Radar Principles & Systems

With your facilitator, LT Mazat

I. Learning Objectives
A. The student will comprehend the basic operation of a simple pulse radar system. B. The student will know the following terms: pulse width, pulse repetition frequency, carrier frequency, peak power, average power, and duty cycle. C. The student will know the block diagram of a simple pulse radar system and will comprehend the major components of that system.

D. The student will comprehend the basic operation of a simple continuous wave radar system. E. The student will comprehend the concept of doppler frequency shift. F. The student will know the block diagram of a simple continuous wave radar system and will comprehend the major components of that system, including amplifiers, power amplifiers, oscillators, and waveguides.

G. The student will comprehend the use of filters in a continuous wave radar system. H. The student will know the fundamental means of imparting information to radio waves and will comprehend the uses, advantages, and disadvantages of the various means. I. The student will comprehend the function and characteristics of radar/radio antennas and beam formation.

J. The student will comprehend the factors that affect radar performance. K. The student will comprehend frequency modulated CW as a means of range determination. L. The student will comprehend the basic principles of operation of pulse doppler radar and MTI systems.

Two Basic Radar Types

Pulse Transmission Continuous Wave

Pulse Transmission

Range vs. Power/PW/PRF

Minimum Range: If still transmitting when return received RETURN NOT SEEN. Max Range:
AveragePow er PeakPower

PW PRT

PW *PRF

As
PW PRF

min Rh

max Rh

 2.

Pulse repetition frequency (PRF)

a.

Pulses per second b. Relation to pulse repetition time (PRT) c. Effects of varying PRF
(1) Maximum range (2) Accuracy

3.

Peak power

a.

Maximum signal power of any pulse b. Affects maximum range of radar

 4.

Average power

a. Total power transmitted per unit of time b. Relationship of average power to PW and PRT
5.

Duty cycle

a. Ratio PW (time transmitting) to PRT (time of entire cycle, time transmitting plus rest time) b. Also equal to ratio of average power to peak power

C. Discuss the determination of range with a pulse radar.

Determining Range With Pulse Radar

Range
c = 3 x 108 m/sec t is time to receive return

c*t 2

divide by 2 because pulse traveled to object and back

Pulse Transmission

Pulse Width (PW) Length or duration of a given pulse Pulse Repetition Time (PRT=1/PRF) PRT is time from beginning of one pulse to the beginning of the next PRF is frequency at which consecutive pulses are transmitted. PW can determine the radars minimum detection range; PW can determine the radars maximum detection range. PRF can determine the radars maximum detection range.

D. Describe the components of a pulse radar system.

1.
2. 3.

4.
5. 6. 7.

Synchronizer Transmitter Antenna Duplexer Receiver Display unit Power supply

Pulse Radar Block Diagram

Transmitter Synchronizer RF ATR

Duplexer
Power Supply Echo TR (Switching Unit)

Antenna

Display

Video

Receiver

Antenna Bearing or Elevation

Continuous Wave Radar

Employs

continual RADAR transmission transmit and receive antennas on the DOPPLER SHIFT

Separate

Relies

Doppler Frequency Shifts

Motion Away: Echo Frequency Decreases

Motion Towards: Echo Frequency Increases

Continuous Wave Radar Components

Transmitter CW RF Oscillator

Antenna
OUT

Discriminator

AMP

Mixer

IN
Antenna

Indicator

Pulse Vs. Continuous Wave

Pulse Echo
Single Antenna Gives Range, usually Alt. as well Susceptible To Jamming Physical Range Determined By PW and PRF.

Continuous Wave Requires 2 Antennae Range or Alt. Info High SNR More Difficult to Jam But Easily Deceived Amp can be tuned to look for expected frequencies

RADAR Wave Modulation

Amplitude Modulation
Vary the amplitude of the carrier sine wave

Frequency Modulation
Vary the frequency of the carrier sine wave

Pulse-Amplitude Modulation
Vary the amplitude of the pulses

Pulse-Frequency Modulation
Vary the Frequency at which the pulses occur

Modulation

Antennae
Two

Basic Purposes:
RF Energy Beam Forming and Focus

Radiates Provides

Must

Be 1/2 of the Wave Length for the maximum wave length employed

Wide

Beam pattern for Search, Narrow for Track

Beamwidth Vs. Accuracy

Beamwidth vs Accuracy

Ship A

Ship B

Azimuth Angular Measurement

Azimuth Angular Measurement
Relative Bearing = Angle from ships heading. True Bearing = Ships Heading + Relative Bearing N
Ships Heading Angle

Target Angle

Determining Altitude
Determining Altitude

nt R Sla

e ang
Altitude

Angle of Elevation

Altitude = slant range x sin0 elevation

 Linear
Uses

Concentrating Radar Energy Through Beam Formation

Arrays

the Principle of wave summation (constructive interference) in a special direction and wave cancellation (destructive interference) in other directions. Made up of two or more simple half-wave antennas. Quasi-optical
Uses

reflectors and lenses to shape the beam.

Reflector Shape
Paraboloid

- Conical Scan used for fire control - can be CW or Pulse Orange Peel Paraboliod - Usually CW and primarily for fire control Parabolic Cylinder - Wide search beam - generally larger and used for longrange search applications - Pulse

Wave Shaping -Quasi-Optical Systems

Lenses

Reflectors

Wave Guides
Used

as a medium for high energy shielding. Uses A Magnetic Field to keep the energy centered in the wave guide. Filled with an inert gas to prevent arcing due to high voltages within the waveguide.

Questions?

Please read Ch 9.

Radar Principles and Systems Part II

Factors That Affect Radar Performance

Signal Reception Receiver Bandwidth Pulse Shape Power Relation Beam Width Pulse Repetition Frequency Antenna Gain Radar Cross Section of Target

Signal-to-noise ratio Receiver Sensitivity Pulse Compression Scan Rate

Mechanical Electronic

Carrier Frequency Antenna aperture

Radar Receiver Performance Factors

Signal Reception Signal-to-Noise Ratio Receiver Bandwidth Receiver Sensitivity

Signal Reception

Only a minute portion of the RF is reflected off the target. Only a fraction of that returns to the antenna. The weaker the signal that the receiver can process, the greater the effective range .

Signal-to-Noise Ratio
Measured in dB!!!!! Ability to recognize target in random noise.

Noise

is always present. At some range, noise is greater that targets return.

Noise sets the absolute lower limit of the units sensitivity. Threshold level used to remove excess noise.

Receiver Bandwidth
Is the frequency range the receiver can process. Receiver must process many frequencies

Pulse

are generated by summation of sine waves of various frequencies. Frequency shifts occur from Doppler Effects.

Reducing the bandwidth

Increases

the signal-to-noise ratio(good) Distorts the transmitted pulse(bad)

Receiver Sensitivity
Smallest

return signal that is discernible against the noise background.

Milliwatts

range.

An

important factor in determining the units maximum range.

Pulse Effects on Radar Performance

Pulse

Shape Pulse Width Pulse Compression Pulse Power

Pulse Shape
Determines

range accuracy and minimum and maximum range. Ideally we want a pulse with vertical leading and trailing edges.
Very

clear signal easily discerned when listening for the echo.

Pulse Width
Determines

the range resolution. Determines the minimum detection range. Can also determine the maximum range of radar. The narrower the pulse, the better the range resolution.

Pulse Compression
Increases

frequency of the wave within the pulse. Allows for good range resolution while packing enough power to provide a large maximum range.

Pulse Power
The

Ummph to get the signal out a long way. High peak power is desirable to achieve maximum ranges. Low power means smaller and more compact radar units and less power required to operate.

Other Factors Affecting Performance

Scan Rate and Beam Width

Narrow beam require slower antenna rotation rate. Determines radars maximum range(tactical factor). Determines antenna size, beam directivity and target size.

Pulse Repetition Frequency

Carrier Frequency

Radar Cross Section (What the radar can see(reflect))

Function of target size, shape, material, angle and carrier frequency.

Summary of Factors and Compromises

Summary of Factors and Compromises
Factor
Pulse Shape

Desired
Sharp a rise as possible Tall as possible
Short as possible

Why
Better range accuracy More power /longer range
Closer minimum range More accurate range Better range accuracy Better angular resolution Better detection probability Greater range Shorter minimum range Greater maximum range Greater angular accuracy Greater target resolution Detects smaller targets Smaller equipment Maximizes detection range Better signal-to-noise ratio

Trade-off Required
Require infinite bandwidth, more complex Requires larger equipment/more power
Reduces maximum range

Pulse Width

Pulse Repetition Freq.

Short

Reduces maximum range

Pulse Compression

Uses technique

More complex circuitry

Power Beam Width Carrier Frequency

More Narrow High

Requires larger equipment & power Slow antenna rate, Detection time Reduces maximum range

Receiver Sensitivity Receiver Bandwidth

High Narrow

More complex equipment Distorts pulse shape

Specific Types of Radar

Frequency Modulated CW Radar

Use for radar altimeters and missile guidance. Carrier wave frequency within pulse is compared with a reference signal to detect moving targets. Signals compared with previous return to enhance moving targets. (search radars) Difficult to jam.

Pulse Doppler

Moving Target Indicator (MTI) System

Frequency Agile Systems

Specific Types of Radar

SAR

/ ISAR Phased Array - Aegis

Essentially

360 Coverage Phase shift and frequency shift allow the planar array to steer the beam. Also allows for high / low power output depending on requirements.

Questions?