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US5051749A
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US
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Synthetic aperture radar assembly and a method of creating a radar image of a planet surface using such an assembly
Assignee: BAE Systems PLC
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Filing: 1990-03-08
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Granted: 1991-09-24
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Expires: 2010-03-08
Abstract
Abstract A synthetic aperture radar assembly (1) locatable on a satellite (2) for radar imaging of a planet surface (3) in swaths, including means (8) for transmitting pulses (4) of electromagnetic radiation towards the planet surface (3) to be imaged, means (8) for receiving echoes of said pulses (4) returned by said planet surface (3), means for creating an image of a swath (5) of said planet surface (3) from said returned echoes and means for randomly varying the frequency of transmission of said pulses (4) to increase the width (11) of swath (5) imagable.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter N. R. Stoyle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 21:31
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S13/00; G01S13/02; G01S13/06; G01S13/08; G01S13/10; G01S13/22; G01S13/222; G01S13/88; G01S13/89; G01S13/90; G01S13/904
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
A synthetic aperture radar assembly locatable on a satellite for radar imaging of a planet surface in swaths, comprising: means for transmitting pulses of electromagnetic radiation towards the planet surface to be imaged in widths of swaths to be imaged, timing means, coupled to said transmitting means, for randomly varying the frequency of transmission of said pulses to increase the width of swath imageable; means for receiving echoes of said pulses returned by said planet surface, and means for creating an image of a swath of said planet surface from said returned echoes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
93 words
A synthetic aperture radar assembly locatable on a satellite for radar imaging of a planet surface in swaths, comprising: means for transmitting pulses of electromagnetic radiation towards the planet surface to be imaged in widths of swaths to be imaged, timing means, coupled to said transmitting means, for randomly varying the frequency of transmission of said pulses to increase the width of swath imageable; means for receiving echoes of said pulses returned by said planet surface, and means for creating an image of a swath of said planet surface from said returned echoes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
As assembly according to claim 1, further comprising means for scanning the transmitted pulses over the planet surface in a direction along a track of said swath and in a direction across the width of the swath transverse to the track.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of creating a radar image of a planet surface in swaths, comprising the steps of: transmitting pulses of electromagnetic radiation from a satellite towards the planet surface to be imaged in widths of swaths to be imaged, randomly varying the frequency of transmission of said pulses to increase the width of swath imageable, receiving echoes of said pulses returned by said planet surface, and creating an image of a swath of said planet surface from the returned echoes.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of creating a radar image of a planet surface in swaths, comprising the steps of: transmitting pulses of electromagnetic radiation from a satellite towards the planet surface to be imaged in widths of swaths to be imaged, randomly varying the frequency of transmission of said pulses to increase the width of swath imageable, receiving echoes of said pulses returned by said planet surface, and creating an image of a swath of said planet surface from the returned echoes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of scanning the transmitted pulses over the planet surface in a direction along a track of said swath and in a direction across the width of the swath transverse to the track.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
An assembly as in claim 1 wherein said width of said swaths to be imaged is wider than an ambiguity limited swath width.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
An assembly as in claim 5 wherein said image creating means includes means for summing a plurality of said echoes to average ambiguities to below noise level.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
An assembly as in claim 1 wherein said timing means uses a random varying PRF such that a mean PRF remains constant.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 3 wherein said width of said swaths to be imaged is wider than an ambiguity limited swath width.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as in claim 8 wherein said image creating step includes the step of summing a plurality of said echoes to average ambiguities to below noise level.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as in claim 3 wherein said timing means uses a random varying PRF such that a mean PRF remains constant.
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) | 1994-09-23 | 1995-03-25 | 1995-09-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-09-23 | 1999-03-25 | 1999-09-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-09-23 | 2003-03-25 | 2003-09-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |