Doppler Frequency Tracking Patents (Class 342/99)
  • Patent number: 5796364
    Abstract: A method of determining the velocity of a radar target wherein at least two different pulse repetition frequencies are used. Each pulse repetition frequency comprises a predetermined division into equidistant Doppler numbers. For an echo signal, a Doppler number associated with the echo signal is determined for each pulse repetition frequency. Out of two Doppler numbers associated with different pulse repetition frequencies, a nonambiguous Doppler number is subsequently determined which lies within a predetermined velocity nonambiguity range, and the velocity of the radar target is determined from this Doppler number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz Aerospace AG
    Inventors: Norbert Fuchter, Franz-Xaver Hofele
  • Patent number: 5736957
    Abstract: A delay compensated Doppler radar altimeter which eliminates the relative delay curvature associated with the energy reflected by a scatterer located in the along-track direction of an aerial platform for which a most accurate estimation of scatterer elevation is desired. By Doppler shifting each return, the range indicated for each scatterer over its illumination history is equal to the minimum range x.sub.h experienced when the relative velocity between the aerial radar and the ground is effectively zero. Compensating each signal so that its entire along-track history can be used for elevation estimation leads to an advantage of more than 10 dB in gain improvement over existing systems, and less degradation from surface topography.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventor: Russell Keith Raney
  • Patent number: 5717399
    Abstract: A radar device for vehicle use which can be manufactured inexpensively while enhancing its monitoring function for an adjacent object as well as a remote object. The radar device includes a radar module for monitoring an adjacent object having a plurality of adjacent object monitoring antennas, a signal transmitting/receiving section for supplying transmitting signals to the adjacent object monitoring antennas and outputting signals by mixing the transmitting signals with received signals supplied from the adjacent monitoring antennas and a delay circuit inserted between the signal transmitting/receiving section and the adjacent object monitoring antennas. The radar device also includes a module for monitoring a remote object having a remote object monitoring antenna and a signal transmitting/receiving section for supplying transmitting signals to the remote object monitoring antenna and generating signals by mixing the transmitting signals with received signals supplied from the remote monitoring antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masanobu Urabe, Masahito Shingyoji
  • Patent number: 5644315
    Abstract: This invention improves the detection performance of doppler radar by censoring clutter at the output of the doppler processor, and it functions in operative association with a range CFAR. By a selective rejection of signals based on doppler characteristics and on signal amplitude, it will reduce the sum of clutter and noise at the input to the CFAR. Thus the CFAR detection threshold level is lowered, which thereby improves the detection performance for moving targets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Inventor: Maurice W. Long
  • Patent number: 5610609
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for locating a pulse echo radar emitter in both angle and range using a single antenna and minimal use of the observer platform's navigation instruments are described. The emitter's rest frequency and pulse repetition frequencies are extracted. Using the emitter signal DOA and measurements of pulse TOA and emitter frequency, the observer's acceleration and velocity along the emitter DOA path are found. Combining observer velocity with the above kinematic quantities allows emitter range and bearing to be determined. No observer platform heading or angular attitude information is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Litton Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Conrad M. Rose
  • Patent number: 5586148
    Abstract: A coherent detection system synchronously detects a received wave involving a Doppler shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Hideto Furukawa, Kazuo Kawabata
  • Patent number: 5581237
    Abstract: A microwave intrusion detector is provided with a periodic signal detector that identifies periodic signals not typical of an intrusion and adjusts the alarm threshold in response such identification. The intrusion detector includes an adjustable threshold and a noise compensating circuit that actively adjusts the threshold at a first predetermined rate to mask background noise levels. The periodic signal detector modifies the adjustment, increasing the predetermined rate, when it detects a periodic signal typical of a motor, fan, florescent light or the like. The periodic signal detector also cancels or disables any pending or ongoing alarm to provide sufficient time for the threshold adjustments at the increased rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: Detection Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: William S. DiPoala
  • Patent number: 5534866
    Abstract: A method for determining a constant classification parameter for a radar is described; this parameter uniquely characterizes and identifies the radar being monitored. The method does not require the use of navigation or orientation information concerning the observer platform. The emitter pulse repetition frequency (PRF) provides a clock signal to allow measurement of the number of cycles of emitter carrier occurring in a predetermined interval. This value is the same at the emitter and at the observer and forms the aforementioned classification parameter. The classification parameter is additionally used to detect the presence of countermeasures designed to defeat passive Doppler emitter location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: Litton Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Conrad M. Rose
  • Patent number: 5473332
    Abstract: Improvement of radar sign-to-noise ratio and detection sensitivity in radar systems is achieved by methods employing the subtraction of the unwanted radio frequency interference, RFI, or "clone" signals thereof, from the total received signal. The Clone signals are appropriately adjusted in phase and amplitude, and are obtained from an auxilliary broad beam antenna or from a delayed sample from the system's principal antenna. When multiple RFI signals at different frequencies are present, the entire receive band is subdivided into a plurality of frequency sub-ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Assignee: McDonnell Douglas Corporation
    Inventors: Jesse C. James, James B. Blackmon, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5471648
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for correcting a frequency shift due to the Doppler effect in a transmission system. The device for correcting a frequency shift due to the Doppler effect is applicable to a transmission system in which a signal is transmitted in a transmission lobe between a transmitter and a receiver that are in relative motion. The frequency shift which is the difference between the frequency of the transmitted signal as measured at the receiver and as measured at the transmitter is presented as the sum of a center frequency characteristic of the transmission lobe plus a position frequency which is a function of the position of the receiver in the transmission lobe. The device includes means for tuning the receiver which has a tuning frequency such that said tuning frequency is equal to the sum of the transmitted frequency plus the center frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: Societe Anonyme Dite Alcatel Radiotelephone
    Inventor: Frederic Gourgue
  • Patent number: 5467091
    Abstract: A large bandwidth communication system has a transmitter to transmit signals over a selectable frequency operating range and a receiver having a first mixer for mixing an LO1 signal with received transmit signals. The receiver has a first IF for processing signals received from the first mixer. A frequency synthesizer generates frequency signals for application to at least a transmit mixer in the transmitter and to at least the first mixer in the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Grant H. Watkins, Stephen P. Caldwell
  • Patent number: 5457462
    Abstract: A radar signal processor for use in a pulse radar system. Reception signals are given from a range divide and output circuit to a plurality of integration point variable coherent integrators, each of which is allocated to a different range domain. The range domain is given to an integration point setting section provided corresponding to each integration point variable coherent integrator. The integration point setting section determines the number of coherent integration points based on the given range domain and sets it in the corresponding integration point variable coherent integrator. The signal resulting from coherent integration by the integration point variable coherent integrator is discriminated to frequencies, then supplied to any square detector for square detection for each frequency component. Square detection output is fed into a CFAR detector, which then makes its false alarm rate constant for a supply to a display, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1995
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masashi Mitsumoto, Takahiko Sugimoto, Takahiko Fujisaka, Michimasa Kondo
  • Patent number: 5381156
    Abstract: The present invention is a Multiple Target Doppler Tracker which tracks a plurality of components, including debris and submunitions of a munition burst apart above the ground. A plurality of transmitters transmits constant frequency (CW) signals towards the burst event of the munition and a plurality of receivers receive the signals reflected from the components. The signals received by the receivers are processed into frequency spectra. The spectra are analyzed to determine the path of a selected number of components. Using the path information the selected components are tracked with tracking devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: Calspan Corporation
    Inventors: Ditmar H. Bock, Marjorie A. Rude, Frederick W. Kiefer
  • Patent number: 5376940
    Abstract: A radar processor is disclosed for processing the radar return samples from a Doppler radar receiver to discriminate helicopter targets from fixed-wing targets. The samples are passed through a helicopter filter which eliminates the target skin Doppler return, and passed the sidebands about the target skin return which are due to the helicopter rotor hub modulation. The coefficients of the helicopter filter are selected to maximize the signal-to-noise ratio. The radar processor requires only a few milliseconds on target for reliable detection and can, therefore, be easily implemented by scanning surveillance systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventor: Theagenis J. Abatzoglou
  • Patent number: 5198748
    Abstract: A technique covered by patent applicaton S.N. 07/672,309 divides power of an input signal to two A/D converters. A processor receives the outputs of the two A/D converters. The input signal is subjected to a known delay .tau. for one of the converters, and both original and delayed signals are sampled simultaneously. Both sampled signals are Fourier transformed and the phase and amplitudes calculated, using the expressions:.phi.(f)=tan.sup.-1 [I(f)/R(f)]A(f)=[R.sup.2 (f)+I.sup.2 (f)].sup.1/2where R(f) and I(f) are respectively the real and imaginary parts of the frequency transform. The phase difference between the original and delayed signals is calculated and an approximation to the true frequency for each peak observed in the amplitude spectrum is estimated using the expression.phi.=2.pi.f.tau.where .tau. is the delay. Herein the input signal is down-converted into two parallel paths with frequencies which differ by f.sub.s /4 where f.sub.s is the sampling rate. The alias boundaries are at multiples of f.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1993
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: James B. Y. Tsui, David L. Sharpin
  • Patent number: 5191347
    Abstract: A pulsed Doppler radar system comprises a transmitter for generating and transmitting a pulse signal having expanded frequency bandwidth, an antenna apparatus for sending the output of the transmitter to a target and for receiving a signal which was sent by the transmitter and reflected by the target, a receiver for processing the received signal to obtain a complex video signal, a pulse compressing circuit including a pulse Doppler processor responsive to the complex video signal for detecting a relative speed of the target and a storage device for storing a reference signal which includes a compensation factor by which an influence of the Doppler effect is compensated in accordance with the speed of the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sachiko Ishikawa, Takahiko Fujisaka, Yoshimasa Oh-hashi
  • Patent number: 5173706
    Abstract: A multipurpose system provides radar surveillance for air traffic control purposes. The system includes four separate active phased-array antennas, each with .+-.45.degree. coverage in azimuth, from 0.degree. to 60.degree. in elevation. Each antenna element of each phased-array antenna is coupled by a low-loss path to the solid-state amplifier associated with a transmit-receive (TR) module. Each antenna produces a sequenc of pencil beams, which requires less transmitted power from the TR modules than a fan beam, but requires more time beacuse the pencil beam must be sequenced to cover the same volume as the fan beam. In order to scan the volume in a short time, the PRF is responsive to the elevation angle of the beam, so higher elevation angles use a higher PRF. Low elevation angle beams receive long transmitter pulses for high power, and pulse compression is used to restore range resolution, but the long pulse results in a large minimum range within which targets cannot be detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1992
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Harry Urkowitz
  • Patent number: 5168215
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring the frequencies of a pair of signals simultaneously present in a composite signal, comprising the steps of includes components for squaring the composite signal, filtering the squared signal for separating a first pass band and a higher frequency second pass band, instantaneously measuring the frequencies of the first and second pass bands and determining the individual frequencies of the pair of signals from the measured frequencies of the first and second pass bands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1992
    Assignee: Lockheed Sanders, Inc.
    Inventor: Dean C. Puzzo
  • Patent number: 5132688
    Abstract: A pulsed doppler radar system having an improved detection probability, comprising an antenna unit, a transmitter for transmitting a signal through the antenna unit, a receiver for receiving a signal reflected by a target through the antenna unit to provide a reception signal. A processing unit which receives the reception signal from the receiver determines, in accordance with a range of the target and a signal-to-noise ratio and bandwidth of the reception signal, an optimum integration number which maximizes the detection probability and performs coherent integration on the reception signal by the number of times equal to the determined optimum integration number thereby outputting a signal having a predetermined level. Such a signal is fed to a display and an image of the target is displayed on a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1992
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiro Shima, Takahiko Fujisaka, Yoshimasa Ohashi
  • Patent number: 5055849
    Abstract: A method for measuring the velocity (v) of a moving target (A). Radio signals are transmitted by means of radio transmitter-receiver arrangements of both the measuring station (B) and the target station (A) and received at the opposite stations (A,B), the frequencies of which signal include Doppler shifts (fd) to be observed both at the measuring station (B) and in the measuring target (A). On the basis of the Doppler shifts (fd), the escape and/or approach velocity (v) of the target to be measured is determined relative to the measuring station (B). Radio signals are transmitted from the measuring station (B) and the target station (A), the frequencies of which signals deviate from each other by a relatively small frequency difference (fk) or by a Doppler frequency shift (fd), the absolute value of which small frequency difference remains at least as high as the absolute value of the largest expectable Doppler frequency shift (fd.sub.max).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1991
    Assignee: Vaisala Oy
    Inventors: Henry Andersson, Eero Salasmaa
  • Patent number: 5034748
    Abstract: The invention disclosed herein relates in general to an improved circuitry or narrow band frequency tracking system for doppler radar and includes third order phase lock loop circuitry to improve tracking techniques. This enables tracking input frequency variations caused by target maneuvers with substantially smaller tracking bandwidths than is currently possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1973
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Richard C. Goedeke, Roger L. Peterson
  • Patent number: 5019824
    Abstract: A multistage estimator is provided for the parameters of a received carrier signal possibly phase-modulated by unknown data and experiencing very high Doppler, Doppler rate, etc., as may arise, for example, in the case of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) where the signal parameters are directly related to the position, velocity and jerk of the GPS ground-based receiver. In a two-stage embodiment of the more general multistage scheme, the first stage, selected to be a modified least squares algorithm referred to as differential least squares (DLS), operates as a coarse estimator resulting in higher rms estimation errors but with a relatively small probability of the frequency estimation error exceeding one-half of the sampling frequency, provides relatively coarse estimates of the frequency and its derivatives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1991
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Rajendra Kumar
  • Patent number: 4861159
    Abstract: An optical gauge measures the shape of a target object by scanning a laser beam over it, (and/or measures the radial velocity of the target), by measuring the Doppler frequency shift of the reflected wave. The Doppler-shifted frequency is demodulated by a phase locked loop, which has a limited hold-in frequency range within which it is capable of staying locked on. With this invention, if the reflected wave's frequency gets close to exceeding the hold-in range of the phase locked loop, the gauge adjusts the drive frequency of an acoustooptical modulator that modulates the outbound target beam. This offsets the frequency of the target beam and keeps the return signal within the hold-in range of the phase locked loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1989
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Michael T. Breen
  • Patent number: 4861158
    Abstract: A laser distance gauge measures the distance and shape of a target by alternately performing (a) a Doppler shift measurement during optical scanning of the target's surface and/or motion of the target and (b) a chirp measurement with a chirp frequency laser signal. To ascertain changes in radial distance from the gauge to the target, the Doppler shift information is integrated and the result is combined with absolute distance measurements made in the chirp mode. A single CW laser, which operates single frequency, serves for both types of measurement. A computer changes the gauge from Doppler mode to chirp mode when the Doppler shift reaches a predetermined amount. When a chirp measurement of absolute distance is completed it reverts to Doppler mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1989
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Michael T. Breen
  • Patent number: 4827263
    Abstract: A method of preventing interference between `friendly` pulse doppler radars when in action against a common target or adjacents targets. Despite considerable separation of the radar r.f's the pulsed signals have repeated sideband pulses which may be taken by another radar as a doppler-shifted echo. This problem is to a large extent alleviated by frequency modulating the r.f. transmission at a very low cycle rate of the order of one cycle per second and at a modulation rate sufficient to indicate to a receiving radar that the source could not be a target accelerating at such a high rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1989
    Assignee: The Marconi Company Limited
    Inventors: Michael A. Jones, David W. Joynson
  • Patent number: 4672381
    Abstract: Disclosed is a Doppler tracking processor and time of closest approach detector for use in active or semi-active radar-guided missiles. A known processor uses a fractional Doppler gate (FDG) to process the Doppler signal to activate the warhead detonation properly at time of closest approach (TCA); it indicates when the Doppler energy has rolled off to, for example, one-half the pre-intercept Doppler frequency. The present invention uses a Doppler tracking processor and TCA detector. The tracking filter can extract the instantaneous value of the Doppler frequency even during roll-off. The system processes the Doppler from the pre-intercept frequency up to an appropriate fractional frequency occurring at TCA, at which time it provides a signal for use in warhead detonation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1987
    Inventors: Paul Labbe, Andre Morin
  • Patent number: 4647874
    Abstract: Circuitry is disclosed for processing Doppler-shifted radar signals or ot noisy signals which fluctuate widely in frequency. The circuitry includes a dual channel discriminator including a voltage controlled oscillator as part of a feedback loop for frequency tracking of said signals. The discriminator further includes a frequency pass circuit in one channel thereof and a frequency stop circuit in the other channel thereof, with the outputs of these circuits applied to a multiplier. The multiplier output controls the frequency of the voltage controlled oscillator. The voltage controlled oscillator output is heterodyned with the input signals to obtain the heterodyned signals for application to the aforementioned two channels of the discriminator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1987
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Otto E. Rittenbach
  • Patent number: 4633252
    Abstract: A tracking, variable Q bandpass filtering method and apparatus are provided for processing an IF signal from a radar transceiver or the like. The method comprises developing a digital period signal corresponding to the period of each of selected cycles of the IF signal; subjecting the digital period signal to low pass filtering; and controlling the effective corner frequency of the low pass filtering in accordance with the amount of variation in the digital period signal from one selected cycle to a successive selected cycle for producing a filtered signal which substantially follows the digital period signal, thereby substantially simultaneously tracking and filtering the IF signal. The apparatus comprises apparatus for carrying out the foregoing method. Preferably, the apparatus also includes an output switching control for selectively delivering or withholding the filtered signal from an output utilization device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1986
    Assignee: Dickey-john Corporation
    Inventors: Wesley J. Bachman, Steven G. Stone
  • Patent number: RE33055
    Abstract: Disclosed is a Doppler tracking processor and time of closest approach detector for use in active or semiactive radar-guided missiles. A known processor uses a fractional Doppler gate (FDG) to process the Doppler signal to activate the warhead detonation properly at time of closest approach (TCA); it indicates when the Doppler energy has rolled off to, for example, one-half the pre-intercept Doppler frequency. The present invention uses a Doppler tracking processor and TCA detector. The tracking filter can extract the instantaneous value of the Doppler frequency even during rolloff. The system processes the Doppler from the preintercept frequency up to an appropriate fractional frequency occurring at TCA, at which time it provides a signal for use in warhead detonation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1989
    Assignee: Department of National Defense
    Inventors: Paul Labbe, Andre Morin