Radar Principles
&
Systems
Two Basic Radar
Types
Pulse
Transmission
Continuous
Wave
Pulse Transmission
Pulse Width (PW)
Length or duration of a given pulse
Pulse Repetition Time (PRT=1/PRF)
PRT is time from beginning of one pulse to the
beginning of the next
PRF is frequency at which consecutive pulses are
transmitted.
PW can determine the radars minimum
detection range; PW can determine the radars
masimum detection range , PW can determine
the radars minimum range resolution.
PRF can determine the radars maximum
detection range. Faster PRF means greater
accuracy!
Pulse Diagram
PRT
Carrier
Freq.
Listening
Time
PW
PRT=1/PRF
Pulse Radar
Components
Synchronizer
Transmitter
RF
Ech
o
Duplexer
In
t
Ou
Power
Supply
Display Unit
Receiver
Antenna Control
ANT.
Continuous Wave
Employs continual
Radar
RADAR transmission
Separate transmit
and receive
antennas
Relies on the
DOPPLER SHIFT
Doppler Frequency
Shifts
Motion Away:
Echo Frequency Decreases
Motion Towards:
Echo Frequency Increases
Continuous Wave
Radar Components
Transmitter
CW
RF
Oscillator
Discriminator
AMP
Mixer
Antenna
OUT
IN
Antenna
Indicator
Pulse Vs. Continuous
Wave
Pulse Echo
Single Antenna
Gives Range,
usually Alt. as
well
Susceptible To
Jamming
Physical Range
Determined By
PW and PRF.
Continuous Wave
Requires 2 Antennae
Range or Alt. Info
High SNR
More Difficult to Jam
But Easily Deceived
Amp can be tuned to
look for expected
frequencies
RADAR Wave
Modulation
Amplitude Modulation
Frequency Modulation
Vary the frequency of the carrier sine wave
Pulse-Amplitude Modulation
Vary the amplitude of the carrier sine wave
Vary the amplitude of the pulses
Pulse-Frequency Modulation
Vary the Frequency at which the pulses occur
Antennae
Two Basic Purposes:
Radiates
RF Energy
Provides
Beam Forming and Focus
Must Be 1/2 of the Wave Length for
the maximum wave length employed
Wide Beam pattern for Search,
Narrow for Track
Beamwidth Vs.
Accuracy
Beamwidth vs Accuracy
Ship A
Ship B
Azimuth Angular
Measurement
Azimuth Angular Measurement
Relative Bearing = Angle from ships heading.
True Bearing = Ships Heading + Relative Bearing
N
Ships Heading
Angle
Target Angle
Determining Altitude
Determining Altitude
Altitude
Angle of Elevation
Altitude = slant range x sin0 elevation
Concentrating Radar
Energy Through
Linear
Arrays
Beam
Formation
Uses the Principle of wave summation
(constructive interference) in a special direction
and wave cancellation (destructive interference)
in other directions.
Made up of two or more simple half-wave
antennas.
Quasi-optical
Uses reflectors and lenses to shape the beam.
Reflector Shape
Paraboloid - Conical Scan used for
fire control - can be CW or Pulse
Orange Peel Paraboliod - Usually
CW and primarily for fire control
Parabolic Cylinder - Wide search
beam - generally larger and used
for long-range search
applications - Pulse
Wave Guides
Used as a medium
for high energy
shielding.
Uses A Magnetic
Field to keep the
energy centered in
the wave guide.
Filled with an inert
gas to prevent
arcing due to high
voltages within the
waveguide.
Factors That Affect
Radar Performance
Signal Reception
Receiver Bandwidth
Pulse Shape
Power Relation
Beam Width
Pulse Repetition
Frequency
Antenna Gain
Radar Cross Section
of Target
Signal-to-noise
ratio
Receiver
Sensitivity
Pulse Compression
Scan Rate
Mechanical
Electronic
Carrier Frequency
Antenna aperture
Radar Receiver
Performance Factors
Signal Reception
Signal-to-Noise Ratio
Receiver Bandwidth
Receiver Sensitivity
Signal Reception
Only a minute portion of the
RF is reflected off the target.
Only a fraction of that returns
to the antenna.
The weaker the signal that
the receiver can process, the
greater the effective range .
Signal-to-Noise Ratio
Measured in dB!!!!!
Ability to recognize target in random
noise.
Noise is always present.
At some range, noise is greater that targets
return.
Noise sets the absolute lower limit of
the units sensitivity.
Threshold level used to remove excess
noise.
Receiver Bandwidth
Is the frequency range the receiver can
process.
Receiver must process many
frequencies
Pulse are generated by summation of sine waves
of various frequencies.
Frequency shifts occur from Doppler Effects.
Reducing the bandwidth
Increases the signal-to-noise ratio(good)
Distorts the transmitted pulse(bad)
Receiver Sensitivity
Smallest return signal that is
discernible against the noise
background.
Milliwatts
range.
An important factor in
determining the units
maximum range.
Pulse Effects on Radar
Performance
Pulse
Pulse
Pulse
Pulse
Shape
Width
Compression
Power
Pulse Shape
Determines range accuracy
and minimum and maximum
range.
Ideally we want a pulse with
vertical leading and trailing
edges.
Very
clear signal easily discerned
when listening for the echo.
Pulse Width
Determines the range
resolution.
Determines the minimum
detection range.
Can also determine the
maximum range of radar.
The narrower the pulse, the
better the range resolution.
Pulse Compression
Increases frequency of the
wave within the pulse.
Allows for good range
resolution while packing
enough power to provide a
large maximum range.
Pulse Power
The Ummph to get the signal
out a long way.
High peak power is desirable to
achieve maximum ranges.
Low power means smaller and
more compact radar units and
less power required to operate.
Other Factors Affecting
Performance
Scan Rate and Beam Width
Pulse Repetition Frequency
Determines radars maximum range(tactical factor).
Carrier Frequency
Narrow beam require slower antenna rotation rate.
Determines antenna size, beam directivity and target
size.
Radar Cross Section (What the radar can
see(reflect))
Function of target size, shape, material, angle and
carrier frequency.
Summary of Factors and
Compromises
Summary of Factors and Compromises
Factor
Desired
Why
Trade-off Required
Pulse Shape
Sharp a rise as possible
Tall as possible
Better range accuracy
More power /longer range
Require infinite bandwidth, more complex
Requires larger equipment/more power
Pulse Width
Short as possible
Closer minimum range
More accurate range
Reduces maximum range
Pulse Repetition Freq.
Short
Better range accuracy
Better angular resolution
Better detection probability
Reduces maximum range
Pulse Compression
Uses technique
Greater range
Shorter minimum range
More complex circuitry
Power
More
Greater maximum range
Requires larger equipment & power
Beam Width
Narrow
Greater angular accuracy
Slow antenna rate, Detection time
Carrier Frequency
High
Greater target resolution
Detects smaller targets
Smaller equipment
Reduces maximum range
Receiver Sensitivity
High
Maximizes detection range
More complex equipment
Receiver Bandwidth
Narrow
Better signal-to-noise ratio
Distorts pulse shape
Specific Types of
Radar
Frequency Modulated CW Radar
Pulse Doppler
Carrier wave frequency within pulse is compared
with a reference signal to detect moving targets.
Moving Target Indicator (MTI) System
Use for radar altimeters and missile guidance.
Signals compared with previous return to enhance
moving targets. (search radars)
Frequency Agile Systems
Difficult to jam.
Specific Types of
Radar
SAR / ISAR
Phased Array - Aegis
Essentially
360 Coverage
Phase shift and frequency shift allow
the planar array to steer the beam.
Also allows for high / low power
output depending on requirements.
Questions?
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