Phased array radar antenna and detection method thereof

Abstract

The invention discloses a phased array radar antenna and a detection method thereof, and belongs to the technical field of phased array radars, and the method comprises the steps: designing a radar system to improve the performance, optimize from multiple aspects, select and adapt to the antenna array size and arrangement of radar application, optimize the number and position of units, and determine the configuration through an algorithm to meet the beam detection precision. According to the method, phased array radar electronic control is improved, a high-precision DSP technology is used for regulating and controlling the phase of an antenna unit, the phase adjustment performance is improved to guarantee beam scanning, and a self-adaptive beam forming technology is applied. According to the method, the correlation between the target and the target is cancelled, the target is prevented from following an interference point, the probability of wrong target following is effectively reduced, the correlation judgment accuracy is improved through correlation of multi-dimensional information such as radial speed and echo characteristics, and the target tracking stability is improved while the maneuvering target tracking capability is kept.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The application belongs to the technical field of phased array radars, and particularly relates to a phased array radar antenna and a detection method thereof. BACKGROUND

[0002] Relationship between physical size of antenna array and beam width:

[0003] Phased array radars control the directivity of beams by adjusting the phase difference of antenna elements, and the size of the antenna array directly affects the formation of the beam. A smaller array size usually leads to a wider beam, limiting the directional accuracy of the radar. In order to achieve a narrower beam and improve the directivity, the size of the antenna array needs to be increased, but increasing the array size will increase the volume and weight, thereby affecting the design and use scenarios of the system.

[0004] Arrangement of antenna array and beam control ability:

[0005] The arrangement of the antenna array (such as linear, matrix or ring array) directly affects its beam control ability, and different arrangements will have different effects on the scanning range, scanning speed and resolution of the beam. Linear arrays are suitable for narrower scanning angles, but cannot cover a larger area, while matrix arrays can provide a wider scanning range, but their beam width is also correspondingly wider.

[0006] Influence of number of array elements:

[0007] The number of array elements determines the accuracy and flexibility of beam formation of the radar system. More antenna elements can produce finer and narrower beams, improving the directivity of the radar, while fewer elements result in a wider beam, leading to less accurate directivity. However, increasing the number of array elements also increases the complexity and cost of the system.

[0008] Electrical control of antenna array and scanning speed:

[0009] Although phased array radars adjust the beam direction electronically, the accuracy and speed of electronic control are still limited. When rapid scanning or covering a wide area is required, the response time and accuracy of electronic control may not be sufficient, resulting in the beam width being unable to be controlled within a small range, thereby reducing the directional accuracy of the radar.

[0010] In phased array radar tracking, a larger correlation gate is often set to adapt to maneuvering targets, but a large correlation gate will introduce interference points. When the target observation point disappears and there are interference points within the gate, the target will be tracked to the interference points, causing the problem of mistaken tracking. The detection and tracking performance of phased array radars for small targets at long distances is insufficient, and there are fewer tracking targets within the beam.

[0011] Based on this, the application designs a phased array radar antenna and a detection method thereof to solve the above problems. SUMMARY

[0012] The application aims at solving the problems of large correlation gate setting for adapting to the maneuvering target in the phased array radar tracking, the introduction of interference points by the large correlation gate, the target tracking to the interference points and the wrong tracking problem when the target observation point disappears and the interference points exist in the gate, the insufficient detection and tracking performance of the phased array radar on the small target at a long distance, and the small number of tracking targets in the beam.

[0013] To achieve the above purpose, the application adopts the following technical scheme:

[0014] A phased array radar antenna and a detection method thereof, comprising:

[0015] S1, array unit optimization and selection, based on radar application, the antenna array size and arrangement are selected, the number and position of units are optimized, the configuration is determined through simulation and optimization algorithm, and the beam width detection accuracy requirement is met;

[0016] S2, array size and layout design, the phased array radar electronic control system is improved, the phase adjustment accuracy and response speed are improved, the high-precision DSP technology is used to accurately control the phase of the antenna unit, and the stability and high accuracy of beam scanning are ensured;

[0017] S3, beam optimization and adaptive scanning, the adaptive beam forming technology is used, the beam width and scanning range are dynamically controlled according to the actual demand of the target, the beam width of the long-distance target is reduced to improve the resolution, and the beam coverage area is expanded when scanning a large range;

[0018] S4, multi-target tracking and filtering technology, advanced multi-target tracking algorithm is used, target position information is processed in real time and the beam direction is adjusted, noise interference is eliminated through prediction filtering, and the radar target resolution and tracking stability are improved;

[0019] S5, electromagnetic interference anti-interference ability enhancement, anti-interference methods such as high-efficiency signal processing algorithm and hardware filtering technology are added when designing the radar, so that the radar can work in a complex electromagnetic environment, and the beam frequency is optimized by using spectrum analysis to reduce the damage of electronic interference to the beam accuracy;

[0020] As a further description of the above technical scheme:

[0021] In the S1, firstly, according to the application requirements of the radar, a suitable antenna array size and arrangement method are selected, wherein the arrangement method includes a linear array and a matrix array, and the number and position of array units are optimized according to the requirements of target detection, and through simulation and optimization algorithm, the most suitable array configuration is determined, so that the beam width meets the detection accuracy requirements;

[0022] In the S2, by improving the electronic control system of the phased array radar, the phase adjustment accuracy and response speed are improved, high-precision digital signal processing (DSP) technology is adopted to accurately adjust the phase of each antenna unit, so as to ensure the stability and high accuracy of the beam in the whole scanning process;

[0023] In the S3, through the adaptive beam forming technology, the beam width and scanning range are dynamically adjusted according to the actual requirements of the target, for the long-distance target, the resolution is improved by reducing the beam width, and for the large range scanning, the beam range is expanded to cover a wider area;

[0024] In the S4, combined with advanced multi-target tracking algorithm, the position information of the target is processed in real time, and the adjustment of the beam pointing is carried out, through the prediction and filtering of the target, the noise and interference are eliminated, and the target resolution and tracking stability of the radar system are improved;

[0025] In the S5, anti-interference mechanism is added in the design, including efficient signal processing algorithm and hardware filtering technology, to ensure that the radar can continuously run in complex electromagnetic environment, and the frequency range of the beam is optimized by using spectrum analysis technology to reduce the influence of electronic interference on the accuracy of the beam.

[0026] As a further description of the above technical solutions:

[0027] In the S2, the electronic control system mainly consists of four key subsystems, namely signal processing measurement subsystem, display control subsystem, target search subsystem and data storage subsystem, and the four key subsystems interact with the radar network according to the established fixed time sequence, and the specific data exchange content is analyzed in detail.

[0028] As a further description of the above technical solutions:

[0029] The signal processing measurement subsystem plays a core role, firstly, the input sum or difference intermediate frequency signal is received efficiently to ensure the integrity and accuracy of the signal, then, the deviation caused by target motion in the signal propagation process is compensated to eliminate the influence of motion factors on the signal quality, and then, pulse compression technology is used to improve the resolution of the signal and make the target features clearer;

[0030] In the signal accumulation link, the subsystem adopts two strategies of coherent accumulation and non-coherent accumulation, the coherent accumulation can make full use of the phase information of the signal to realize higher accumulation gain, and the non-coherent accumulation can accumulate the signal energy effectively without relying on the phase information, after the signal accumulation, the system carries out signal constant false alarm detection to accurately identify the target signal in the complex noise environment and reduce the false alarm probability;

[0031] In the parameter measurement stage, the subsystem respectively carries out ranging and angle measurement to accurately determine the distance between the target and the radar and the angle information of the target relative to the radar, then, through the target association algorithm, the target signals detected at different times are associated and matched to determine the continuous trajectory of the same target, finally, the tracking prediction technology is used to predict the future position of the target to provide prospective guidance for the tracking control of the radar, through the series of complex and delicate processing procedures, the signal processing and measurement subsystem finally outputs the position information of the detected target.

[0032] As a further description of the above technical solutions:

[0033] The target search subsystem utilizes the powerful parallel computing capability of the GPU card-based super-speed processor to quickly and accurately realize the relevant automatic focusing algorithm, in this process, the processor performs parallel processing on massive data, significantly improving the execution efficiency of the algorithm, after completing the algorithm processing, the target search subsystem will upload the key parameters related to target motion, the current working state of the subsystem and the processing results obtained through algorithm analysis to the signal processing and measurement subsystem in real time and stably according to the established communication protocol and data format, ensuring the smooth and efficient information flow of the entire radar system.

[0034] As a further description of the above technical solutions:

[0035] The data storage subsystem is used for data collection and recording, the content collected and recorded by the subsystem is rich and detailed, and has high professionalism and practicality, the time information serves as the time reference of the system, ensuring the accurate synchronization of various modules and events in the radar system in the time dimension, providing a unified time reference for subsequent data analysis and processing, the radar working parameter records the setting conditions of the radar under different working conditions, including but not limited to working frequency and pulse repetition frequency, these parameters are of great significance for evaluating the performance of the radar and optimizing the working mode;

[0036] The state information covers various working modes of the radar, the search mode is used to find potential targets in a wide airspace, the capture mode is used to further confirm and lock the found targets, the tracking mode is used to monitor the position and motion state of the targets in real time, the memory tracking mode is used to continue to predict the trajectory of the targets when the targets are temporarily lost, and the state information also includes signal waveform, bandwidth, transmission power and beam pointing key parameters, which directly reflect the characteristics and transmission direction of the radar signal and are crucial for analyzing the detection ability and anti-interference performance of the radar;

[0037] The target measurement information is one of the key contents collected by the data storage subsystem, the distance information can determine the spatial interval between the target and the radar, the azimuth and elevation angles can determine the specific direction of the target in space, and the RCS radar cross section area can reflect the scattering ability of the target to the radar signal and is an important index for evaluating the detectability of the target;

[0038] In addition, the baseband digital echo signal, as the original signal received by the radar, contains rich information of the target, and by analyzing and processing the baseband digital echo signal, the characteristic parameters of the target are extracted to further understand the characteristics and behaviors of the target.

[0039] As a further description of the above technical solutions:

[0040] The display control subsystem undertakes the important responsibilities of information interaction with the radar host computer and real-time data display, and is used to accurately and stably transmit control commands and various parameter setting information to the radar host computer, so as to ensure that the host computer effectively regulates and controls the radar system according to the instructions. At the same time, the subsystem also displays the measurement results and current state information of the electronic control system in real time and accurately, and provides comprehensive and timely system operation data for the operator, so as to make scientific and reasonable decisions.

[0041] As a further description of the above technical solutions:

[0042] In the S4, in a conventional radar target tracking scene, the interference points often coexist with the target in several scanning periods before entering the target tracking gate, during which the system processes the interference points using a multi-cycle correlation algorithm, establishes a track for the interference points, and then forms an interference track, when the subsequent point track in the target tracking gate is operated, the system will calculate the correlation degree of the point track and the target and the point track and the interference track, if the correlation degree of a point track and the interference track is higher than that of the target, the point track is determined not to belong to the target track, and the association relationship between the point track and the target is cancelled, then, among the remaining point tracks with higher correlation degree with the target, the optimal matching point is selected according to a specific matching criterion, and the point is taken as the tracking point of the target, if there is no point track with higher correlation degree with the target, the system will process the target according to the preset point loss and extrapolation strategy to ensure the continuity and stability of the target tracking.

[0043] As a further description of the above technical solution:

[0044] When the point track correlation degree calculation is carried out, in order to more accurately distinguish whether the point track belongs to the target or the interference, and to clearly determine the correlation degree between each point track and the target, the traditional azimuth and distance correlation method is optimized and improved, specifically, the correlation dimensions of multiple echo characteristic information such as elevation, amplitude, radial velocity, azimuth width and distance width are increased, in the calculation process, the correlation results of the above multiple characteristic information are integrated into the azimuth and distance correlation calculation system according to the pre-set specific weight, and then the comprehensive statistical distance is formed, then, the membership of the point track is scientifically judged according to the comprehensive statistical distance, so as to effectively improve the accuracy of the point track correlation, it is worth noting that when the comprehensive statistical distance is calculated, the setting of each characteristic weight is not random, but fully considers the key factors such as detection error and confidence of the radar system for each characteristic, to ensure the rationality and scientificity of the weight setting, so as to guarantee the accuracy and reliability of the whole point track correlation degree calculation process, the point track correlation distance calculation formula is as follows:

[0045] X=x1(O 预 -O 点 ) 2 +x2(S 预 -S 点 ) 2 +x3U 关联 +x4P 关联 +x5M 关联 +x6F 关联 +x7L 关联

[0046] In the formula, X represents the comprehensive correlation distance, O 预 and S 预 respectively represent the azimuth and distance of the track prediction, O 点and S 点 respectively represent the azimuth and distance of the measurement point trace, U 关联 represent the correlation results of the elevation angle, P 关联 represent the correlation results of the amplitude, M 关联 represent the correlation results of the radial velocity, F 关联 represent the correlation results of the echo azimuth width, L 关联 represent the correlation results of the echo distance width, x i (i = 1, …, 7) represent the weights of each correlation result, The smaller the values of these correlation results are, the higher the degree of correlation between the point trace and the track characteristics is. 关联 , P 关联 , M 关联 , F 关联 and L 关联 .

[0047] A phased array radar antenna, the phased array radar antenna system is composed of multiple key components working together, the system is equipped with multiple antennas, these antennas operate independently, respectively responsible for receiving signals from different directions, the received signals are then transmitted to multiple receiving modules, each receiving module corresponds to an antenna, its core function is to down-convert the received signals, convert high-frequency signals into intermediate or low-frequency signals suitable for subsequent processing, the down-converted signals are further transmitted to multiple analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), the role of ADC is to accurately convert analog signals into digital signals, ensuring that signals can be accurately processed and analyzed in the digital domain, the beamforming processor is the core processing unit of the entire system, it undertakes complex beamforming tasks, specifically, the processor will perform two digital beamforming operations, the first digital beamforming aims to make the digitized signals correspond to the first beam pattern with sidelobe suppression characteristics, through this correspondence, the sidelobe level can be effectively reduced, the interference of sidelobes to the main lobe is reduced, and the detection ability of the radar to the main direction target is improved, the second digital beamforming makes the digitized signals correspond to the second beam pattern that can generate sidelobes, this operation is to obtain signals containing sidelobe information, providing a basis for subsequent processing, after completing the two digital beamforming, the system intercepts the first digital beamforming result from the second digital beamforming result, the purpose of this step is to further analyze the difference between the two results, then, the common mode components of the first and second digital beamforming results are eliminated from the second digital beamforming result, the common mode components refer to the parts common to the two results, eliminating these components can highlight the difference information, finally, through analyzing the result after eliminating the common mode components, the system can accurately grasp the target information located in the sidelobe area, thereby improving the target detection ability and accuracy of the radar in complex environment.

