Radar Detection of Migrating Targets Using Interference Correlation Matrix
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional radar detection techniques fail to effectively suppress clutter when targets or clutter move across range cells during a coherent processing interval, leading to signal loss and degradation in clutter cancellation due to range migration and pulse distortion.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method for radar detection that determines signal convolution matrices and target return phases, processes echoes to form a target detector, and compensates for range migration and clutter motion, allowing for improved detection of moving targets amidst clutter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional radar detection techniques are used, then the radar can detect targets, but clutter suppression deteriorates when targets or clutter move across range cells during coherent processing interval
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating range migration compensation parameters and storing them in lookup tables before actual target detection. The system pre-processes clutter return data to estimate clutter velocity and range migration characteristics, then uses these pre-computed parameters to compensate for motion effects during target detection, thereby maintaining clutter suppression performance even when targets move across range cells
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes parameters by dynamically adjusting the coherent processing interval duration and range cell grouping based on estimated clutter velocity. When clutter motion is detected, the system modifies the integration time and range cell assignment parameters to account for range migration, allowing the radar to maintain optimal clutter suppression across varying target speeds
2Measurement precision
If coherent processing interval is extended to improve detection sensitivity, then signal-to-noise ratio improves, but range migration and pulse distortion increase causing signal loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating range migration compensation parameters and storing them in lookup tables before actual target detection. The system pre-processes clutter return data to estimate clutter velocity and range migration characteristics, then uses these pre-computed parameters to compensate for motion effects during target detection, thereby maintaining clutter suppression performance even when targets move across range cells
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies skipping by implementing fractional range cell correction that allows the system to rush through the range migration effect by applying phase corrections that effectively skip ahead to the correct range cell position. This allows longer coherent processing intervals to be used without accumulating excessive range migration error, as the system periodically corrects position errors by skipping to the appropriate corrected range cell
3Productivity
If range cell grouping is used to reduce computational load, then processing speed improves, but detection accuracy deteriorates due to signal loss from range migration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating range migration compensation parameters and storing them in lookup tables before actual target detection. The system pre-processes clutter return data to estimate clutter velocity and range migration characteristics, then uses these pre-computed parameters to compensate for motion effects during target detection, thereby maintaining clutter suppression performance even when targets move across range cells
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes parameters by dynamically adjusting the coherent processing interval duration and range cell grouping based on estimated clutter velocity. When clutter motion is detected, the system modifies the integration time and range cell assignment parameters to account for range migration, allowing the radar to maintain optimal clutter suppression across varying target speeds
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 method enhances the radar's ability to distinguish targets from clutter by accurately accounting for range migration and clutter motion, reducing signal loss and improving detection performance even in the presence of fast-moving targets.
Implementation Method 1
a radar system able to transmit an electromagnetic signal, receive first and second echoes respectively from the target and the clutter
Implementation Method 2
determining a signal convolution matrix for the target and a target return phase
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method is provided for detecting a target amidst clutter by a radar system able to transmit an electromagnetic signal, receive first and second echoes respectively from the target and the clutter, and process the echoes. The method includes determining signal convolution matrix for the target and a target return phase, clutter amplitude by spatial correlation matrix of clutter, clutter correlation matrix, receive noise power; querying whether the clutter moves as a motion condition if satisfied and as a stationary condition otherwise; calculating signal convolution matrix and target return phase from the signal convolution matrix and the target return phase for target motion; querying whether the target has range migration as a migration condition if satisfied and as a non-migration condition otherwise; and forming a target detector for the radar. The motion condition further includes calculating signal convolution matrix from clutter motion, clutter range migration matrix from the clutter motion, and interference correlation matrix. The stationary condition further includes calculating the interference correlation. The migration condition further includes calculating range migration matrix from the target motion.