Adaptive sidelobe blanking for motion compensation
First Claim
1. A method for providing electronic motion compensation for a moving platform mounted phased array radar antenna system subject to changes in roll, pitch and yaw, the radar system including a main antenna channel and at least one auxiliary antenna channel respectively for receiving main beam, auxiliary beam and side lobe antenna patterns from transmit/receive modules of the main and auxiliary antennas, the main and auxiliary channels being coupled to a sidelobe blanking (SLB) circuit for blanking out interference and whose output couples to a radar data processor included in the system to provide for accurate target detection, the method comprising:
- (a) generating new sets of amplitude and phase digital coefficient values by a roll motion compensator modified as a function of roll angle information derived from platform motion data signals provided by the antenna system, each new set providing both the quadrant phase rotation and amplitude element weighting rotation;
(b) applying the new sets of amplitude and phase digital coefficient values generated by the roll motion compensator to an auxiliary beam steering generator; and
(c) during a receive cycle of operation, the auxiliary beam steering generator applying each new set of amplitude and phase weighting coefficient values to the transmit/receive module of the auxiliary antenna for causing both amplitude and phase rotation of the received auxiliary beam SLB antenna pattern resulting in a pattern broad enough to provide effective sidelobe blanking by the SLB circuit notwithstanding changes in platform roll angle motion.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A motion compensation method and system is included in a radar antenna system mounted on a moving platform which is subject to pitch, yaw and roll. The radar antenna system includes a main array antenna, and an auxiliary antenna. The auxiliary channel associated with the auxiliary antenna utilizes roll, pitch and yaw angle motion compensations as its auxiliary antenna always steers a horizontal fan shape beam at the horizon to blank any surface (land or sea) based EM interferences. Such motion compensations are provided by a ship motion compensator component and process included within the antenna system. The ship motion compensator component in response to platform motion signals indicative of changes in platform motion angles generates new sets of values using an initial set of weighting coefficient values as a function of such angle motion changes. This produces changes in both amplitude and phase weighting coefficient values which results in both the quadrant phase rotation and the element weighting rotation. The process steers and spreads out the received auxiliary antenna pattern making sidelobe coverage broad enough to compensate for such changes in platform motion.
48 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method for providing electronic motion compensation for a moving platform mounted phased array radar antenna system subject to changes in roll, pitch and yaw, the radar system including a main antenna channel and at least one auxiliary antenna channel respectively for receiving main beam, auxiliary beam and side lobe antenna patterns from transmit/receive modules of the main and auxiliary antennas, the main and auxiliary channels being coupled to a sidelobe blanking (SLB) circuit for blanking out interference and whose output couples to a radar data processor included in the system to provide for accurate target detection, the method comprising:
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(a) generating new sets of amplitude and phase digital coefficient values by a roll motion compensator modified as a function of roll angle information derived from platform motion data signals provided by the antenna system, each new set providing both the quadrant phase rotation and amplitude element weighting rotation; (b) applying the new sets of amplitude and phase digital coefficient values generated by the roll motion compensator to an auxiliary beam steering generator; and (c) during a receive cycle of operation, the auxiliary beam steering generator applying each new set of amplitude and phase weighting coefficient values to the transmit/receive module of the auxiliary antenna for causing both amplitude and phase rotation of the received auxiliary beam SLB antenna pattern resulting in a pattern broad enough to provide effective sidelobe blanking by the SLB circuit notwithstanding changes in platform roll angle motion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. Apparatus for providing electronic angle motion compensation for a moving platform mounted phased array radar antenna system subject to changes in roll, yaw and pitch, the radar antenna system including a main antenna channel and at least one auxiliary antenna channel for receiving main beam, auxiliary beam and side lobe antenna patterns from transmit/receive modules of the main and auxiliary antennas, the main and auxiliary channels being coupled to a sidelobe blanking (SLB) circuit for blanking out interference and whose output couples to a radar data processor included in the system for providing accurate target detection, the apparatus comprising:
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(a) a roll angle compensator for generating new sets of amplitude and phase digital coefficient values modified as a function of angle information derived from platform motion data signals provided by the antenna system, each new set providing both quadrant phase rotation and the element amplitude weighting rotation; (b) the roll motion compensator being coupled to an auxiliary beam steering generator for receiving the new sets of amplitude and phase digital coefficient values; and (c) the auxiliary beam steering generator being coupled to the transmit/receive modules of the auxiliary antenna, the auxiliary beam steering generator being operative during a receive cycle of operation, to apply each new set of amplitude and phase weighting coefficient values to the transmit/receive modules for causing both amplitude and phase rotation of the received auxiliary beam SLB antenna pattern resulting in a pattern broad enough to provide effective sidelobe blanking by the SLB circuit notwithstanding changes in platform angle motion. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification