Cooperative Receiver Network for Low SNR Emitter Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electromagnetic radiation receivers face challenges in detecting signals from emitters, particularly in environments where the Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) is low, and they lack effective collaboration among receiver systems to enhance detection capabilities.

Innovation Solution

A network of receiver systems that communicate and share signal characteristics to improve detection, allowing systems with insufficient SNR to utilize stored signal characteristics for real-time detection and collaborative signal processing, including the use of matched filters to enhance SNR and determine emitter properties like location and type.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single receiver system operates independently to detect electromagnetic signals, then the system structure remains simple, but the detection probability decreases in low SNR environments

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection probabilityVSAvoidsystem structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple receiver systems are merged into a cooperative network where each receiver shares detected signal characteristics with others. This combination allows the network to achieve higher detection probability than any individual receiver could alone, particularly in low SNR environments, while maintaining relatively simple individual receiver structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The detection function is segmented across multiple independent receiver systems rather than concentrated in a single complex system. Each receiver performs local detection and shares results, dividing the overall detection task into manageable segments that can be executed independently yet contribute to collective detection capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If receiver systems operate independently without sharing information, then the system operation remains simple, but the detection capability in low SNR environments is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection capabilityVSAvoidsystem operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Receiver systems implement feedback by sharing detected signal characteristics with other receivers in the network. This feedback mechanism allows each receiver to benefit from detections made by others, improving overall detection capability in low SNR environments while adding only moderate operational complexity through standardized communication protocols.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If receiver systems share signal characteristics in real-time, then the detection probability increases, but the communication overhead and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection probabilityVSAvoidcommunication overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts and shares only the essential signal characteristics (such as presence/absence of signals, frequency, and timing information) rather than transmitting complete raw signal data. This extraction approach maintains high detection probability while significantly reducing communication overhead and information loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach increases the probability of detecting electromagnetic signals by distributing detected characteristics among receiver systems, enhancing the SNR and enabling accurate identification of emitters in electronic warfare and communication scenarios.

Implementation Method 1

allowing systems with insufficient SNR to utilize stored signal characteristics for real-time detection and collaborative signal processing, including the use of matched filters to enhance SNR

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMatched filter:

Data Source

PatentEP3004917B1System, method and network for emitter detection
Publication Date: 2017.05.17 ELBIT SYST EW & SIGINT ELISRA
  • EP3004917B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3004917B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3004917B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A system for detecting an emitter comprising at least one receiver system. The receiver system includes at least one antenna, a receiver, a memory and a detector. The antenna receives at least electromagnetic radiation emitted by the emitter and transforming the received electromagnetic radiation into an electric received signal. The receiver is coupled with the antenna and at least samples the electric received signal to produce real-time received signal samples. The memory is coupled with the receiver and stores at least one signal characteristic relating to the radio signal transmitted by the emitter. The detector is coupled with the receiver and with the memory and attempts to detect a signal relating to an emitter from at least the real-time received signal samples, according to the at least one stored signal characteristic relating to the radio signal transmitted by the emitter.