[0048] Therefore, the application has the following beneficial effects:

[0049] 1. In the application, the membership of the point track is determined by establishing a "flight path" for the interference point in advance and using flight path competition, and the point track with higher membership to the interference flight path is cancelled from the association with the target, avoiding the method of following the target to the interference point, effectively reducing the probability of target tracking error, and improving the association discrimination accuracy through multi-dimensional information association such as radial velocity and echo characteristics, while maintaining the ability of maneuvering target tracking, and improving the stability of target tracking.

[0050] 2. In the application, pulse energy accumulation and target number in extended beam technology are used in combination with point track extraction and flight path establishment method to realize detection and tracking of long-distance small targets and capacity expansion function of target tracking number, filter detection technology is used to increase the range and capacity expansion system working mode, a functional module with a DSP array signal processing board and a GPU card as the core is designed on the hardware to realize super-high-speed data processing, which can effectively expand the radar tracking long-distance small target capability and increase the number of radar tracking targets, the flight path establishment continuity is good, and the purpose of system design and the requirements of practical application are achieved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0051] Figure 1 A detection flowchart of a phased array radar antenna and a detection method thereof is provided for the application;

[0052] Figure 2 An electronic control system schematic diagram in the phased array radar antenna and the detection method thereof is provided for the application;

[0053] Figure 3 A tracking flowchart of a target tracking algorithm in the phased array radar antenna and the detection method thereof is provided for the application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0054] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the application will be described clearly and completely below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the application, rather than all the embodiments of the application. Based on the embodiments in the application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative labor fall within the protection scope of the application.

[0055] Please refer to the drawings in the embodiments of the application Figure 1 - the drawings in the embodiments of the application Figure 3 The application provides a technical solution: a phased array radar antenna and a detection method thereof, which comprises:

[0056] S1. Array element optimization and selection: Based on radar application, select antenna array size and arrangement, optimize the number and position of elements, and determine the configuration through simulation and optimization algorithms to meet the beamwidth detection accuracy requirements.

[0057] S2. Array size and layout design, improve the electronic control system of phased array radar, enhance phase adjustment accuracy and response speed, and use high-precision DSP technology to accurately control the phase of antenna elements to ensure the stability and high accuracy of beam scanning.

[0058] S3, Beam Optimization and Adaptive Scanning: Using adaptive beamforming technology, the beam width and scanning range are dynamically adjusted according to the actual needs of the target. For distant targets, the beam width is reduced to improve resolution, and the beam coverage area is expanded when scanning a large area.

[0059] S4. Multi-target tracking and filtering technology: It uses advanced multi-target tracking algorithms to process target position information in real time and adjust beam pointing. Predictive filtering eliminates noise interference and improves radar target resolution and tracking stability.

[0060] S5. Enhanced electromagnetic interference immunity: Anti-interference measures are incorporated into the radar design, such as efficient signal processing algorithms and hardware filtering technology, enabling the radar to operate continuously in complex electromagnetic environments. Furthermore, spectrum analysis is used to optimize the beam frequency and reduce the damage of electronic interference to beam accuracy.

[0061] Specifically, in S1, firstly, based on the application requirements of the radar, a suitable antenna array size and arrangement are selected, including linear arrays and matrix arrays. Then, the number and position of array elements are optimized according to the target detection requirements. Through simulation and optimization algorithms, the most suitable array configuration is determined so that the beamwidth meets the detection accuracy requirements.

[0062] In S2, the electronic control system of the phased array radar is improved to enhance the phase adjustment accuracy and response speed. High-precision digital signal processing (DSP) technology is used to precisely adjust the phase of each antenna element to ensure the stability and high accuracy of the beam throughout the scanning process.

[0063] In S3, adaptive beamforming technology is used to dynamically adjust the beam width and scanning range according to the actual needs of the target. For distant targets, the resolution is improved by reducing the beam width, while for large-area scanning, the beam range is expanded to cover a wider area.

[0064] In S4, advanced multi-target tracking algorithms are combined to process target position information in real time and adjust beam pointing. By predicting and filtering targets, noise and interference are eliminated, thereby improving the target resolution and tracking stability of the radar system.

[0065] In S5, anti-interference mechanism is added in the design, including efficient signal processing algorithm and hardware filtering technology, to ensure that the radar can continue to run in complex electromagnetic environment, and the frequency range of the beam is optimized by using spectrum analysis technology to reduce the influence of electronic interference on the accuracy of the beam.

[0066] Specifically, in S2, the electronic control system is mainly composed of four key subsystems, namely signal processing measurement subsystem, display control subsystem, target search subsystem and data storage subsystem. The four key subsystems interact with the radar network according to the established fixed time sequence, and the specific data exchange content is analyzed in detail.

[0067] Specifically, the signal processing measurement subsystem plays a core role. Firstly, it efficiently receives the input sum or difference intermediate frequency signal to ensure the integrity and accuracy of the signal. Then, it implements motion compensation processing to eliminate the influence of motion factors on signal quality. Next, it uses pulse compression technology to improve the resolution of the signal and make the target features clearer.

[0068] In the signal accumulation link, the subsystem uses both coherent accumulation and non-coherent accumulation strategies. Coherent accumulation can fully utilize the phase information of the signal to achieve higher accumulation gain. Non-coherent accumulation effectively accumulates signal energy without relying on phase information. After signal accumulation, the system performs signal constant false alarm detection to accurately identify target signals in complex noise environments and reduce false alarm probability.

