Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing transition between sector configurations of a multi-sectored cell wherein the subscriber units may detect the impending change in sector configuration and react accordingly. Sector transitions accomplished according to the present invention include the use of time dithering old and new sector signals on antenna beams of the transition area, amplitude tapering of old and new sector signals on antenna beams of the transition area, blending of sector signals on antenna beams of the transition area, phase adjustment of antenna beams of the transition area, as well as combinations thereof. Accordingly, subscriber units in the transition area are able to detect the impending sector reconfiguration and react in order to avoid degradation or loss of communication.

Abstract: A Forward Looking Sensor (FLS) alignment system includes a transmit antenna adapted to provide multiple beams, a receive antenna adapted to provide multiple beams, a transmitter coupled to said transmit antenna and adapted to radiate an electromagnetic signal through selected ones of the multiple antenna beams of said transmit antenna and a receiver coupled to said receive antenna and adapted to receive through selected ones of the multiple antenna beams of predetermined antenna beams of a receive antenna having multiple antenna beams reflections from the radiated electromagnetic signal and processing the received electromagnetic signal reflections to generate an alignment offset signal.

Abstract: A transmit/receive (T/R) module adapted for use in a radar system. The module has a unified structure including a layered substrate on and in which two T/R channel circuits are integrated. The channel circuits make use of power distribution, channel controller, and RF signal routing circuitry, partly on a channel shared basis. In the RF routing circuitry, respective coupler elements are employed to combine RF receive signals for output to an RF receive manifold and to split an RF transmit signal from a transmit manifold into separate RF transmit signals for input to the T/R channel circuits.

Abstract: A phased array radar system for target tracking having a track initiation unit, a track prediction unit, a scheduling unit, a track selection unit, and a transmitter/receiver unit. The track initiation unit initiates new tracks representing detected aircraft targets. The track prediction unit predicts the expected position and the calculated position uncertainty of the target as a function of time and the minimal, maximal and optimal time difference to the next measurement. The scheduling unit performs an independent calculation of a sequence of possible time intervals to the next measurement in accordance with specified conditions, and then performs an intersection operation between the calculated sequences of time intervals in order to calculate the optimal time interval to the next measurement. A track selection unit selects that track which has the shortest remaining time interval, K.sub.i, to the next measurement and decreases the time interval to the next measurement for all other tracks with K.sub.i.

Abstract: A circuit module for a phased array radar (10) incorporates radar frequency (RF) mixers (54a, 54b) connected to an RF splitter/combiner (52) and to in-phase and quadrature RF reference signals. The RF mixers (54a, 54b) are also connected to intermediate frequency (IF) processing circuitry (60 to 68) providing for phase control of RF signals and IF reference signals. In transmission mode, the RF mixer (54a, 54b) receive phase-controlled, digitally synthesised IF signals from clock-activated generators (68a, 68b). Their outputs are combined at the RF splitter/combiner (52) to provide single sideband upconversion of the phase-controlled IF signals. In reception mode, the RF splitter/combiner (52) and the RF mixers (54a, 54b) act as an image rejection mixer circuit in which the phase-controlled IF signals are local oscillator signals.

Abstract: A satellite based signal transmission and reception system which generates multiple beams with low side lobes and minimal crossover losses. The system includes a focusing device and an array of signal generator elements coupled to feed radiator elements. The feed radiator elements are assigned into overlapping beam sub-arrays characterized by a frequency and radiated beam polarization. Each overlapping sub-array generates a transmission beam signal which is orthogonally polarized with respect to the beam generated by the other overlapping sub-array. The use of beam orthogonality provides for physically overlapping beam sub-arrays without the use of analog combining networks which are inherently lossy structures. This allows beams to be generated having a highly tapered amplitude distribution to simultaneously achieve low side lobe levels and low beam cross over losses.

Abstract: A radar apparatus installed on a vehicle includes a transmission section, a reception section and a processing section. The transmission section includes at least a transmission antenna, and emits a transmission wave toward a detection area in front of the vehicle. The transmission wave is reflected by a reflector to produce a reflection wave, and the detection area includes a plurality of sub-areas. The reception section includes at least a reception antenna, and receives and detects the reflection wave. The processing section detects a reflector indication data indicative of a reflector attribute based on the detecting result by the reception section, and then determines whether there is the reflector in the detection area, based on the reflector indication data. Also, the processing section manages the reflector indication data over a management area which is wider than the detection area.

