US3900874A — Diversity combination of radar signals

Claim 1

Independent Claim 214 words

In a target-acquisition radar system of the stacked-beam type, having a plurality of like receptors disposed with their axes of maximum sensitivity fanned apart by equal angular increments, the sensitivity of each receptor being defined by a single main lobe and, surrounding said main lobe, at least a pair of side lobes, receivers individual to the several receptors for developing a like plurality of video signals, one from each receptor, and an angle computer for determining from selected ones of said video signals the direction of a source of incoming radiation, means for blocking nonsignificant ones of said video signals, which comprises means for continuously additively combining all of said video signals to develop a reference signal of a magnitude in excess of the majority of said video signals, means for comparing each individual video signal with said reference signal as a threshold to segregate those video signals whose magnitudes exceed said threshold, means for counting the video signals thus segregated, means for developing a control signal in response solely to a count of three-or-more and independent of the amplitudes of said segregated signals, means responsive to said control signal for developing a threshold increment, and means for passing to said computer only those video signals that exceed said threshold and said threshold increment.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 214 words

In a target-acquisition radar system of the stacked-beam type, having a plurality of like receptors disposed with their axes of maximum sensitivity fanned apart by equal angular increments, the sensitivity of each receptor being defined by a single main lobe and, surrounding said main lobe, at least a pair of side lobes, receivers individual to the several receptors for developing a like plurality of video signals, one from each receptor, and an angle computer for determining from selected ones of said video signals the direction of a source of incoming radiation, means for blocking nonsignificant ones of said video signals, which comprises means for continuously additively combining all of said video signals to develop a reference signal of a magnitude in excess of the majority of said video signals, means for comparing each individual video signal with said reference signal as a threshold to segregate those video signals whose magnitudes exceed said threshold, means for counting the video signals thus segregated, means for developing a control signal in response solely to a count of three-or-more and independent of the amplitudes of said segregated signals, means responsive to said control signal for developing a threshold increment, and means for passing to said computer only those video signals that exceed said threshold and said threshold increment.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 154 words

In an information processing system having a plurality of input conductors carrying individual signals of which at most two are at any instant principal signals, the others being spurious, the identities of said principal signals changing from instant to instant, and having means for utilizing said principal signals, apparatus for rejecting spurious signals which comprises means for continuously additively combining all of said signals to develop a reference threshold of a magnitude in excess of the majority of said signals, means for comparing each individual signal with said reference threshold to develop an indication for each signal which exceeds said threshold, means for counting the indications thus developed, means for developing a control signal in response solely to a count of three-or-more indications, means responsive to said control Signal for developing a threshold increment, and means for passing to said utilization means only those video signals that exceed said threshold and said threshold increment.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 154 words

In an information processing system having a plurality of input conductors carrying individual signals of which at most two are at any instant principal signals, the others being spurious, the identities of said principal signals changing from instant to instant, and having means for utilizing said principal signals, apparatus for rejecting spurious signals which comprises means for continuously additively combining all of said signals to develop a reference threshold of a magnitude in excess of the majority of said signals, means for comparing each individual signal with said reference threshold to develop an indication for each signal which exceeds said threshold, means for counting the indications thus developed, means for developing a control signal in response solely to a count of three-or-more indications, means responsive to said control Signal for developing a threshold increment, and means for passing to said utilization means only those video signals that exceed said threshold and said threshold increment.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 162 words

In an information processing system having a plurality of input conductors carrying individual signals of which at most two are at any instant principal signals, the others being spurious, the identities of said principal signals changing from instant to instant, and having means for utilizing said principal signals, apparatus for rejecting spurious signals which comprises means for continuously additively combining all of said signals to develop a reference signal of a magnitude in excess of the majority of said signals, means for comparing each individual signal with said reference signal as a threshold to segregate those signals whose magnitudes exceed said threshold, means for counting the signals thus segregated, means for developing a control signal in response solely to a count of three-or-more, and independent of the amplitudes of said segregated signals, means responsive to said control signal for developing a threshold increment, and means for passing to said utilizing means only those signals that exceed said threshold and said threshold increment.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 162 words

In an information processing system having a plurality of input conductors carrying individual signals of which at most two are at any instant principal signals, the others being spurious, the identities of said principal signals changing from instant to instant, and having means for utilizing said principal signals, apparatus for rejecting spurious signals which comprises means for continuously additively combining all of said signals to develop a reference signal of a magnitude in excess of the majority of said signals, means for comparing each individual signal with said reference signal as a threshold to segregate those signals whose magnitudes exceed said threshold, means for counting the signals thus segregated, means for developing a control signal in response solely to a count of three-or-more, and independent of the amplitudes of said segregated signals, means responsive to said control signal for developing a threshold increment, and means for passing to said utilizing means only those signals that exceed said threshold and said threshold increment.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 189 words

In an information processing system having a plurality n of input conductors carrying individual signals of fluctuating amplitudes of which at most a lesser number m are at any instant significant, the others being spurious, the identities of said significant signals changing from instant to instant, and having means for utilizing said significant signals, apparatus for rejecting spurious signals which comprises means for continuously additively combining all of said n signals to develop a first reference threshold of a magnitude in excess of the majority of said signals, means for comparing each individual signal with said reference threshold to develop an indication for each signal that exceeds said threshold, means for developing a control signal in response solely to the simultaneous presence of a number r of said indications in excess of said number m, means responsive to said control signal for developing a threshold increment and for combining it with said first threshold to provide a second threshold of a magnitude intermediate between said first threshold and the greatest of said signals, and means for passing to said utilization means only those signals that exceed said second threshold.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 189 words

In an information processing system having a plurality n of input conductors carrying individual signals of fluctuating amplitudes of which at most a lesser number m are at any instant significant, the others being spurious, the identities of said significant signals changing from instant to instant, and having means for utilizing said significant signals, apparatus for rejecting spurious signals which comprises means for continuously additively combining all of said n signals to develop a first reference threshold of a magnitude in excess of the majority of said signals, means for comparing each individual signal with said reference threshold to develop an indication for each signal that exceeds said threshold, means for developing a control signal in response solely to the simultaneous presence of a number r of said indications in excess of said number m, means responsive to said control signal for developing a threshold increment and for combining it with said first threshold to provide a second threshold of a magnitude intermediate between said first threshold and the greatest of said signals, and means for passing to said utilization means only those signals that exceed said second threshold.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 30 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein the comparing means comprises a polarized differential amplifier, a high gain amplifier, and a limiter, connected together in tandem in the order named.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 85 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein the threshold increment generator comprises an amplifier proportioned to provide a gain of the magnitude of said increment, a degenerative feedback path extending from the output point of the amplifier to its input point for reducing its gain substantially to unity, a normally established auxiliary path extending from a point of said feedback path to a point of fixed potential for largely disabling said feedback path, and means responsive to said control signal for disestablishing said auxiliary path.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1978-08-18	1979-02-17	1979-08-19	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1982-08-18	1983-02-17	1983-08-19	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1986-08-18	1987-02-17	1987-08-19	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Diversity combination of radar signals

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