Detection Radar Pulse Scheduling for Dual Doppler Modes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Radar systems struggle to efficiently manage time budgets for multiple tasks, such as maritime and air surveillance, while maintaining performance and avoiding degradation in range, especially when sub-arraying and colored emission are not feasible.

Innovation Solution

A method for operating a radar system that involves alternating between two Doppler modes with specific pulse generation, reception, and processing techniques, including phase shifting, frequency gaps, and coherent/non-coherent processing to enable simultaneous tasking without degrading performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If sub-arraying and colored emission are used to achieve simultaneous tasks, then task execution capability is improved, but system complexity increases and range performance degrades

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetask execution capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the pulse train into different groups, where every Nth pulse is transmitted in a first frequency band and other pulses are transmitted in a second frequency band. This temporal segmentation allows different radar modes to operate simultaneously without requiring spatial sub-arraying or colored emission, thereby maintaining system simplicity while achieving multi-task capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs periodic transmission of pulses in alternating frequency bands according to a predetermined pattern (every Nth pulse in first band, others in second band). This periodic action enables systematic separation of different radar mode signals in the frequency domain, allowing simultaneous execution of multiple tasks without degrading range performance or increasing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Adaptability or versatility

If time budget is allocated to multiple tasks, then task versatility is improved, but detection performance for individual tasks degrades

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetask versatilityVSAvoiddetection performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the frequency band parameter for different pulses according to a predetermined pattern. By assigning different frequency bands to different radar modes (first frequency band for one mode, second frequency band for another mode), the system can simultaneously execute multiple tasks with full time budget allocation to each task, maintaining detection performance while achieving task versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If multiple radar modes are processed simultaneously, then operational efficiency is improved, but signal separation and processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational efficiencyVSAvoidsignal processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses frequency bands as an intermediary to separate different radar mode signals. By transmitting different radar modes in different frequency bands according to a predetermined pattern, the system enables straightforward signal separation through frequency-based filtering, avoiding complex signal processing while achieving simultaneous multi-mode operation and improving operational efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Enables simultaneous processing of multiple radar modes with a common refresh rate, improving target detection and reducing false alarms, while maintaining system performance across various architectures.

Implementation Method 1

A method for operating a target detection radar according to a first radar mode and a second radar mode corresponding to Doppler modes

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRadar: Radar

Implementation Method 2

a first radar mode and a second radar mode corresponding to Doppler modes

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDoppler effect: Doppler Effect

Data Source

PatentEP4671823A1Operating method of a detection radar and associated detection radar
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 THALES SA
  • EP4671823A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4671823A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4671823A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method of operating a target detection radar (10) following a first radar mode and a second radar mode corresponding to Doppler modes, the method comprising the implementation of several recurrences of a signal emission/reception step (110), each Nth recurrence of said step (110) comprising the following sub-steps: + generation (111) of two consecutive pulses associated with the different radar modes and different emission directions; + emission (112) of the pulses in different frequency bands; + reception (113) in a common time window of the echoes of the pulses.