Single-antenna FM/CW marine radar

• US 8,330,651 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2010
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Navico Incorporated (Brunswick Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Vacanti, David C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sotomayor, John B
• Application Number:
  US12/751,781
• Publication Number:
  US 20110122017A1
• Time in Patent Office: 986 Days
• Field of Search: 342/175, 342/41, 342/195
• US Class Current: 342/175
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/345 using triangular modulation
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/937 of marine craft
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/032 Constructional details for solid-state radar subsystems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/038 Feedthrough nulling circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/354 Extracting wanted echo-signals Doppler systems G01S13/50
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/34 Adaptation for use in or on ships, submarines, buoys or torpedoes for subaqueous use H01Q1/04
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/42 Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/005 Slotted waveguides arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/04 for varying one co-ordinate of the orientation

Abstract

A high resolution, low power marine radar for use in applications such as the newly mandated barge/river radars that are to be used in very confined spaces such as canals. An example radar system includes frequency-modulated/continuous-wave (FM/CW) radar that uses very low transmitter power (a fraction of a watt) and has an exceptionally short sensing range of a few feet or even inches if needed.

Claims

1. A radar system comprising:

a single slotted waveguide antenna;

a circulator in signal communication with the antenna, wherein the circulator comprises only three ports;

a transceiver in signal communication with the antenna, the transceiver comprising;

a receiver mixer connected directly to an output of the circulator;

a component configured to provide a local oscillator signal using a sample of a transmitter signal; and

a component configured to match arrival time of the local oscillator signal with a signal associated with at least one of leakage or reflected power signals, thereby performing phase noise cancellation in the receiver mixer.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein phase noise of the transceiver is less than −

100 dBc/Hz at an offset of 100 KHz.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the transceiver performs triangle wave modulation and continuous transmission and reception.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein a voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) of the antenna is less than 1.2:

1 across an operating frequency band.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the transceiver comprises an Intermediate Frequency (IF) subsystem, the IF subsystem comprises an Active High Pass filter with gain configured to instantly compensate for range variations to a target.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the IF subsystem further comprises an Active Low Pass filter configured to attenuate all signals outputted by the Active High Pass filter greater than the highest expected IF frequency.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the highest expected IF frequency is the product of Linear Frequency Modulation rate in Hz/sec times the ratio of twice the most distant desired range to the speed of light.

8. The system of claim 4, further comprising:

a base configured to house the transceiver, a power supply and a Digital Signal Processor (DSP);

an antenna radome configured to house the antenna; and

a waveguide rotary joint coupled between the transceiver and the antenna, the waveguide rotary joint configured to transmit microwave energy

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the base comprises a circuit board, wherein the transceiver is located on the circuit board, the circuit board comprising a microstrip to waveguide transition component configured to transmit signals between the transceiver and the Waveguide Rotary Joint.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein a VSWR of the waveguide rotary joint is at or below 1.2:

1.

11. The system of claim 4, further comprising:

a base configured to house a DSP;

a radome configured to house the antenna, the circulator and the transceiver; and

a power and data rotary joint coupled between the base and the radome, the power and data rotary joint configured to provide data and power connections between the DSP and the transceiver.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the antenna radome comprises a circuit board, wherein the transceiver and circulator are located on the circuit board, the circuit board comprising a microstrip to waveguide transition component configured to transmit signals between the transceiver and the antenna.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein one end of the antenna is directly attached to the circuit board at the microstrip to waveguide transition component.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the power and data rotary joint provides induction coupling.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the power and data rotary joint provides capacitive coupling.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the power and data rotary joint provides optical coupling.

17. A radar system comprising:

a single slotted waveguide antenna;

a circulator in signal communication with the antenna;

a transceiver in signal communication with the antenna, the transceiver comprising;

a receiver mixer connected directly to an output of the circulator interface to the transmitter and antenna;

a component configured to provide a local oscillator signal using a sample of a transmitter signal; and

a component configured to match arrival time of the local oscillator signal with a signal associated with at least one of leakage or reflected power signals, thereby performing phase noise cancellation in the receiver mixer,

wherein phase noise of the transceiver is less than −

100 dBc/Hz at an offset of 100 KHz,

wherein the transceiver performs triangle wave modulation and continuous transmission and reception,

wherein a voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) of the antenna is less than 1.2;

1 across an operating frequency band.