All-Digital LOS Processor Architecture for EM Pulse Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing line-of-sight (LOS) processor architectures for semi-active or active pulsed electromagnetic targeting systems face challenges in size, weight, power constraints, and are inefficient in detecting EM pulses amidst natural clutter and active jamming, leading to potential mission failures due to errors in detection and LOS processing.
Innovation Solution
An all-digital LOS processor architecture that converts analog signals to digital, utilizing matched filtering, adaptive thresholding, and advanced pulse detection techniques to enhance signal-to-noise ratio and improve pulse detection accuracy, allowing for more reliable EM pulse capture and LOS calculation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mixed analog/digital architecture is used in the LOS processor, then the system can perform pulse detection and LOS calculation, but the system suffers from size, weight, and power constraints and reduced reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mixed analog/digital architecture with a fully digital architecture. The analog signals from the quad detector are converted to digital signals through A/D converters, and all subsequent processing including pulse detection, LOS calculation, and post-processing is performed digitally. This substitution of analog processing with digital processing improves reliability by eliminating analog circuit errors while reducing overall system complexity through integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple functional blocks (pulse detection, LOS calculation, DSP post-processing) into a single integrated digital processor. The digital processor combines signal processing, data processing, and control functions in one unit, reducing the number of separate analog circuits and improving reliability while maintaining all necessary processing capabilities.
2Measurement precision
If analog signal processing is used for pulse detection, then the detection process can be performed with traditional circuits, but the system is susceptible to false alarms from natural clutter and active jamming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes analog pulse detection with digital pulse detection. The A/D converters convert analog signals to digital format, and the digital processor performs threshold comparison and CFAR evaluation on digital data. This digital processing approach improves measurement precision by eliminating analog circuit variations and reduces false alarms through more robust digital signal processing that better distinguishes real pulses from clutter and jamming.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the processing domain from analog to digital, enabling sophisticated digital signal processing techniques. The digital processor can perform correlated pulse detection, CFAR evaluation, and pattern recognition on digital data, improving the ability to distinguish real target pulses from false returns while maintaining detection accuracy.
3Measurement precision
If analog circuits are used for peak sampling and LOS calculation, then the processing can be performed with simpler hardware, but alignment errors between peak detection and signal sampling reduce measurement precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces analog peak sampling with digital peak detection. The digital processor identifies peak positions in the digital signal, holds the peak values, and uses these for LOS calculation. This eliminates alignment errors between peak detection and sampling by performing both operations in the same digital domain, improving LOS calculation accuracy while the integrated architecture keeps hardware complexity manageable.
4Adaptability or versatility
If traditional analog processing is used for pulse detection over wide field-of-view, then the system can cover broad areas, but the detection sensitivity is reduced in noisy environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses digital signal processing to achieve both wide field-of-view coverage and high detection sensitivity. The digital processor can perform correlated pulse detection and CFAR evaluation across multiple channels, enabling the system to maintain high sensitivity even when covering broad areas. The digital processing provides the computational power needed to process signals from multiple fields of view simultaneously without sacrificing detection sensitivity.
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
The all-digital architecture provides more accurate and reliable detection of EM pulses, reduces false alarms, and improves the accuracy of LOS calculations, leading to enhanced performance in noisy environments and countermeasure scenarios.
Implementation Method 1
A/D converters 55 that convert analog signals 53 to digital signals 56
Implementation Method 2
utilizing matched filtering, adaptive thresholding, and advanced pulse detection techniques to enhance signal-to-noise ratio
Implementation Method 3
detects 'pulses', calculates a LOS to a target and performs additional processing
Data Source
AI summary
An all-digital line-of-sight (LOS) process architecture addresses the size, weight, power and performance constraints of a receiver for use in semi-active or active pulsed electromagnetic (EM) targeting systems. The all-digital architecture provides a platform for enhanced techniques for sensitive pulse detection over a wide field-of-view, adaptive pulse detection, LOS processing and counter measures.