Microprocessor based programmable frequency controller for frequency agile radar

Claim 1

A programmable stepped frequency controller for frequency agile radar which comprises: means for receiving input radar control parameters, said control parameters being entered by the system operator; means for retaining a computer program, said computer program constructed to provide operational control and data transfer management directions for the system; means for storing data, said storing means being able to receive or transmit data pertaining to the operation of the frequency agile radar system; means for processing and controlling, said processing means capable of executing the computer program contained in the retaining means, of processing data during operation of the radar system, and of controlling the operation of the frequency agile system; means for transceiving data and operational commands between the components of the programmable frequency controller, said transceiving means being connected to receive signals from the receiving means, and the retaining means, being connected to send and receive data signals from the storing means, and being connected to receive and send control and data signals to the processing means; means for synthesizing a radar signal to control the method of radar transmission from a radar system and antenna, said synthesizing means attached to the transceiving means for receiving control and data signals from the processing means to creae a predetermined frequency, bandwidth, and repetition rate radar signal; means for outputting data information, said outputting means being connected to receive the data information from the transceiving means as controlled by the processing means, and said data including operational information for the frequency agile radar system; means for displaying the data information outputted to the outputting means, said displaying means being connected to the outputting means to receive said data; and means for collecting said data information, said colecting means connected to receive select data from the outputting means and also connected to receive select data from the radar system, and said collecting means capable of holding said data for further processing; wherein the means for receiving input control parameters comprises: a plurality of adjustable switches for selectably setting the control radar parameters which include the initial frequency of the output sequence of frequency bursts, the step size of the incremental value of frequency added to the latest frequency output to produce the next frequency burst in the output sequence, the total number of different frequency bursts in the output sequence, the mode for the output sequence, the type of radar band to be used for the output sequence of frequencies, a restart function to initiate new sequences, the radio-frequency pulse width for each frequency burst, and an unambiguous maximum range parameter.