[0069] In the parameter measurement stage, the subsystem carries out range and angle measurement to accurately determine the distance between the target and the radar and the angle of the target relative to the radar. Then, through target association algorithm, it associates and matches the target signals detected at different times to determine the continuous trajectory of the same target. Finally, it uses tracking prediction technology to predict the future position of the target, providing forward-looking guidance for the tracking control of the radar. After this series of complex and delicate processing procedures, the signal processing measurement subsystem finally outputs the position information of the detected target.

[0070] Specifically, the target search subsystem uses the powerful parallel computing capability of the GPU card-based super-speed processor to quickly and accurately implement the correlation autofocus algorithm. During this process, the processor performs parallel processing on massive data, significantly improving the execution efficiency of the algorithm. After completing the algorithm processing, the target search subsystem will upload the key parameters related to target motion, the current working state of the subsystem and the processing results obtained through algorithm analysis to the signal processing measurement subsystem in real time and stably according to the established communication protocol and data format, ensuring smooth and efficient information flow in the entire radar system.

[0071] Specifically, the data storage subsystem is used for data collection and recording. The content recorded by the subsystem is rich and detailed, and has high professionalism and practicality. The time information serves as the time reference of the system, ensuring the precise synchronization of various modules and events in the radar system in the time dimension, and providing a unified time reference for subsequent data analysis and processing. The radar operating parameter records the settings of the radar under different operating conditions, including but not limited to operating frequency and pulse repetition frequency. These parameters are of great significance for evaluating the performance of the radar and optimizing the operating mode.

[0072] The state information covers various operating modes of the radar. The search mode is used to discover potential targets in a wide airspace, the capture mode is used to further confirm and lock the discovered targets, the tracking mode is used to monitor the position and motion state of the targets in real time, and the memory tracking mode is used to continue to predict the trajectory of the targets when they are temporarily lost. In addition, the state information also includes signal waveform, bandwidth, transmit power and beam pointing key parameters, which directly reflect the characteristics and transmission direction of the radar signal, and are crucial for analyzing the detection capability and anti-jamming performance of the radar.

[0073] Target measurement information is one of the key contents collected by the data storage subsystem. Distance information can determine the spatial interval between the target and the radar, azimuth and elevation angles can determine the specific direction of the target in space, and RCS (Radar Cross Section) can reflect the scattering ability of the target to the radar signal, which is an important indicator for evaluating the detectability of the target.

[0074] In addition, the baseband digital echo signal, as the original signal received by the radar, contains rich information of the target. By analyzing and processing the baseband digital echo signal, the characteristic parameters of the target are extracted, and the characteristics and behaviors of the target are further understood.

[0075] Specifically, the display control subsystem is responsible for information interaction with the radar host computer and real-time data display, and is used to accurately and stably transmit control commands and various parameter setting information to the radar host computer, ensuring that the host computer effectively regulates and controls the radar system according to the instructions. At the same time, the subsystem also displays the measurement results and current state information of the electronic control system in real time and accurately, providing comprehensive and timely system operation data for the operator to make scientific and reasonable decisions.

[0076] Specifically, in S4, in a conventional radar target tracking scenario, interference points often coexist with the target for several scanning cycles before entering the target tracking gate. During this period, the system uses a multi-cycle correlation algorithm to process the interference points, establish tracks for them, and thus form interference tracks. When subsequent correlation operations are performed on the tracks within the target tracking gate, the system simultaneously calculates the correlation between the track and the target, as well as the correlation between the track and the interference tracks. If the correlation between a track and the interference track is higher than the correlation with the target, it is determined that the track does not belong to the target track, and its correlation with the target is canceled. Subsequently, among the remaining tracks with higher correlation with the target, the optimal matching point is selected according to a specific matching criterion and used as the target tracking point. If there are no tracks with higher correlation with the target, the system will process the target according to a preset point loss and extrapolation strategy to ensure the continuity and stability of target tracking.

[0077] Specifically, in the point-to-point correlation calculation, to more accurately distinguish whether a point belongs to the target or interference, and to clarify the degree of correlation between each point and the target, the traditional azimuth and range correlation method has been optimized and improved. Specifically, multiple echo feature information correlation dimensions, including elevation angle, amplitude, radial velocity, azimuth width, and range width, have been added. During the calculation process, the correlation results of the above multi-dimensional feature information are integrated into the azimuth and range correlation calculation system according to a pre-set specific weight, thereby forming a comprehensive statistical distance. Subsequently, the membership degree of the point is scientifically determined based on this comprehensive statistical distance, thereby effectively improving the accuracy of point correlation. It is worth noting that the setting of each feature weight in the calculation of the comprehensive statistical distance is not arbitrary, but fully considers key factors such as the radar system's detection error and confidence level for each feature, ensuring the rationality and scientific nature of the weight setting, thereby ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the entire point-to-point correlation calculation process. The point-to-point correlation distance calculation formula is as follows:

[0078] X = x1(O 预 -O 点 ) 2 +x2(S 预 -S 点 ) 2 +x3U 关联 +x4P 关联 +x5M 关联 +x6F 关联 +x7L 关联

[0079] In the formula, X represents the comprehensive association distance, and O 预 and S 预 O represents the predicted bearing and distance, respectively. 点 and S 点 U represents the orientation and distance of the measurement point, respectively.关联 correlation results representing elevation, P 关联 correlation results representing amplitude, M 关联 correlation results representing radial velocity, F 关联 correlation results representing azimuth width of echo, L 关联 correlation results representing range width of echo, x i (i = 1, …, 7) represent weights of each correlation result, U 关联 , P 关联 , M 关联 , F 关联 and L 关联 The values of these correlation results are smaller.