Abstract: A digitally beam formed phased array antenna capable of both transmitting and receiving signals is constructed from a series of digitally controlled antenna elements. To transmit signals, a series of direct digital synthesizers is used to drive the antenna elements forming the phased array. Each direct digital synthesizer is programmed from a common digital processor with specific time and phase delay information such that the signals from the array combine to form a desired antenna pattern. To receive signals, signals from each antenna element in the phased array are processed by analog to digital converter. The digitized signals are then pre-processed in a time and phase delay preprocessor which receives time and phase delay information from a corresponding direct digital synthesizer prior to signal combining in a common digital processor.

Abstract: An array antenna radar apparatus has a single front end shared by a plurality of antennas, a first switch for cyclically connecting the antennas to the front end at a prescribed switching frequency, and a second switch for cyclically connecting the output of the front end to frequency converters corresponding to the antennas. The frequency converters frequency-convert intermediate-frequency signals of the respective antennas output by the front end to baseband signals at the switching frequency. Phase shifters and amplitude adjusting units apply a phase shift or amplitude adjustment to the outputs of the frequency converters and combine the resulting signals, thereby making it possible to detect a target in a desired direction.

Abstract: First and second phase control amount tables output to first and second vector multiply circuits phase control signals Sc1 and Sc2 representative of corresponding phase shift amounts with gains represented by input gain control signals Sg1 and Sg2 as arguments. The first and second vector multiply circuits shift the phases of in-phase components S13 and S23 and quadrature components S14 and S24 of an antenna 2 in opposite directions in accordance with the phase control signals Sc1 and Sc2. Consequently, the amount of phase shift caused by receiving amplifiers is corrected so that the phase difference at antenna terminals between the input signals to the antennas is maintained.

Abstract: A method and system for phased array radar antenna calibration to be made in flight employs a synthesized initial transmission signal having a notch in the main direction of beam. This has the effect of returning reflected receiver signals that are main lobe clutter free, but contain clutter returned solely from the sidelobe radiation. The received clutter data is processed to yield a set of coefficients that, when combined with subsequent radar signal return resulting from a signal having a main lobe, provides a return signal that is free from aircraft induced distortions and misalignments that can result in sidelobe induced false alarms. All data processing is conducted in the time domain rather than the frequency domain, thus, avoiding Doppler frequency foldover problems due to ambiguities from signals received at multiple aspect angles.

Abstract: A planar array antenna having a switching matrix that couples an RF signal to two distributed ferrite scanning line feeds that feed a planar continuous transverse stub array antenna. The scanning line feeds couple RF energy to the antenna from opposite sides to form a total of four beams offset in space that each cover different angular scan sectors. The antenna has reduced complexity and lower design and production costs. The use of dual ferrite scanning line feeds, the switching matrix, and the continuous transverse stub antenna to obtain wide-angle scanning provides significantly improved performance. The present invention uses the two distributed ferrite scanning line feeds to obtain greater scan coverage at upper millimeter-wave frequencies, where realizable ferrite materials are less active and provide diminished scan capability. The scanning line feeds and planar array antenna may be designed so that the four scan sectors are contiguous, to increase the angular scan coverage of the antenna.

Abstract: This radar with a wide instantaneous angular field and a high instantaneous angular resolution, in particular for a missile homing head, includes essentially:a transmitting antenna with a relatively wide radiation pattern, transmitting a quasi-continuous wave;a receiving antenna including a plurality of radiating elements;means for formation of beams associated with said receiving antenna, to achieve a linear combination of the signals from the various radiating elements of said receiving antenna, in order to obtain a group of simultaneous reception beams allowing the instantaneous scanning of the airspace covered by said transmitting antenna.

Abstract: A phased array antenna element design and method of using same is disclosed wherein the antenna elements are each provided several signals containing phase, and amplitude information for controlling a beam transmitted or received. The signals are mixed within each antenna element to produce RF signals for transmission or for use as filtering signals for reception. The signals are selected such that some antenna elements receive a same signal and more particularly, such that a single signal is provided to each row of the array and to each column of the array. The row and column signals are combined at elements located at an intersection of the row and column.

Abstract: A radar apparatus includes a radar unit which detects a position of a target based on a reflection beam reflected from the target and outputs data related to the detected position. A scanning control unit controls a direction of a beam radiation axis of the radar unit to the target. A certainty-factor determining unit determines a certainty factor of the target based on data presently detected by the radar unit and data previously detected by the radar unit. A certainty-factor adjusting unit controls the certainty factor such that a changing rate to the certainty factor is determined based on the data from the radar unit, the certainty factor being adjusted by the changing rate. A first changing-rate varying unit varies the changing rate to one of a plurality of predetermined values based on a target center positional angle to the target, whereby the certainty-factor adjusting unit adjusts the certainty factor by the changing rate.

Abstract: In a phased-array antenna apparatus of this invention, one of the transmit/receive modules of each of radiators is set in a receiving operation state in accordance with a control signal from an arithmetic processing unit. An RF reference signal from an exciter is radiated in the air from a reference antenna and received by the transmit/receive modules in the receiving operation state. Thereafter, the signals are frequency-converted by the receiver, and element data are extracted from the signals by a beam forming section. The arithmetic processing unit detects the phase and amplitude data of the reception signals from the transmit/receive modules on the basis of the element data, and compares the detected data with the past phase and amplitude data of the transmit/receive modules, thereby calculating correction data and weight data for the transmit/receive modules.

Abstract: A digitally beam formed phased array antenna capable of both transmitting and receiving signals is constructed from a series of digitally controlled antenna elements. To transmit signals, a series of direct digital synthesizers is used to drive the antenna elements forming the phased array. Each direct digital synthesizer is programmed from a common digital processor with specific time and phase delay information such that the signals from the array combine to form a desired antenna pattern. To receive signals, signals from each antenna element in the phased array are processed by analog to digital converter. The digitized signals are then preprocessed in a time and phase delay preprocessor which receives time and phase delay information from a corresponding direct digital synthesizer prior to signal combining in a common digital processor.

Abstract: An intelligent digital beam former (10) in conjunction with a satellite based array antenna (20) provides a plurality of dynamically controllable antenna beams (52) for communication with subscriber units (90) on earth's surface. Interference is mitigated placing a null in the transmit and receive antenna patterns at the location of the interfering signal by adjusting digital beam forming coefficients. As the interfering signal moves relative to the satellite, the interfering signal is tracked to maintain interference mitigation. The digital beam forming coefficients are also dynamically adjusted to help maximize signal quality of communications with subscriber units.

Abstract: An antenna system 10 for a communications satellite which transmits and receives communications from ground based devices. The system includes an antenna array 16 containing a plurality of feed elements 18 which cooperate to receive or transmit coverage beams arranged in a circular layout at a coverage area in a far-field region proximate the surface of the earth. The feed elements 18 are arranged in a non-circular layout within the antenna array 16. This system further includes a beam forming network 14 for mapping coverage beam signals onto feed signals which drive the antenna array 16. The beam forming network 14 includes a beam forming matrix 28 and a beam connecting network 30. The beam connecting network 30 separates each coverage beam signal into a plurality of component signals weighted to have differing amplitudes from one another.

Abstract: An antenna for a base station comprising a plurality of antenna arrays (40; FIG. 6a) each capable of forming a multiplicity of separate overlapping narrow beams in azimuth, the arrays being positioned such that the beams formed by the arrays provide a coverage in azimuth wider than each array. Means are provided for splitting (58; FIGS. 14b,14c) the transmission output of a given transceiver into two signals prior to transmission power amplification and transmitting said signals in two adjacent narrow overlapping beams.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for imaging an object using a transducer array for transmitting one or more beams that are steered and/or translated to transmit scan lines for multiple excitation events so as to scan a field of view of the object, for sensing received signals reflected from the object after each excitation event on one or more receive beams on receive scan lines, and for transducing those sensed received signals into corresponding electrical signals.

Abstract: An FM-CW multibeam radar apparatus includes a plurality of antennas designed to serve both for beam transmission and receiving are arranged in such a manner that radiated beams overlap in part with each other. For sensing a short-distance-away target, a beam is transmitted by means of one of the antennas and a reflected beam is received by a separate adjacent one of the antennas to thereby obtain a beat signal. For sensing a long-distance-away target, one and the same beam transmitter-receiver is used. Upon sensing the short-distance-away target, the per-unit-time amount of change of the frequency of a frequency modulated transmitted signal is set to be larger than that for sensing the long-distance-away target so that a beat signal becomes higher, whereby the distance resolution is improved.

Abstract: An antenna for a base station comprising a plurality of antenna arrays (40; FIG. 6a) each capable of forming a multiplicity of separate overlapping narrow beams in azimuth, the arrays being positioned such that the of beams formed by the arrays provide a coverage in azimuth wider than each array. Means are provided for recognizing unique identifier signals (70; FIG. 6b) incorporated in call signals passing through the antenna; and coherent detection means for discriminating between unwanted call signals and wanted call signals using said unique identifier signals.

Abstract: A phased array radar antenna uses time-steering subarray notch weightings to produce a wideband notch in the direction of interference for Electronic-Counter-Measure (ECM) interference suppression. A predetermined set of subarray notch weightings, each set being identical for each subarray, is stored in controllers each of which is coupled to a plurality of phase shifters and attenuators for feeding radiating elements of the antenna. Interference suppressors operate from a plurality of controllers to produce a subarray pattern having a notch in the direction of interference. Beamformers then combine outputs of all time-steering subarrays in the antenna so as to produce an antenna pattern having a wideband notch in the direction of interference.

Abstract: In an apparatus and method for controlling an array antenna comprising a plurality of antenna elements arranged so as to be adjacent to each other in a predetermined arrangement configuration, a plurality of received signals received by the antenna elements is transformed into respective pairs of quadrature baseband signals, using a common local oscillation signal, wherein each pair of quadrature baseband signals is orthogonal to each other. Then predetermined first and second data are calculated based on each pair of transformed quadrature baseband signals, and are filtered using a noise suppressing filter. Respective elements of a transformation matrix for in-phase combining are calculated based on the filtered first and second data, and the received signals obtained from the each two antenna elements are put in phase based on the calculated transformation matrix. Thereafter, a plurality of received signals which are put in phase are combined in phase, and an in-phase combined received signal is outputted.

Abstract: A system and method for polar digital beamforming of at least one independent transmit beam is disclosed. A computer generates a digital signal representing both pointing and modulation information which is communicated to a plurality of subarray controllers which generate the polar weighting signals corresponding to the appropriate antenna element for transmitting. The complex weighting signals may be generated by summing a sequence of complex multiplications or by simply inverting the real and imaginary components of the weighting signal for particular modulation schemes. A phasor may be used in conjunction with an attenuator to modulate a local carrier signal. Alternatively, phasors are utilized without attenuators to increase the efficiency of the power amplifiers. The antenna architecture disclosed permits a single set of phasors and attenuators to be utilized per antenna element regardless of the number of beams to be generated.

Abstract: A digital signal processing method and apparatus for beam forming utilizes an N-element phased array antenna (1). For transmit side beam forming of an agile beam to be steered in a direction between three adjacent orthogonal beams three copies of complex envelope samples for the required beam signal are generated, separately weighted in amplitude and phase (4) and fed into an N-part inverse FFT processor (3) via three input ports (7a, 7b and 7c) which correspond to the three adjacent orthogonal beams, and inverse Fast Fourier Transformed therein into the required beam as a weighted combination of the three adjacent orthogonal beams for passage to the elements (2) of the phased array antenna (1).

Abstract: A beam sharpened antenna pattern is achieved by intercoupling signals from individual radiating elements of an array to produce a sum mode signal and a ring mode signal. The ring mode signal represents a forward-directed antenna pattern having a zero to 360 degree progressive phase characteristic around a pattern axis. Beam sharpening results from processing the sum and ring mode signals to provide a pattern having 360 degree beam sharpening, which represents portions of the sum mode pattern of amplitude greater than the amplitudes of selected portions of the ring mode signal. The ring mode signal may be provided on a predetermined basis after selected attenuation or amplification in order to provide a beam sharpened antenna pattern having a modified characteristic. In some applications, received signals are processed on a simultaneous sum mode and ring mode basis, while during transmission pulsed sum mode and ring mode antenna patterns are activated on a sequential, timed basis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for resolving a radar return by an object or layer below the earth's surface from a radar return of an air-to-earth interface. More specifically, a method and apparatus for generating short pulsewidth, broad bandwidth RF signals and for effecting control and timing of transmitted and received radar signals in order to focus an antenna illumination pattern. The apparatus includes an antenna array including a plurality of antenna elements which transmit and receive the RF pulsed signals and a custom control module which generates the control signals fed to the antenna array to delay the RF pulse signals with respect to each other, upon transmission and receipt, in order to form transmit and receive antenna illumination patterns.

Abstract: This invention comprises the use of integral pulse frequency modulation (IPFM) reaction jet controllers for multi-axis precision tracking of moving objects with flexible spacecraft, and vibration suppression. Two sets of position, rate and accelertion command profiles for multi-axis tracking are disclosed: one for a payload initially facing the zenith and the commands based on a pitch-roll sequence; the other for a payload facing the nadir and the commands based on a roll-pitch sequence. The procedure for designing an IPFM controller for tracking a given, inertial acceleration command profile is disclosed. Important elastic modes of a spacecraft are identified according to their spontaneous attitude and rate response to the minimum impulse bit of the thrusters. The stability of the control-structure interaction is shown to be governed by the ratio of the moments of inertia of the flexible to the rigid portions of the spacecraft.

Abstract: In an apparatus and method for controlling an array antenna including a predetermined plurality of M antenna elements arranged in a predetermined arrangement configuration, beam electric field strengths of a plurality of N beams of transmitting signals are calculated, and then signals representing the calculated beam electric field strengths equal to or larger than a threshold value are outputted. Thereafter, based on the outputted signals, there are calculated a plurality of N weight coefficients for the receiving signals respectively corresponding to the plurality of N beams of transmitting signals, such that a main beam of the array antenna is directed toward an incoming direction of a desired radio wave and also a level of the receiving signal in an incoming direction of an unnecessary radio wave are made zero.

Abstract: A radar system that includes an ultra wideband radar signal processor for electronically scanned arrays that utilizes frequency offset generation (FOG) to achieve beam steering as compared with phase shift and time delay techniques of conventional radars. The device comprises a transmit antenna, a chirp generator connected to the transmit antenna and a first summing circuit, a receiver antenna connected to the first summing circuit, a Doppler de-ramping chirp circuit connected to a second summing circuit, the output of the second summing circuit connected to an amplitude and weighting circuit and the output of the amplitude circuit connected to a spectrum analyzer of a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) circuit. The signal processing consists of mixing the target returns with the transmitted signal to obtain a video beat note signal. This video beat note signal is mixed with a Doppler de-ramping chirp waveform which is matched to the desired target velocity.

Abstract: A target detecting and range determining system for an automobile detects a distance between two vehicles travelling in front of and behind each other and includes a range detector using a range determining signal directed toward and reflected by a target vehicle. The system also includes a controller for controlling the range detector so that it receives a proper reflection of the range determining signal when a primary vehicle changes its travelling direction relative to the target vehicle.

Abstract: A method of improving the amplitude-frequency characteristic when receiving a target echo (M) in a radar system installed on a satellite or an aircraft and carried at a given height (h) above the earth's surface. The method utilizes the known method of compressing a received pulse which contains a number of frequencies (f.sub.1 -f.sub.2) in order to obtain improved dissolution of the target. According to the method, the receiving lobe of the radar is swept, independently of frequency, over a given larger angular area (.theta..sub.b l-.theta..sub.a) within which the target (M) is located. Within the smaller angular area (.DELTA..theta.) occupied by the target as seen from the radar, i.e. the momentary width (.DELTA.w) of the target echo, however, the receiving lobe is controlled in dependence on the frequencies (f.sub.1 -f.sub.2) so as to obtain a number of optimally located receiving lobes for the smaller angular area (.DELTA..theta.).

Abstract: A method of managing beams transmitted and received by a plurality of phased array antennas. In a search mode, the phased array antennas transmit searching pulses synchronously in a search mode. In a tracking mode, targets tracked by the phased array antennas are divided to a plurality of groups on the basis of pulsed repetition rate. Then, for the respective divided groups, transmission timings of tracking pulses to be sent form the phased array antennas are calculated by using ranges of the targets belonging to the respective groups so that transmission and reception operations do not occur simultaneously, thereby enabling the simultaneous usage of the phased array antennas.

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 sequence of pencil beams, which requires less transmitted power from the TR modules than a fan beam, but requires more time because 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.

Abstract: A radar system having a phased array antenna for transmission and a digital beam forming antenna for reception for observing a plurality of targets by transmitting transmission pulses to the respective targets comprises a subtraction control circuit, a transmission timing control circuit and a transmission beam direction control circuit. The substraction control circuit calculates a required number of transmission pulses (beams) to be transmitted for each of transmission cycles in accordance with detected Doppler frequencies of the targets, so as not to cause ambiguity on the detected Doppler frequencies, and determines a beam direction for each of transmission beams. The timing control circuit and beam direction control circuit control transmission timing and direction of the beams.

Abstract: Electronic antenna-rotation compensation apparatus is provided for correcting data errors introduced into radar return signals by the rotation of phased array antennas. The apparatus includes circuitry for sampling and A-to-D converting I (in phase) and Q (quadrature) radar return signal components provided by individual antenna elements comprising the array antenna and for providing and applying correction factors to each ith signal components sample from each nth element across the antenna. The correction factors may be precomputed and stored in a memory for use when required or may be computed as needed. The corrected, digital I and Q signal component samples are supplied to a conventional processor, for example, as adaptive array processor, for extracting useful target data from return signal interference and clutter. A corresponding method is provided for compensating for the effects of phased array antenna rotation.

Abstract: An optimization of the monitoring range is achieved for an antenna lobe position for the search function in a multi-function radar given a prescribed power part, asa result whereof the most beneficial signal shape, the most beneficial form of signal processing and the most beneficial sampling period are also supplied. In that case in which no clutter and no shadowings are present in the monitoring area to be covered by the multi-function radar, an instruction for optimum distribution of the radar power available for the search onto a plurality of antenna lobes is established. For general cases, an instruction for optimum distribution of the power available for the search onto a plurality of antenna lobes is established, namely by optimization of the prescribed cost-benefit function with the assistance of an iteration method sequencing in the clock of the generation of elementary radar requests.

Abstract: A radar system having improved interference resistance. A transmitting section includes an oscillator capable of switching the oscillation frequency, and a transmitting antenna connected to said oscillator and capable of transmitting electric waves having specified transmitting frequencies transmitted in different directions in a specified order to enable a desired range to be scanned. The oscillator and the transmitting antenna are designed to operate so that every time one scanning is completed or every time the transmitting direction is changed during each scanning period, the transmitting frequency may be changed. The receiver can simultaneously form a plurality of beams in the scanning range, convert the received signals to digital signals, and output signals indicating the frequencies and arrival directions of the received signals. The operating mode of the transmitting section may be altered in accordance with the frequency and arrival direction of the received waves.

Abstract: The physical realization of new solutions of wave propagation equations, such as Maxwell's equations and the scaler wave equation, produces localized pulses of wave energy such as electromagnetic or acoustic energy which propagate over long distances without divergence. The pulses are produced by driving each element of an array of radiating sources with a particular drive function so that the resultant localized packet of energy closely approximates the exact solutions and behaves the same.

Abstract: An electronically scanned radar system has a serpentine antenna, with at least two ports. The antenna is physically rotated. Each port has a mixer, transmitter and local oscillator feeding signals to it, the signals of the transmitter and oscillator being synchronized with one another to take advantage of the physical rotation of the antenna. The radar system can be operated in various ways to produce two independent beams simultaneously in a surveillance mode and/or tracking mode at each port. Furthermore, with the use of coupling means, the system can be operated to produce four independent beams at two different frequencies simultaneously. The system can also be operated to produce one or more beams in a surveillance mode and/or one or more beams in a tracking mode at each port. Further, the system can be operated to compensate for the physical rotation of the antenna and can avoid jammers by hopping to another frequency.

Abstract: The invention relates to a radar system of the type which can be presented with a number of tasks to be performed. Some of these tasks, e.g. the surveillance of areas at close range, may only require the transmission of low energy pulses and thus the full potential of the r.f. energy source has not previously been used while such tasks are being handled. By arranging for the tasks to be performed in a suitable overlapping sequence the full capability of the energy source is used at all times thereby increasing the throughput of tasks.

Abstract: A single two dimension radar system having the capability of developing two dimensional data on all targets in its surveillance volume and three dimensional data for selected targets in its surveillance volume is disclosed. A single phased array antenna having two selectable elevation beam patterns, a wide beam and a narrow beam, is rotated in azimuth. In the two dimension mode, targets are detected and tracked in an azimuth and range position through use of the wide elevation beam. Upon selecting a particular target in track for three dimension data extraction, the radar system changes to the three dimension mode prior to the azimuth position of the selected target, and performs a sequential lobing process of the narrow beam in elevation angle. The power ratios of the target returns in the sequential lobes are analyzed and an elevation position of the selected target is determined. The radar system reverts to the two dimension mode after leaving the azimuth position of the selected target.