US5630221A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dynamic range extension system
Assignee: Raytheon Co
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Filing: 1995-06-07
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Granted: 1997-05-13
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Expires: 2015-06-07
Abstract
Abstract Receiver dynamic range is improved while maintaining system processing fidelity by placing a processor control attenuator in front of the synchronous detector or other circuitry and A/D converter circuits. This is followed by a digital circuit which reinserts the attenuation that was taken out previously to maintain signal processing fidelity. The control for the attenuator function is from the processor and is determined by looking at the prior pulse repetition intervals (PRIs) of the radar system data and determining from that data what attenuator value to use for the next PRI. This is done for each range bin to be processed.
Inventors
- 👤 Stanley V. Birleson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 16:40
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03G; H03G3/00; H03G3/20; H03G3/30; H03G3/3052; G; G01; G01S; G01S7/00; G01S7/02; G01S7/28; G01S7/285; G01S7/34; H03G3/3089
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
A receiver which comprises: (a) an analog to digital converter having an input terminal and an output terminal for converting an analog signal at the input terminal thereof to a corresponding digital signal at the output terminal thereof; (b) an analog attenuator for receiving and attenuating analog signals applied thereto, said analog attenuator coupled to the input terminal of said converter and applying attenuated analog signals to said input terminal of said converter; (c) a digital attenuator for receiving and attenuating digital signals applied thereto, said digital attenuator coupled to the output terminal of said converter and attenuating digital signals received from said output terminal of said converter; and (d) circuitry for concurrently maintaining the combined attenuation level of said analog attenuator and said digital attenuator to about one; (e) wherein said circuitry for maintaining includes circuitry responsive to the pulse repetition interval of signals at the input terminal of said converter to adjust the attenuation of said analog attenuator and said digital attenuator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
164 words
A receiver which comprises: (a) an analog to digital converter having an input terminal and an output terminal for converting an analog signal at the input terminal thereof to a corresponding digital signal at the output terminal thereof; (b) an analog attenuator for receiving and attenuating analog signals applied thereto, said analog attenuator coupled to the input terminal of said converter and applying attenuated analog signals to said input terminal of said converter; (c) a digital attenuator for receiving and attenuating digital signals applied thereto, said digital attenuator coupled to the output terminal of said converter and attenuating digital signals received from said output terminal of said converter; and (d) circuitry for concurrently maintaining the combined attenuation level of said analog attenuator and said digital attenuator to about one; (e) wherein said circuitry for maintaining includes circuitry responsive to the pulse repetition interval of signals at the input terminal of said converter to adjust the attenuation of said analog attenuator and said digital attenuator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A receiver as set forth in claim 1 further including a mixer coupled between said analog attenuator and said converter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
75 words
A receiver as set forth in claim 2 wherein said circuitry for maintaining includes a dynamic level sensing circuit for determining when the dynamic level of the output of said converter is at a predetermined minimum level and circuitry responsive to a said determination by said dynamic level sensing circuit to provide signals to said analog attenuator and said digital attenuator to maintain the combined attenuation of said attenuators to a level of about 1.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
75 words
A receiver as set forth in claim 1 wherein said circuitry for maintaining includes a dynamic level sensing circuit for determining when the dynamic level of the output of said converter is at a predetermined minimum level and circuitry responsive to a said determination by said dynamic level sensing circuit to provide signals to said analog attenuator and said digital attenuator to maintain the combined attenuation of said attenuators to a level of about 1.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
165 words
A receiver which comprises: (a) an analog to digital converter having an input terminal and an output terminal for converting an analog signal at the input terminal thereof to a corresponding digital signal at the output terminal thereof; (b) an analog attenuator for receiving and attenuating analog signals, said analog attenuator coupled to the input terminal of said converter and applying attenuated analog signals to said input terminal of said converter; (c) a digital attenuator for receiving and attenuating digital signals, said digital attenuator coupled to the output terminal of said converter and attenuating digital signals received from said output terminal of said converter; and (d) circuitry coupled to the output terminal of said converter for concurrently controlling the attenuation level of both said analog attenuator and said digital attenuator; (e) wherein said circuitry for maintaining includes circuitry responsive to the pulse repetition interval of signals at the input terminal of said converter to adjust the attenuation of said analog attenuator and said digital attenuator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
165 words
A receiver which comprises: (a) an analog to digital converter having an input terminal and an output terminal for converting an analog signal at the input terminal thereof to a corresponding digital signal at the output terminal thereof; (b) an analog attenuator for receiving and attenuating analog signals, said analog attenuator coupled to the input terminal of said converter and applying attenuated analog signals to said input terminal of said converter; (c) a digital attenuator for receiving and attenuating digital signals, said digital attenuator coupled to the output terminal of said converter and attenuating digital signals received from said output terminal of said converter; and (d) circuitry coupled to the output terminal of said converter for concurrently controlling the attenuation level of both said analog attenuator and said digital attenuator; (e) wherein said circuitry for maintaining includes circuitry responsive to the pulse repetition interval of signals at the input terminal of said converter to adjust the attenuation of said analog attenuator and said digital attenuator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A receiver as set forth in claim 5 further including a mixer coupled between said analog attenuator and said converter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
77 words
A receiver as set forth in claim 6 wherein said circuitry coupled to the output of said converter includes a dynamic level sensing circuit for determining when the dynamic level of the output of said converter is at a predetermined minimum level and circuitry responsive to a said determination by said dynamic level sensing circuit to provide signals to said analog attenuator and said digital attenuator to control the attenuation level of said analog and digital attenuators.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A receiver as set forth in claim 7 wherein said circuitry responsive to said determination maintains the combined attenuation of said attenuators to a level of about 1.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
77 words
A receiver as set forth in claim 5 wherein said circuitry coupled to the output of said converter includes a dynamic level sensing circuit for determining when the dynamic level of the output of said converter is at a predetermined minimum level and circuitry responsive to a said determination by said dynamic level sensing circuit to provide signals to said analog attenuator and said digital attenuator to control the attenuation level of said analog and digital attenuators.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A receiver as set forth in claim 9 wherein said circuitry responsive to said determination maintains the combined attenuation of said attenuators to a level of about 1.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
140 words
A receiver which comprises: (a) an analog to digital converter having an input terminal and an output terminal; (b) an analog attenuator for receiving and attenuating analog signals coupled to the input terminal of said converter; (c) a digital attenuator for receiving and attenuating digital signals coupled to the output terminal of said converter; and (d) data base circuitry responsive to the output of said converter and responsive to a determined output level of said converter to control said attenuators in conjunction with said data base to provide a combined gain from said attenuators of about 1 while providing optimum operating levels of said converter; (e) wherein said data base circuitry includes circuitry responsive to the pulse repetition interval of signals at the input terminal of said converter to adjust the attenuation of said analog attenuator and said digital attenuator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
140 words
A receiver which comprises: (a) an analog to digital converter having an input terminal and an output terminal; (b) an analog attenuator for receiving and attenuating analog signals coupled to the input terminal of said converter; (c) a digital attenuator for receiving and attenuating digital signals coupled to the output terminal of said converter; and (d) data base circuitry responsive to the output of said converter and responsive to a determined output level of said converter to control said attenuators in conjunction with said data base to provide a combined gain from said attenuators of about 1 while providing optimum operating levels of said converter; (e) wherein said data base circuitry includes circuitry responsive to the pulse repetition interval of signals at the input terminal of said converter to adjust the attenuation of said analog attenuator and said digital attenuator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The receiver of claim 11 wherein said data base circuitry is coupled between the output terminal of said converter and said digital attenuator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
The receiver of claim 11 wherein said data base circuitry includes a data base and a comparator for determining the output level of said converter coupled between the output terminal of said converter and said data base for determining the output level of said converter.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
The receiver of claim 13 wherein said data base circuitry provides digital signals, further including a digital to analog converter coupled between said data base circuitry and said analog attenuator to convert said digital signals to analog signals.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
The receiver of claim 12 wherein said data base circuitry provides digital signals, further including a digital to analog converter coupled between said data base circuitry and said analog attenuator to convert said digital signals to analog signals.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
45 words
The receiver of claim 11 wherein said data base circuitry includes a data base and a comparator for determining the output level of said converter coupled between the output terminal of said converter and said data base for determining the output level of said converter.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
The receiver of claim 16 wherein said data base circuitry provides digital signals, further including a digital to analog converter coupled between said data base circuitry and said analog attenuator to convert said digital signals to analog signals.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
The receiver of claim 11 wherein said data base circuitry provides digital signals, further including a digital to analog converter coupled between said data base circuitry and said analog attenuator to convert said digital signals to analog signals.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-05-12 | 2000-11-11 | 2001-05-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-05-12 | 2004-11-11 | 2005-05-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-05-12 | 2008-11-11 | 2009-05-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |