10. The non-linear radar system as recited in claim 8, wherein the first frequency and the second frequency are microwave frequencies.

11. The non-linear radar system as recited in claim 8, wherein the first intensity is more than ten times the second intensity.

12. The non-linear radar system as recited in claim 8, wherein the first intensity is more than one hundred times the second intensity.

13. The non-linear radar system as recited in claim 8 comprising at least one third transmitter, each third transmitter being configured to provide an output at a frequency that is different from all of the other transmitters and being configured to provide an intensity that is different from the first intensity.

14. A method for interacting with a cooperative target, the method comprising transmitting at least two unbalanced radio frequency beams to the cooperative target so as to produce a difference frequency current and re-radiated field in the cooperative target.

15. A method for exciting a difference frequency in a cooperative target having a non-linear component, the method comprising:

transmitting a first output at a first frequency and a first intensity to the cooperative target;

transmitting a second output at a second frequency and a second intensity simultaneously to the cooperative target, the second frequency being different from the first frequency and the second intensity being different from the first intensity; and

receiving an electric field from the cooperative target at a difference frequency of the first and second frequencies.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the first frequency and the second frequency are radio frequencies.

17. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the first frequency and the second frequency are microwave frequencies.

18. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the first intensity is more than ten times the second intensity.

19. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the first intensity is more than one hundred times the second intensity.

20. A non-linear radar method comprising:

transmitting a first output at a first frequency and a first intensity;

transmitting a second output at a second frequency and a second intensity, the second frequency being different from the first frequency and the second intensity being different from the first intensity; and

receiving an input at a difference frequency of the first and second frequencies.

21. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein the first frequency and the second frequency are radio frequencies.

22. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein the first frequency and the second frequency are microwave frequencies.

23. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein the first intensity is more than ten times the second intensity.

24. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein the first intensity is more than one hundred times the second intensity.

25. A method for locating a weapon, the method comprising:

transmitting a first radio frequency signal at a first frequency and a first intensity to the weapon;

transmitting a second radio frequency signal at a second frequency and a second intensity simultaneously to the weapon, the second frequency being different from the first frequency and the second intensity being different from the first intensity; and

wherein the first and second radio frequency signals interact at a non-linear item of the weapon to form a difference frequency that is reradiated from the weapon; and

receiving the reradiated difference frequency from the weapon.

26. The method as recited in claim 25, wherein the first and second radio frequencies signals are configured to interact at a non-linear item of a roadside bomb.

27. The method as recited in claim 25, wherein the first and second radio frequencies signals are configured to interact at a non-linear item of an improvised explosive device.

28. A method for locating items, the method comprising:

transmitting a first output at a first frequency and a first intensity;

transmitting a second output at a second frequency and a second intensity, the second frequency being different from the first frequency and the second intensity being different from the first intensity; and

receiving an input at a difference frequency of the first and second frequencies, the difference frequency being formed by a non-linearity of the item.

29. The method as recited in claim 28, wherein the first and second radio frequencies signals are configured to interact at a non-linear part of a tool.