[0080] The embodiment is specific: to achieve observation of long-distance targets, accumulate echo energy of radar pulses, consider that target motion will cause changes in echo envelope and phase, and echo energy is dispersed in multiple range-Doppler cells, therefore research from two aspects of pulse compression and coherent accumulation, calculate envelope alignment factor according to dynamic constraint model, perform range alignment on targets, concentrate echo energy to the same range cell, the accuracy requirement of range alignment is less than half of the range resolution cell, calculate the offset value of distance between different pulses, then shift the echo pulses, fine interpolation of range cells is needed in the shifting process, thereby completing the pulse compression process, calculate phase compensation factor, perform phase alignment on the echoes after range alignment, the accuracy requirement of phase alignment is that Doppler broadening caused by alignment error is less than one Doppler resolution cell, so as to avoid loss of detection performance, thereby completing the coherent accumulation process, after the above processing process, weak energy signal detection and tracking is achieved.

[0081] A phased array radar antenna, the phased array radar antenna system is composed of a plurality of key components working together, the system is equipped with a plurality of antennas, these antennas operate independently, respectively responsible for receiving signals from different directions, the received signals are then transmitted to a plurality of receiving modules, each receiving module corresponds to an antenna, its core function is to down-convert the signals received by each receiving module, convert high-frequency signals into intermediate frequency or low frequency signals suitable for subsequent processing, the signals after down-conversion will be further transported to a plurality of analog-to-digital converters (ADC), the function of ADC is to accurately convert analog signals into digital signals, ensure that the signal can be accurately processed and analyzed in the digital domain, the beamforming processor is the core processing unit of the whole system, which undertakes the complex beamforming task, specifically, the processor will perform two digital beamforming operations, the first digital beamforming aims to make the digitized signals correspond to the first beam pattern with sidelobe suppression characteristics, through this corresponding relationship, the sidelobe level can be effectively reduced, the interference of sidelobe to main lobe is reduced, and the detection ability of radar to main direction target is improved, the second digital beamforming makes the digitized signals correspond to the second beam pattern which can generate sidelobe, this operation is to obtain the signal containing sidelobe information, and provides a basis for subsequent processing, after completing the two digital beamforming, the system intercepts the first digital beamforming result from the second digital beamforming result, the purpose of this step is to further analyze the difference between the two results, then, the common mode components of the first digital beamforming result and the second digital beamforming result are eliminated from the second digital beamforming result, the common mode components refer to the parts common to the two results, eliminating these components can highlight the difference information, finally, through analyzing the result after eliminating the common mode components, the system can accurately grasp the target information in the sidelobe area, thereby improving the target detection ability and accuracy of the radar in complex environment.

[0082] The above is only the preferred embodiment of the present application, but the protection scope of the present application is not limited to this, any skilled person in the art can make equivalent replacement or change according to the technical solution and the inventive concept of the present application within the technical range disclosed by the present application, which should be covered in the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A method for detecting a phased array radar antenna, characterized in that, include: S1. Array element optimization and selection: Based on radar application, select antenna array size and arrangement, optimize the number and position of elements, and determine the configuration through simulation and optimization algorithms to meet the beamwidth detection accuracy requirements. S2. Array size and layout design, improve the electronic control system of phased array radar, enhance phase adjustment accuracy and response speed, and use high-precision DSP technology to accurately control the phase of antenna elements to ensure the stability and high accuracy of beam scanning. S3, Beam Optimization and Adaptive Scanning: Using adaptive beamforming technology, the beam width and scanning range are dynamically adjusted according to the actual needs of the target. For distant targets, the beam width is reduced to improve resolution, and the beam coverage area is expanded when scanning a large area. S4. Multi-target tracking and filtering technology: It uses advanced multi-target tracking algorithms to process target position information in real time and adjust beam pointing. Predictive filtering eliminates noise interference and improves radar target resolution and tracking stability. S5. Enhanced electromagnetic interference immunity: Anti-interference measures are incorporated into the radar design, such as efficient signal processing algorithms and hardware filtering technology, enabling the radar to operate continuously in complex electromagnetic environments. Furthermore, spectrum analysis is used to optimize the beam frequency, reducing the damage to beam accuracy caused by electronic interference.

2. The detection method for a phased array radar antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that, In S1, firstly, based on the application requirements of the radar, a suitable antenna array size and arrangement are selected, including linear arrays and matrix arrays. Then, the number and position of array elements are optimized according to the target detection requirements. Through simulation and optimization algorithms, the most suitable array configuration is determined so that the beamwidth meets the detection accuracy requirements. In S2, the electronic control system of the phased array radar is improved to enhance the phase adjustment accuracy and response speed. High-precision digital signal processing (DSP) technology is used to precisely adjust the phase of each antenna element to ensure the stability and high accuracy of the beam throughout the scanning process. In S3, adaptive beamforming technology is used to dynamically adjust the beam width and scanning range according to the actual needs of the target. For distant targets, the resolution is improved by reducing the beam width, while for large-area scanning, the beam range is expanded to cover a wider area. In S4, advanced multi-target tracking algorithms are combined to process target position information in real time and adjust beam pointing. By predicting and filtering targets, noise and interference are eliminated, thereby improving the target resolution and tracking stability of the radar system. In the S5, an anti-interference mechanism is incorporated into the design, including efficient signal processing algorithms and hardware filtering technology, to ensure that the radar can operate continuously in complex electromagnetic environments. Spectrum analysis technology is used to optimize the frequency range of the beam and reduce the impact of electronic interference on beam accuracy.

3. The detection method for a phased array radar antenna according to claim 2, characterized in that, In S2, the electronic control system mainly consists of four key subsystems: signal processing and measurement subsystem, display and control subsystem, target search subsystem, and data storage subsystem. The four key subsystems conduct data interaction activities with the radar network according to a predetermined fixed timing sequence and perform detailed analysis on the specific data exchange content.

4. The detection method for a phased array radar antenna according to claim 3, characterized in that, The signal processing and measurement subsystem plays a core role. First, it efficiently receives the input sum or difference intermediate frequency signals to ensure the integrity and accuracy of the signals. Then, it performs motion compensation processing to eliminate the influence of motion factors on signal quality, based on the deviation caused by the target's movement during signal propagation. Next, it uses pulse compression technology to improve the signal resolution and make the target features clearer. In the signal accumulation stage, the subsystem adopts two strategies: coherent accumulation and non-coherent accumulation. Coherent accumulation can make full use of the phase information of the signal to achieve higher accumulation gain, while non-coherent accumulation can effectively accumulate signal energy without relying on phase information. After signal accumulation, the system performs constant false alarm detection to accurately identify target signals in complex noise environments and reduce the probability of false alarms. During the parameter measurement phase, the subsystem performs ranging and angle measurement to accurately determine the distance between the target and the radar, as well as the target's angle relative to the radar. Then, through a target association algorithm, the target signals detected at different times are associated and matched to determine the continuous trajectory of the same target. Finally, tracking prediction technology is used to predict the future position of the target, providing forward-looking guidance for radar tracking and control. After this series of complex and precise processing steps, the signal processing and measurement subsystem finally outputs the position information of the detected target.

5. The detection method for a phased array radar antenna according to claim 4, characterized in that, The target search subsystem utilizes the powerful parallel computing capabilities of the GPU-based ultra-high-speed processor to quickly and accurately implement relevant autofocus algorithms. During this process, the processor performs parallel processing on massive amounts of data, significantly improving the execution efficiency of the algorithm. After completing the algorithm processing, the target search subsystem will transmit key parameters related to target motion, the current working status of the subsystem, and the processing results obtained through algorithm analysis to the signal processing and measurement subsystem in real time and stably, according to the established communication protocol and data format, ensuring smooth and efficient information flow throughout the entire radar system.

6. The detection method for a phased array radar antenna according to claim 5, characterized in that, The data storage subsystem is used for data acquisition and recording. The content acquired and recorded by this subsystem is rich and detailed, with high professionalism and practicality. The time synchronization information serves as the system's time reference, ensuring accurate synchronization of various modules and events within the radar system in the time dimension, providing a unified time reference for subsequent data analysis and processing. The radar operating parameters record the radar's settings under different operating conditions, including but not limited to operating frequency and pulse repetition frequency. These parameters are of great significance for evaluating radar performance and optimizing operating modes. The status information covers various radar operating modes. The search mode is used to detect potential targets in a wide airspace, the acquisition mode is used to further confirm and lock onto the detected targets, the tracking mode monitors the position and motion status of the target in real time, and the memory tracking mode can continue to predict the trajectory of the target when it is briefly lost. At the same time, the status information also includes several key parameters such as signal waveform, bandwidth, transmit power and beam pointing. These parameters directly reflect the characteristics and transmission direction of the radar signal and are crucial for analyzing the radar's detection capability and anti-jamming performance. Target measurement information is one of the key contents collected by the data storage subsystem. Range information can determine the spatial interval between the target and the radar, while azimuth and elevation angles clarify the specific direction of the target in space. RCS radar cross section reflects the target's ability to scatter radar signals and is an important indicator for assessing the target's detectability. Furthermore, as the raw signal received by the radar, the baseband digital echo signal contains a wealth of information about the target. By analyzing and processing the baseband digital echo signal, the characteristic parameters of the target can be extracted, allowing for a deeper understanding of the target's characteristics and behavior.

7. The detection method for a phased array radar antenna according to claim 6, characterized in that, The display control subsystem plays a crucial role in exchanging information with the radar main control computer and displaying real-time data. It accurately and stably transmits control commands and various parameter settings to the radar main control computer, ensuring that the main control computer effectively regulates the radar system according to the instructions. At the same time, the subsystem also displays the measurement results and current status information of the electronic control system in real time and accurately, providing operators with comprehensive and timely system operation data so that they can make scientific and reasonable decisions.

8. The detection method for a phased array radar antenna according to claim 7, characterized in that, In S4, in a conventional radar target tracking scenario, interference points often coexist with the target for several scanning cycles before entering the target tracking gate. During this period, the system uses a multi-cycle correlation algorithm to process the interference points, establish tracks for them, and thus form interference tracks. When subsequent correlation operations are performed on the tracks within the target tracking gate, the system simultaneously calculates the correlation degree between the track and the target, as well as between the track and the interference tracks. If the correlation degree between a track and the interference track is higher than that between the track and the target, it is determined that the track does not belong to the target track, and its correlation with the target is canceled. Subsequently, among the remaining tracks with higher correlation to the target, the optimal matching point is selected according to a specific matching criterion and used as the target tracking point. If there are no tracks with higher correlation to the target, the system will process the target according to the preset drop point and extrapolation strategies to ensure the continuity and stability of target tracking.

9. The detection method for a phased array radar antenna according to claim 8, characterized in that, In calculating point-to-point correlation, to more accurately distinguish whether a point belongs to the target or interference, and to clarify the degree of correlation between each point and the target, the traditional azimuth and range correlation method was optimized and improved. Specifically, multiple echo feature information dimensions, including elevation angle, amplitude, radial velocity, azimuth width, and range width, were added. During the calculation process, the correlation results of the above multi-dimensional feature information were integrated into the azimuth and range correlation calculation system according to a pre-set specific weight, thereby forming a comprehensive statistical distance. Subsequently, the membership degree of the point was scientifically determined based on this comprehensive statistical distance, thus effectively improving the accuracy of point-to-point correlation. It is worth noting that the setting of the weights of each feature in calculating the comprehensive statistical distance is not arbitrary, but fully considers key factors such as the radar system's detection error and confidence level for each feature, ensuring the rationality and scientific nature of the weight setting, thereby guaranteeing the accuracy and reliability of the entire point-to-point correlation calculation process. The point-to-point correlation distance calculation formula is as follows: X=x1(O 预 -o 点 ) 2 +x2(s 预 -s 点 ) 2 +x3U 关联 +x4P 关联 +x5M 关联 +x6F 关联 +x7L 关联 In the formula, X represents the comprehensive association distance, and O 预 and S 预 O represents the predicted bearing and distance, respectively. 点 and S 点 U represents the orientation and distance of the measurement point, respectively. 关联 P represents the correlation result of the elevation angle. 关联 M represents the correlation result of magnitude. 关联 F represents the correlation result of radial velocity. 关联 L represents the correlation result of the echo azimuth width. 关联 The correlation result representing the echo distance width, x i (i = 1, ..., 7) represents the weight of each association result. When the correlation between the features of the point and the track is higher, U 关联 P 关联 M 关联 F 关联 and L 关联 The smaller the values ​​of these association results, the better.

10. A phased array radar antenna, characterized in that, The phased array radar is applied to the detection method of the phased array radar antenna according to any one of claims 1-9. The phased array radar antenna system is composed of multiple key components working together. The system is equipped with multiple antennas, which operate independently and are responsible for receiving signals from different directions. The received signals are then transmitted to multiple receiving modules, each receiving module corresponding to one antenna. Its core function is to perform down-conversion processing on the received signals, converting high-frequency signals into intermediate-frequency or low-frequency signals suitable for subsequent processing. The down-converted signals are further sent to multiple analog-to-digital converters (ADCs). The role of the ADC is to accurately convert analog signals into digital signals, ensuring that the signals can be accurately processed and analyzed in the digital domain. The beamforming processor is the core processing unit of the entire system. It undertakes complex beamforming tasks. Specifically, the processor performs two digital beamforming operations. The first digital beamforming aims to make the digitally converted signal and the signal with suppressed side-wave characteristics... The first beamforming pattern corresponds to the sidelobe characteristics. This correspondence effectively reduces sidelobe levels, minimizes sidelobe interference with the main lobe, and improves the radar's ability to detect targets in the main direction. The second digital beamforming pattern aligns the digitized signal with the second beamforming pattern that generates sidelobes. This operation is to acquire signals containing sidelobe information, providing a basis for subsequent processing. After completing the two digital beamforming processes, the system intercepts the first digital beamforming result from the second digital beamforming result. This step aims to further analyze the differences between the two results. Then, the common-mode components of the first and second digital beamforming results are eliminated from the second digital beamforming result. Common-mode components refer to the parts that coexist in both results. Eliminating these components can highlight the differences. Finally, by analyzing the results after eliminating common-mode components, the system can accurately grasp the target information located in the sidelobe region, thereby improving the radar's target detection capability and accuracy in complex environments.

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