Abstract: An ultra-wideband signal processor, such as that employed for processing narrow time domain radar return pulses, includes a coherent acousto-optic Bragg cell channelizer having a plurality of IF outputs from which a plurality of IF output signals respectively representative of energy content of respectively different frequency portions of the RF input signal are derived. A summing circuit is coupled to sum the IF output signals to produce a summation signal representative of their average energy content. This average energy signal is compared with a threshold to determine if the input signal is a valid RF signal. A delay circuit delays a selected one of the IF output channels by a time sufficient to accommodate summation of the channelizer outputs and determining whether a valid RF signal is present. A digital signal processor processes the delayed selected output signal in response to the summation signal exceeding the threshold.

Abstract: In order to increase the available signal processing bandwidth of an acousto-optic coherent channelizer, the optical beam spot-shaping and projection components of the channelizer are configured to project M reference beam spots upon each photodetector of the channelizer's photodetector array. The parameters of the reference Bragg cell, reference signal R(t), and Fourier optics components are such that they project M reference beam spots upon each photodetector of the channelizer's photodetector array, where M is the desired system bandwidth multiplication factor. No change to the configuration of the photodetector array or its associated post-detection signal processing electronics is required.

Abstract: An ultra-wideband signal processor, such as that employed for processing narrow time domain radar return pulses, includes a coherent acousto-optic Bragg cell channelizer having a plurality of IF outputs from which a plurality of IF output signals respectively representative of energy content of respectively different frequency portions of the RF input signal are derived. A summing circuit is coupled to sum the IF output signals to produce a summation signal representative of their average energy content. This average energy signal is compared with a threshold to determine if the input signal is a valid RF signal. A delay circuit delays a selected one of the IF output channels by a time sufficient to accommodate summation of the channelizer outputs and determining whether a valid RF signal is present. A digital signal processor processes the delayed selected output signal in response to the summation signal exceeding the threshold.