Synthetic aperture radar images with composite azimuth resolution
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of producing a synthetic aperture (SAR) image, the method executed at a SAR imaging system, the method comprising:
- receiving, from a SAR antenna arrangement, SAR return signals;
based upon the SAR return signals, providing a set of SAR phase histories;
at a fine resolution image former of the SAR imaging system, using all phase histories of the set to produce a first pixel array having range and azimuth dimensions and having a first azimuth resolution;
at a coarse resolution image former of the SAR imaging system, using less than all phase histories of the set to produce a second pixel array having range and azimuth dimensions and having a second azimuth resolution that is coarser than the first azimuth resolution; and
at a combiner of the SAR imaging system, combining the first and second pixel arrays to produce a third pixel array that has range and azimuth dimensions and defines a SAR image.
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Abstract
A synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image is produced by using all phase histories of a set of phase histories to produce a first pixel array having a first azimuth resolution, and using less than all phase histories of the set to produce a second pixel array having a second azimuth resolution that is coarser than the first azimuth resolution. The first and second pixel arrays are combined to produce a third pixel array defining a desired SAR image that shows distinct shadows of moving objects while preserving detail in stationary background clutter.
3 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of producing a synthetic aperture (SAR) image, the method executed at a SAR imaging system, the method comprising:
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receiving, from a SAR antenna arrangement, SAR return signals; based upon the SAR return signals, providing a set of SAR phase histories; at a fine resolution image former of the SAR imaging system, using all phase histories of the set to produce a first pixel array having range and azimuth dimensions and having a first azimuth resolution; at a coarse resolution image former of the SAR imaging system, using less than all phase histories of the set to produce a second pixel array having range and azimuth dimensions and having a second azimuth resolution that is coarser than the first azimuth resolution; and at a combiner of the SAR imaging system, combining the first and second pixel arrays to produce a third pixel array that has range and azimuth dimensions and defines a SAR image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for producing a SAR image, comprising:
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a SAR antenna arrangement that receives SAR return signals; a SAR receiver that processes the SAR return signals to generate a set of SAR phase histories; an input for receiving the set of SAR phase histories; a first SAR image former coupled to said input and configured to use all phase histories of the set to produce a first pixel array having range and azimuth dimensions and having a first azimuth resolution; a second SAR image former coupled to said input and configured to use less than all phase histories of the set to produce a second pixel array having range and azimuth dimensions and having a second azimuth resolution that is coarser than the first azimuth resolution; and a combiner coupled to said first and second image formers and configured to combine the first and second pixel arrays to produce a third pixel array that has range and azimuth dimensions and defines a SAR image. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus for providing a SAR product, comprising:
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a SAR antenna arrangement that receives SAR return signals; a SAR receiver that processes the SAR return signals to generate a set of SAR phase histories; an input for receiving the set of SAR phase histories; a first SAR image former coupled to said input and configured to use all phase histories of the set to produce a first pixel array having range and azimuth dimensions and having a first azimuth resolution; a second SAR image former coupled to said input and configured to use less than all phase histories of the set to produce a second pixel array having range and azimuth dimensions and having a second azimuth resolution that is coarser than the first azimuth resolution; a combiner coupled to said first and second image formers and configured to combine the first and second pixel arrays to produce a third pixel array that has range and azimuth dimensions and defines a SAR image; and a video presentation unit coupled to said combiner and configured to receive SAR images from said combiner and produce from said SAR images a corresponding video product for visual display. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification