US4143373A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Adaptive radar systems and methods therefor
Assignee: Raytheon Co
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Filing: 1977-09-21
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Granted: 1979-03-06
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Expires: 1997-09-21
Abstract
Abstract Radar systems in which target detection and unambiguously measured range rate are derived from returns from a high pulse repetition frequency (PRF) transmitted waveform; and wherein a lower PRF waveform is adaptively selected as a function of the measured range rate so that the range of even targets, that might otherwise be obscured by clutter, is unambiguously measured. For high PRF track update for a target on which track file data has been established, predicted range is used to adaptively select a high PRF waveform which avoids eclipsing of target returns due to the receiver being non-receptive during the transmission mode.
Inventors
- 👤 Leon Chernick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 20:28
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S13/00; G01S13/02; G01S13/06; G01S13/08; G01S13/10; G01S13/106; G01S13/50; G01S13/52; G01S13/522; G01S13/524; G01S13/526; G01S13/528; G01S7/00; G01S7/02; G01S7/28; G01S7/285; G01S7/292; G01S7/2923
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
The method of measuring the range and range rate of a target, comprising the steps of: (1) transmitting a train of energy pulses of at least one preselected high PRF waveform which has a sufficiently high PRF value as to produce unambiguous range rate data for said target from a train of pulses of a single such high PRF, and measuring the range rate of the target from energy returned therefrom; (2) determining, as a function of said range rate measured in step (1) a low PRF waveform which has a sufficiently low PRF value as to produce unambiguous range data for said target from a train of pulses of a single such low PRF, and which will produce target return signals at preselected relative frequency zones within the spectrum of said low PRF waveform; and (3) transmitting a train of energy pulses of the low PRF waveform determined in step (2) and measuring the range of the target from energy returned therefrom.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
163 words
The method of measuring the range and range rate of a target, comprising the steps of: (1) transmitting a train of energy pulses of at least one preselected high PRF waveform which has a sufficiently high PRF value as to produce unambiguous range rate data for said target from a train of pulses of a single such high PRF, and measuring the range rate of the target from energy returned therefrom; (2) determining, as a function of said range rate measured in step (1) a low PRF waveform which has a sufficiently low PRF value as to produce unambiguous range data for said target from a train of pulses of a single such low PRF, and which will produce target return signals at preselected relative frequency zones within the spectrum of said low PRF waveform; and (3) transmitting a train of energy pulses of the low PRF waveform determined in step (2) and measuring the range of the target from energy returned therefrom.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 wherein step (1) thereof includes sequentially transmitting a plurality of preselected high PRF waveforms; whereby the probability of range eclipsing of said energy returned from the target is reduced.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 1 wherein step (2) thereof includes determining as a function of said measured range rate a low PRF waveform which causes the frequencies of return target signals to be approximately inbetween the frequencies of the spectral lines of the low PRF waveform; whereby the probability of doppler eclipsing of energy returns from the target is reduced.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
198 words
The method of measuring the range and range rate of a target in response to a supplied predicted range value for the target, said method comprising the steps of: (1) determining as a function of the supplied predicted range value a high PRF waveform which has a sufficiently high PRF value as to produce unambiguous range rate data for said target from a train of pulses of a single such high PRF, and which will avoid range eclipsing; (2) transmitting a train of energy pulses of the high PRF waveform determined in step (1) and measuring the range rate of the target from energy returned therefrom; (3) determining, as a function of said range rate measured in step (2), a low PRF waveform which has a sufficiently low PRF value as to produce unambiguous range data for said target from a train of pulses of a single such low PRF, and which will produce target return signals at preselected relative frequency zones within the spectrum of said low PRF waveform; and (4) transmitting a train of energy pulses of the low PRF waveform determined in step (3) and measuring the range of the target from energy returned therefrom.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
198 words
The method of measuring the range and range rate of a target in response to a supplied predicted range value for the target, said method comprising the steps of: (1) determining as a function of the supplied predicted range value a high PRF waveform which has a sufficiently high PRF value as to produce unambiguous range rate data for said target from a train of pulses of a single such high PRF, and which will avoid range eclipsing; (2) transmitting a train of energy pulses of the high PRF waveform determined in step (1) and measuring the range rate of the target from energy returned therefrom; (3) determining, as a function of said range rate measured in step (2), a low PRF waveform which has a sufficiently low PRF value as to produce unambiguous range data for said target from a train of pulses of a single such low PRF, and which will produce target return signals at preselected relative frequency zones within the spectrum of said low PRF waveform; and (4) transmitting a train of energy pulses of the low PRF waveform determined in step (3) and measuring the range of the target from energy returned therefrom.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 4 wherein step (3) thereof includes determining as a function of said measured range rate a low PRF waveform which causes the frequencies of return target signals to be approximately inbetween the frequencies of the spectral lines of the low PRF waveform; whereby the probability of doppler eclipsing of energy returns from the target is reduced.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 4 wherein step (1) thereof includes determining as a function of the supplied predicted range value a high PRF waveform which will cause the energy returned from the target in step (2) to be approximately centered between transmitted energy pulses.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
185 words
The method of measuring the range and range rate of a target, comprising the steps of: (1) transmitting a train of energy pulses of at least one preselected high PRF waveform which has a sufficiently high PRF value as to produce unambiguous range rate data for said target from a train of pulses of a single such high PRF, and measuring the range rate of the target from energy returned therefrom; (2) determining, as a function of said range rate measured in step (1) at least two medium PRF waveforms which are of such PRF values as to produce unambiguous range data for said target from the sequential transmission of trains of pulses of each of said two medium PRF waveforms and which will produce target return signals at preselected relative frequency zones within the spectrum of said at least two medium PRF waveforms; and (3) sequentially transmitting a train of energy pulses of each of said at least two medium PRF waveforms determined in step (2), and measuring the range of the target from energy returned from the transmission of said medium PRF waveforms.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
185 words
The method of measuring the range and range rate of a target, comprising the steps of: (1) transmitting a train of energy pulses of at least one preselected high PRF waveform which has a sufficiently high PRF value as to produce unambiguous range rate data for said target from a train of pulses of a single such high PRF, and measuring the range rate of the target from energy returned therefrom; (2) determining, as a function of said range rate measured in step (1) at least two medium PRF waveforms which are of such PRF values as to produce unambiguous range data for said target from the sequential transmission of trains of pulses of each of said two medium PRF waveforms and which will produce target return signals at preselected relative frequency zones within the spectrum of said at least two medium PRF waveforms; and (3) sequentially transmitting a train of energy pulses of each of said at least two medium PRF waveforms determined in step (2), and measuring the range of the target from energy returned from the transmission of said medium PRF waveforms.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
220 words
The method of measuring the range and range rate of a target in response to a supplied predicted range value for the target, said method comprising the steps of: (1) determining as a function of the supplied predicted range value a high PRF waveform which has a sufficiently high PRF value as to produce unambiguous range rate data for said target from a train of pulses of a single such high PRF, and which will avoid range eclipsing: (2) transmitting a train of energy pulses of said high PRF waveform determined in step (1) and measuring the range rate of the target from energy returned therefrom; (3) determining, as a function of said range rate measured in step (2) at least two medium PRF waveforms which are of such PRF values as to produce unambiguous range data for said target from the sequential transmission of trains of pulses of each of said two medium PRF waveforms and which will produce target return signals at preselected relative frequency zones within the spectrum of said at least two medium PRF waveforms; and (4) sequentially transmitting a train of energy pulses of each of said at least two medium PRF waveforms determined in step (3), and measuring the range of the target from energy returned from the transmission of said medium PRF waveforms.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
220 words
The method of measuring the range and range rate of a target in response to a supplied predicted range value for the target, said method comprising the steps of: (1) determining as a function of the supplied predicted range value a high PRF waveform which has a sufficiently high PRF value as to produce unambiguous range rate data for said target from a train of pulses of a single such high PRF, and which will avoid range eclipsing: (2) transmitting a train of energy pulses of said high PRF waveform determined in step (1) and measuring the range rate of the target from energy returned therefrom; (3) determining, as a function of said range rate measured in step (2) at least two medium PRF waveforms which are of such PRF values as to produce unambiguous range data for said target from the sequential transmission of trains of pulses of each of said two medium PRF waveforms and which will produce target return signals at preselected relative frequency zones within the spectrum of said at least two medium PRF waveforms; and (4) sequentially transmitting a train of energy pulses of each of said at least two medium PRF waveforms determined in step (3), and measuring the range of the target from energy returned from the transmission of said medium PRF waveforms.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 8 wherein step (3) thereof includes determining, as a function of said measured range rate, said at least one medium PRF waveform such that the frequencies of return target signals will be approximately inbetween the frequencies of the spectral lines of said at least one medium PRF waveform; whereby the probability of doppler eclipsing of energy returns from the target is reduced.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 8 wherein step (1) thereof includes determining as a function of the supplied predicted range value a high PRF waveform which will cause the energy returned from the target in step (2) to be approximately centered between transmitted energy pulses.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-03-05 | 1982-09-04 | 1983-03-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-03-05 | 1986-09-04 | 1987-03-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-03-05 | 1990-09-04 | 1991-03-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |