Radar signature simulator

Claim 3

The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is programmable to execute one or more no operations consecutively and wherein the pulse width time measuring means comprises the controller executing a suitable number of programmed no operation functions.

Claim 4

The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is programmable to execute one or more no operations consecutively and execute a counting function of variable duration and wherein the pulse width time measuring means comprises the controller executing a combination of a programmed counting function and a suitable number of programmed no operation functions.

Claim 5

The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is programmable to execute one or more no operations consecutively and execute a counting function of variable duration and wherein the pulse-to-pulse interval time measuring means comprises the controller executing a combination of a programmed counting function and a suitable number of programmed no operation functions.

Claim 6

The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is programmable to execute one or more no operations consecutively and execute a counting function of variable duration and wherein the scan time measuring means comprises the controller executing a combination of a programmed counting function and a suitable number of programmed no operation functions.

Claim 7

The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is programmable to execute one or more no operations consecutively and execute a counting function of variable duration and wherein the scan gap time measuring means comprises the controller executing a combination of a programmed counting function and a suitable number of programmed no operation functions.

Claim 8

The system of claim 1 wherein the memory means comprises a random access memory containing instructions and instruction data and accessible to the controller via an instruction address bus and an instruction data bus, and a scratch pad random access memory accessible to the controller via an input/ouput bus, and wherein the controller is an integrated circuit microcontroller, and wherein the microcontroller directly controls the digital to analog conversion means by means of data and control signals sent to the digital to analog conversion means via an integrated data register in electrical communication with the input/ouput bus.

Claim 9

The system of claim 1 wherein the memory means comprises a random access memory containing instructions and instruction data and accessible to the controller via an instruction address bus and an instruction data bus, and a scratch pad random access memory accessible to the controller via an input/output bus, and wherein the controller is an integrated circuit microcontroller, and wherein the microcontroller directly controls the digital to analog conversion means by means of data and control signals sent to the digital to analog conversion means via a first integrated data register in electrical communication with the input/output bus, and wherein the delay circuit is a monostable multivibrator controlled by the microcontroller via a second data register in electrical communication with the input/output bus, the multivibrator being triggered to its unstable state by a bit of said second register and the output of the multivibrator being gated to the digital to analog conversion means by another bit of said second register.

Claim 10

In a system comprising a controller, a digital to analog conversion means, a pulse width timer, a signature duration timer, an index means, a counting means, a pulse-to-pulse interval timer, and a memory means containing a set of pulse amplitude values having a starting and an ending location, the number of amplitude values, pulse duration information for the set of pulses, signature duration information and pulse-to-pulse interval information for each pair of pulses, a method of simulating a radar signature comprising the steps: (a) using an index means initially set to point to a starting location in the set of amplitude values, the controller retrieves from memory an amplitude value for the next pulse, applies said value to the digital to analog conversion means and begins a pulse, (b) the pulse width timer having information regarding the duration of the current pulse measures and indicates when a time equal to said duration has elapsed, (c) the controller then withholds the amplitude value from the digital to analog conversion means, (d) the signature duration timer, having information regarding the duration of the current signature, measures time and indicates when a time equal to said duration has elapsed, (e) if a time equal to the signature duration has elapsed, the controller then exits this method, (f) bearing and frequency information for the next pulse is retrieved from memory by the controller and made available to the operator, (g) the index means is updated by the controller and made to point to the next amplitude value in the set, (h) using the index means, the controller retieves from memory and saves the next amplitude value, (i) the counter, initially set by the controller with the number of values in the amplitude table is decremented, (j) the controller then tests the amplitude counter to see if the count is exhausted, (k) if the count is exhausted, then the controller goes through an algorithm to set the index to a new amplitude value set starting location, resets the counter to a new number of ampliude values, and returns to step (a), (l) if the content is not exhausted, then the pulse-to-pulse interval timer, having information regarding a difference between timed consumed during steps (d) through (j) and the duration of the current pulse-to-pulse interval, measures time and indicates when a time equal to the difference has elapsed, and (m) the controller returns to step (a).

Claim 11

In a system comprising a controller, a digital to analog conversion means, a pulse width timer, a signature duration timer, an index means, a counting means, a pulse-to-pulse interval timer, and a memory means containing a set of pulse amplitude values having a starting and an ending location, the number of amplitude values, pulse duration information for the set of pulses, signature duration information and pulse-to-pulse interval information for each pair of pulses, a method of simulating a radar signature comprising the steps: (a) using an index means initially set to point to a starting location in the set of amplitude values, the controller retrieves from memory an amplitude value for the next pulse, applies said value to the digital to analog conversion means and begins a pulse, (b) the pulse width timer having information regarding the duration of the current pulse measures and indicates when a time equal to said duration has elapsed, (c) the controller then withholds the amplitude value from the digital to analog conversion means, (d) the signature duration timer, having information regarding the duration of the current signature, measures time and indicates when a time equal to said duration has elapsed, (e) if a time equal to the signature duration has elapsed, the controller then exits this method, (f) bearing and frequency information for the next pulse is retrieved from memory by the controller and made available to the operator, (g) the index means is updated by the controller and made to point to the next amplitude value in the set, (h) using the index means, the controller retieves from memory and saves the next amplitude value, (i) the counter, initially set by the controller with the number of values in the amplitude table is decremented, (j) the controller then tests the amplitude counter to see if the count is exhausted, (k) if the count is exhausted, then the controller goes through an algorithm to set the index to a new amplitude value set starting location, resets the counter to a new number of ampliude values, and returns to step (a), (l) if the content is not exhausted, then the pulse-to-pulse interval timer, having information regarding a difference between timed consumed during steps (d) through (j) and the duration of the current pulse-to-pulse interval, measures time and indicates when a time equal to the difference has elapsed, and (m) the controller returns to step (a).

Claim 12

The method of claim 9 wherein the algorithm of step (k) comprises the steps: (a) the counting means is reset to the number of amplitude values in the set, and (b) the index means is reset to the starting location of the amplitude value set.

Claim 13

The method of claim 9 wherein the algorithm of step (k) comprises the steps: (a) the counting means is reset to the number of amplitude values in the set, (b) the index means remains unchanged, and (c) a flag means is altered so as to direct the controller to reverse the way the index means is updated in step (g).

Claim 14

The method of claim 9 wherein step (b) comprises the steps: (a) the controller retrieves pulse duration information for the current pulse from memory, (b) the controller gives said information to the pulse width timer, and (c) the pulse width timer measures time and indicates when a time equal to the current pulse duration has elapsed.

Claim 15

The method of claim 1 wherein step (1) comprises the steps: (a) the controller retrieves information reqarding the difference between the time consumed during steps (d) through (j) and the duration of the current pulse-to-pulse interval, from memory, (b) the controller gives said information to the pulse-to-pulse interval timer, and (c) the pulse-to-pulse interval timer measures time and indicates when a time equal to the difference has elapsed.

Claim 16

The method of claim 1 wherein step (f) comprises the steps: (a) bearing and/or frequency information is retrieved by the controller from memory, (b) bearing and/or frequency information is retrieved by the controller from an operator, (c) a comparison is made by the controller of the bearing and/or frequency information from memory with the bearing and/or frequency information from the operator, (d) if there is no difference, then the controller continues on to step (g), and (e) if there is a difference, the controller takes alternative action.