Frequency discriminator

• US 9,729,363 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2014
• Issued: 08/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CRFS Limited
• Original Assignee: CRFS Limited
• Inventors: Alexander, Keith, Massarella, Alistair, Timson, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THANH C
• Application Number:
  US14/166,618
• Publication Number:
  US 20150072633A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,288 Days
• Field of Search: 455130, 455205, 455210, 455213, 455222, 4552261, 4552262, 455254, 455307, 455334, 455336, 455339, 455340, 327 39, 327 61
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 23/165 using filters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/04 Position of source determined by a plurality of spaced direction-finders
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/06 Position of source determined by co-ordinating a plurality of position lines defined by path-difference measurements G01S5/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/021 Auxiliary means for detecting or identifying radar signals or the like, e.g. radar jamming signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/14 Demodulator circuits; Receiver circuits

Abstract

A frequency discriminator comprising a power splitter for splitting a signal into first and second paths, wherein the first path is configured to provide a first, straight-through signal and the second path includes a frequency-dependent element, such as low-pass filter, so as to provide a second signal. The frequency discriminator further comprises a circuit configured to compare the first and second signals and generate an instantaneous frequency signal in dependence thereon.

Claims

1. A frequency discriminator comprising:

a first power splitter for splitting a signal into first and second paths, wherein the first path is configured to provide a first, straight-through signal and the second path includes a first frequency-dependent element so as to provide a second signal,

a first circuit configured to compare the first and second signals and generate a first instantaneous frequency signal in dependence thereon,

a second power splitter for splitting a signal into third and fourth paths, wherein the third path is configured to provide a third, straight-through signal and the fourth path includes a second frequency-dependent element so as to provide a fourth signal,

a second circuit configured to compare the third and fourth signals and generate a second instantaneous frequency signal in dependence thereon, and

a third power splitter configured to split an input signal and feed the input signal to the first and second power splitters,

wherein the first and second frequency-dependent elements have different frequency dependencies, and

wherein the frequency discriminator is sensitive to signals in a bandwidth between a lower frequency limit and an upper frequency limit, wherein the upper frequency limit is 1 GHz or 40 GHz.

2. A frequency discriminator according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the frequency-dependent elements comprises a linear filter.

3. A frequency discriminator according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the frequency-dependent elements is a low-pass filter.

4. A frequency discriminator according to claim 3, wherein the low-pass filter has a corner frequency of at least 500 MHz.

5. A frequency discriminator according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the frequency-dependent elements comprises a Bessel filter.

6. A frequency discriminator according to claim 1, wherein the second path comprises more than one frequency-dependent element in series.

7. A frequency discriminator according to claim 1, wherein the first circuit comprises a first amplifier configured to amplify the first signal and a second amplifier configured to amplify the second signal.

8. A frequency discriminator according to claim 7, wherein the first and second amplifiers are first and second logarithmic amplifiers respectively.

9. A frequency discriminator according to claim 7, wherein the first circuit includes an integrated circuit comprising the first and second amplifiers.

10. A frequency discriminator according to claim 1, wherein the first circuit comprises a differential amplifier, wherein the differential amplifier is configured to compare the first and second signals or fifth and sixth signals obtained from the first and second signals respectively.

11. A frequency discriminator according to claim 10, wherein the second circuit comprises a second differential amplifier, wherein the second differential amplifier is configured to compare the third and fourth signals or seventh and eighth signals obtained from the third and fourth signals respectively.

12. A frequency discriminator according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first circuit and the second circuit is configured to output an instantaneous amplitude signal.

13. A frequency discriminator according to claim 12, further comprising an analogue-to-digital converter arranged to sample the instantaneous amplitude signal.

14. A frequency discriminator according to claim 1, further comprising an analogue-to-digital converter arranged to sample at least one of the first instantaneous frequency signal and the second instantaneous frequency signal.

15. A frequency discriminator according to claim 1, which is a wideband frequency discriminator.

16. A frequency discriminator according to claim 1, wherein the first frequency-dependent element is a low-pass filter and the second frequency-dependent element is a high pass filter.

17. A frequency discriminator according to claim 1, further comprising a third circuit configured to compare the first and second instantaneous frequency signals.

18. A detector, comprising:

at least one frequency discriminator according to claim 1; and

a circuit configured to process signal(s) from the at least one frequency discriminator.

19. A detector, comprising:

a power splitter for splitting a signal into at least two paths, each path including a frequency discriminator according to claim 1; and

at least one processor configured to process signal(s) from the at least one frequency discriminator.

20. A detector according to claim 19, wherein each path includes a filter for selecting a respective frequency range.

21. A detector according to claim 20, comprising at least one band pass filter.

22. A detector according to claim 19, wherein each path includes an amplifier arranged to saturate for signals above a given signal level.

23. A detector according to claim 19, further comprising an input section.

24. A detector according to claim 23, wherein the input section comprises a high-pass filter.

25. A detector according to claim 23, wherein the input section comprises a power limiter.

26. A system comprising:

a detector according to claim 18 or 19;

a receiver;

wherein the detector is configured, in response to receiving a signal which includes a component at a predetermined frequency, to identify the frequency and to cause the receiver to tune to a frequency band which includes the frequency.

27. A system according to claim 26, further comprising:

at least one further processor configured to characterise the signal and, in response to characterising the signal, to generate a pulse descriptor word.

28. A system according to claim 26, further comprising:

at least one antenna coupled to the detector and the receiver.

29. A system according to claim 26, which is a radar warning receiver system.

30. A detection device comprising:

at least two detectors according to claim 18 or 19, each detector arranged to output a corresponding power level of an input signal; and

a processor configured to receive at least two measurements of power levels from respective detectors and to determine an angle of arrival.

31. A detection device according to claim 30, further comprising:

at least two antennas, each antenna coupled to a respective detector.

32. A system comprising:

a plurality of spaced detection devices according to claim 30; and

a controller for receiving measurements of angle of arrival from one or more of the plurality of spaced detection devices and which is configured to determine position of a signal source from measurements of angle of arrival.

33. A detection device comprising:

a detector according to claim 18 or 19; and

at least one processor configured to measure a time of arrival of a pulse received by the detector.

34. A system comprising:

a plurality of spaced detection devices according to claim 33; and

a controller for receiving measurements of time of arrival from one or more of the plurality of spaced detection devices and which is configured to determine position of a signal source from measurements of time of arrival.

35. A detection device comprising:

a detector according to claim 18 or 19;

a receiver for capturing a sample of a signal; and

at least one processor,

wherein the detector is configured, in response to receiving a signal, to cause the receiver to capture a sample of the signal.

36. A system comprising:

a plurality of spaced detection devices according to claim 35; and

a controller for receiving samples from one or more of the plurality of spaced detection devices and which is configured to determine position of a signal source from the samples using time difference of arrival.

37. A detection device according to claim 35, wherein the at least one processor is configured to measure a time of arrival of a pulse received by the detector.

38. A system comprising:

a plurality of spaced detection devices according to claim 37; and

a controller for receiving samples from one or more of the plurality of spaced detection devices and which is configured to determine position of a signal source from the samples using time difference of arrival.

39. A system according to claim 38, wherein the controller is configured to determine position of the signal source from measurements of time of arrival.