Radar Target Detection via Scatterer Phase Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sensor systems face diminished target detection capabilities due to destructive interference from radiation scattering centers, especially when the target's orientation changes relative to the sensor, causing variations in scatterer interference patterns and radar cross-sections, leading to fluctuations in signal power.
Innovation Solution
A wideband target detection technique processes sub-target scatterer amplitude and phase information to maximize constructive interference by generating high range resolution returns, grouping and phase-shifting them to increase signal power, and combining these returns to enhance target detection, allowing for improved detection across various target sizes without additional signal transmission or reception.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sensor observes a target with multiple scattering centers, then the sensor can detect the target, but destructive interference between scatterers reduces the return signal power
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the target detection process by identifying and separately processing individual scattering centers within the target. The HRR profiles resolve the target into discrete scatterer positions, allowing the system to treat each scatterer as a separate source that can be individually phase-adjusted before combination, thereby preventing destructive interference
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the phase parameter of individual scatterer returns based on their relative positions. By calculating the phase shift required for each scatterer to achieve constructive interference with others, and applying this phase adjustment, the system transforms the interference pattern from destructive to constructive, maximizing the combined return signal
2Adaptability or versatility
If the target orientation changes relative to the sensor, then the target presents different aspects, but the scatterer interference pattern varies causing signal power fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary phase adjustment of scatterer returns based on their HRR-derived positions before combining them. This pre-processing step establishes a consistent phase reference frame that accounts for target orientation, ensuring that subsequent combinations of returns from different aspects maintain constructive interference and stable signal power
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts the phase shifts applied to individual scatterers based on their measured positions in the HRR profile. As target orientation changes, the scatterer positions are re-measured and the phase adjustments are updated accordingly, maintaining optimal constructive interference conditions across varying target aspects
3Measurement precision
If high range resolution processing is applied to resolve individual scatterers, then scatterer positions can be determined, but the processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential information needed for phase adjustment from the full HRR processing output. Specifically, it extracts the relative positions of dominant scatterers from the HRR profile to calculate phase shifts, rather than processing or storing all HRR data, thereby reducing complexity while maintaining the precision benefits
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 technique increases the average return signal strength for target detection, improving detectability by maximizing constructive interference and reducing noise interference, thereby enhancing signal-to-noise ratios and maintaining target visibility on radar screens.
Implementation Method 1
receiving signals reflected from a target of interest
Implementation Method 2
constructive interference from the scatterer reflections
Data Source
AI summary
Some embodiments are directed to methods of detecting a target that include: receiving signals reflected from a target of interest, the signals having a bandwidth large enough to provide a plurality of range cells along an expected target, and processing the received signal(s) by (i) determining the phases of contiguous groups of range cells, the group size selected to approximate to sizes of targets of interest, (ii) phase-shifting the returns within a group to increase constructive interference and thereby signal power; and (iii) combining the phase shifted returns to produce phase-adjusted combined returns, and performing a detection on those combined returns. Some embodiments may provide enhanced target detection capabilities. The process may be repeated for different potential target sizes, and may be performed either on real time data, or off-line on recorded data, and is applicable to both radar and sonar.