US4045795A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Charge-coupled device data processor for an airborne imaging radar system
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
•
Filing: 1975-06-23
•
Granted: 1977-08-30
•
Expires: 1995-06-23
Abstract
Abstract Processing of raw analog echo data from a side-looking synthetic aperture radar receiver into images on board an airborne radar platform is made feasible by utilizing charge-coupled device (CCD) semiconductor technology. CCD circuits are utilized to perform input sampling, presumming, range correlation and azimuth correlation in the analog domain. These radar data processing functions are implemented for "single-look" or "multiple-look" imaging radar systems.
Inventors
- 👤 with respect to an invention of Fletcher James C. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- 👤 Wayne E. Arens
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:00
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S13/00; G01S13/88; G01S13/89; G01S13/90; G01S13/9004; G01S13/9017
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
A data processor for a synthetic aperture imaging radar system having a transmitter and receiver, said processor comprising: a demultiplexer sampling the analog output signals from said receiver, each sample being a charge proportional to the output signal voltage amplitude, and sequentially connecting the samples to a plurality of output lines; a charge-coupled device serial shift register connected to each output line of said demultiplexer for receiving the samples of voltage amplitudes at its input and storing them as charges proportional to their respective voltage amplitude samples; a multiplexer with its inputs connected to respective outputs of said charge-coupled device shift registers for sequentially selecting the charges from the shift registers; means for correlating each charge sample from said multiplexer with its respective range parameter; and means for correlating the range identified charge samples with their respective azimuth parameter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
A data processor for a synthetic aperture imaging radar system having a transmitter and receiver, said processor comprising: a demultiplexer sampling the analog output signals from said receiver, each sample being a charge proportional to the output signal voltage amplitude, and sequentially connecting the samples to a plurality of output lines; a charge-coupled device serial shift register connected to each output line of said demultiplexer for receiving the samples of voltage amplitudes at its input and storing them as charges proportional to their respective voltage amplitude samples; a multiplexer with its inputs connected to respective outputs of said charge-coupled device shift registers for sequentially selecting the charges from the shift registers; means for correlating each charge sample from said multiplexer with its respective range parameter; and means for correlating the range identified charge samples with their respective azimuth parameter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The data processor of claim 1 wherein said range correlating means, comprises: a charge-coupled device serial shift register receiving input signals at one end thereof; means for weighting the output signals from each stage of said shift register; and means for summing the signals from said weighting means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
83 words
The data processor of claim 2 wherein said azimuth correlating means, comprises: a plurality of charge-coupled device serial shift register means, one or more for each stage of the charge-coupled device serial shift register of said range correlating means, receiving signals from said summing means; a plurality of means for weighting output signals from each stage of said plurality of charge-coupled device serial shift registers; and a plurality of means for summing the weighted signals from each of said plurality of weighting means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
102 words
The data processor of claim 2 wherein said azimuth correlating means comprises: two or more combinations of the following combination of three elements 1, 2, and 3: 1. a plurality of charge-coupled device serial shift register means, one or more for each stage of the charge-coupled device serial shift register of said range correlating means, receiving signals from said summing means; 2. a plurality of means for weighting output signals from each stage of said plurality of charge-coupled device serial shift register means; and 3. a plurality of means for summing the weighted signals from each of said plurality of weighting means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The data processor of claim 4, further comprising: summing means for summing the output signals from said azimuth correlating means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
77 words
The data processor of claim 1 wherein said azimuth correlating means, comprises: a plurality of CCD serial shift register means, one or more for each range element at a particular azimuth parameter, receiving signals from said range correlating means; a plurality of means for weighting output signals from each stage of said plurality of CCD serial shift register means; and a plurality of means for summing the weighted signals from each of said plurality of weighting means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
95 words
The data processor of claim 1 wherein said azimuth correlating means comprises: two or more combinations of the following combination of three elements 1, 2, and 3: 1. a plurality of CCD serial shift register means, one or more for each range element at a particular azimuth parameter, receiving signals from said range correlating means; 2. a plurality of means for weighting output signals from each stage of said plurality of CCD serial shift register means; and 3. a plurality of means for summing the weighted signals from each of said plurality of weighting means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The data processor of claim 7, further comprising: summing means for summing the output signals from said azimuth correlating means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
137 words
A data processor for a synthetic aperture imaging radar system having a transmitter and receiver, said processor comprising: n processor modules, where n is an integer, each module comprising: 1. means for sampling the analog output signal from said receiver said means comprising: a. a demultiplexer sampling the analog output signal from said receiver, each sample having a charge proportional to the output signal voltage amplitude and sequentially connecting samples to a plurality of output lines; b. a CCD serial shift register connected to each output line of said demultiplexer for receiving the samples of voltage amplitudes at its input and storing them as charges proportional to their respective voltage amplitude samples; and c. a multiplexer with its inputs connected to respective outputs of said CCD shift registers for sequentially selecting the charges from the shift registers;
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
137 words
A data processor for a synthetic aperture imaging radar system having a transmitter and receiver, said processor comprising: n processor modules, where n is an integer, each module comprising: 1. means for sampling the analog output signal from said receiver said means comprising: a. a demultiplexer sampling the analog output signal from said receiver, each sample having a charge proportional to the output signal voltage amplitude and sequentially connecting samples to a plurality of output lines; b. a CCD serial shift register connected to each output line of said demultiplexer for receiving the samples of voltage amplitudes at its input and storing them as charges proportional to their respective voltage amplitude samples; and c. a multiplexer with its inputs connected to respective outputs of said CCD shift registers for sequentially selecting the charges from the shift registers;
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
means for correlating each charge sample from said multiplexer with its respective range parameter; and 3. means for correlating the range identified charge samples with their respective azimuth parameters.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
means for correlating each charge sample from said multiplexer with its respective range parameter; and 3. means for correlating the range identified charge samples with their respective azimuth parameters.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The data processor of claim 9, wherein said sampling means for each processor samples a 1/n portion of each analog output signal from said radar receiver.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
The data processor of claim 9 wherein said range correlating means, comprises: a CCD serial shift register receiving input signals at one end thereof; means for weighting the output signals from each stage of said shift registers; and means for summing the signals from said weighting means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
65 words
The data processor of claim 9 wherein said azimuth correlating means, comprises: a plurality of CCD serial shift registers, one or more for each range element at an azimuth parameter; a plurality of means for weighting output signals from each stage of said plurality of CCD serial shift registers; and a plurality of means for summing the weighted signals from each of said weighting means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
85 words
The data processor of claim 9 wherein said azimuth correlating means comprises: two or more combinations of the following combination of three elements 1, 2, and 3: 1. a plurality of CCD serial shift registers, one or more for each range element at an azimuth parameter; 2. a plurality of means for weighting output signals from each stage of said plurality of CCD serial shift registers; and 3. a plurality of means for summing the weighted signals from each of said plurality of weighting means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The data processor 13, further comprising: summing means for summing the output signals from said azimuth correlating means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The data processor 13, further comprising: summing means for summing the output signals from said azimuth correlating means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
120 words
A data processor for a synthetic aperature imaging radar system having a transmitter and receiver, said processor comprising: means for sampling the echo output signals from the radar receiver, each sample being a charge proportional to the echo signal voltage amplitude; a serial/parallel CCD shift register having a serial input and a parallel output, said register receiving the samples from said sampling means; a parallel/serial CCD shift register having a parallel input and a serial output, the parallel input being connected to the parallel output of said serial/parallel register; means for correlating the resultant average samples from said parallel/serial CCD shift register with their respective range parameter; and means for correlating the range identified samples with their respective azimuth parameter.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
120 words
A data processor for a synthetic aperature imaging radar system having a transmitter and receiver, said processor comprising: means for sampling the echo output signals from the radar receiver, each sample being a charge proportional to the echo signal voltage amplitude; a serial/parallel CCD shift register having a serial input and a parallel output, said register receiving the samples from said sampling means; a parallel/serial CCD shift register having a parallel input and a serial output, the parallel input being connected to the parallel output of said serial/parallel register; means for correlating the resultant average samples from said parallel/serial CCD shift register with their respective range parameter; and means for correlating the range identified samples with their respective azimuth parameter.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3181145A
Cited
US3737900A
Cited
US3683373A
Cited
US3797016A
Cited
US3942034A
Cited
US3900846A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-08-29 | 1981-02-28 | 1981-08-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-08-29 | 1985-02-28 | 1985-08-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-08-29 | 1989-02-28 | 1989-08-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |