Some High-Velocity Clutter Effects in Matched and Mismatched Receivers

A generalized ambiguity function including the effects of Doppler dispersion is defined as the time cross correlation of the complex envelopes of two signals, both derived from the same basic waveform but with different delays and Doppler effects. The Doppler effects include the frequency shift and expansion or contraction of the modulation time scale. This expansion or contraction is the Doppler dispersion. While the general ambiguity function cannot be expressed directly in terms of the Woodward or undispersed ambiguity function, its squared magnitude can be expressed in terms of the Woodward ambiguity function. The relation is not simple, being an integral form. Nevertheless, since the Woodward ambiguity function is known for many signals, the relation may simplify the determination of the squared magnitude of the general ambiguity function. We consider the clutter output of a matched filter or correlation receiver where the receiver is matched to a waveform having a specific delay and specific time compression. The variance of the clutter output is the two-dimensional convolution of the clutter ``scattering function' with the squared magnitude of the general ambiguity function. This is a generalization of an earlier result which is formally the same but using the Woodward ambiguity function. This last result is generalized for a mismatched receiver. In such a case, the variance of the clutter output is the double convolution of the clutter scattering function with the cross ambiguity function of the transmitted waveform, modified by the average velocity of the clutter, and the receiver reference waveform.     

Optimum Signals for Radar

The research reported herein deals with the general problem of the selection of radar waveforms. The investigation is specifically concerned with the synthesis of radar signals which are optimum in the sense that they are characterized by ambiguity surfaces minimized over certain predetermined regions of the ambiguity plane. The weighted ambiguity surface is utilized as the weighted error criterion. This error criterion is mathematically tractable and pertinent to radar system performance but is not unduly restrictive as some orientation parameters are left unspecified for subsequent cost or penalty function analysis. The signal optimization is approached by variational techniques augmented by equality and inequality constraints, for example, limiting the amount of bandwidth or frequency modulation to be less than some system requirement. Several examples are presented demonstrating the optimization techniques and providing a minimum error for the stated problem. It is shown that for any given type of amplitude modulation of the radar signal, the variance or dispersion of the ambiguity surface is not decreased for any type of phase modulation added. The optimum signal for an elliptical weighting function is derived for several cases. The minimum error is shown to depend upon the constraints and the unspecified orientation parameters and, for one case, on the second moment of the signal.     

Time-Frequency HOP Signals Part II: Coding Based upon Quadratic Congruences

High-efficiency multicomponent signals for maximization of signalto-noise ratio are investigated. Maximization of signal-to-noise ratio in colored noise requires control of volume distribution of the signal ambiguity function and transmission of unity efficiency signals. Signal efficiency is defined as the ratio of average power to the peak power. It is concluded that the signals must be frequency hop pulse trains. Quadratic congruences are chosen to place the components in time-frequency space. The number-theoretic properties of these signals provide bounds on the position and amplitude of the various peaks of the signal ambiguity function. The tradeoffs are shown between volume removal, number of component signals, and the time-bandwidth product.     

Ambiguity function of quadriphase coded radar pulse

Taylor's quadriphase coding (J.W. Taylor, Jr. and H.J. Blinchikoff, ibid., vol.23, no.2, p.156-70, Mar. 1988) is investigated for nonzero Doppler shifts. While the zero-Doppler cut of the ambiguity function (i.e. the autocorrelation) strongly resembles that of the corresponding biphase code, the remaining ambiguity function differs considerably. The ambiguity function of quadriphase code 13 is typified by a diagonal ridge as found in linear FM signals. The ambiguity function of quadriphase code 28A resembles the three parallel ridges of Frank code 16     

多峰值信号的伪码相位估计法

 考虑到多峰值信号的出现以及传统相位估计法的不足与缺陷, 特别是针对传统方法无法提取多峰值信号主峰的不足,以及在非整数采样条件时相位误差估计的较大缺陷,提出了一种提高多峰值信号伪码相位精度的估计方法。首先通过频域提取处理去除副峰引发的模糊性,达到提取主峰的目的;然后建立了插值方程,从而提高相位估计精度。在此基础上进行了验证与评估,结果表明,此估计法可以正确提取多峰值信号的主峰,相对于传统方法而言,相位估计精度明显提高。     

Phase-Coded Interrupted CW Signals and Processors

High resolution radars require signals with large time-bandwidth product such as CW signal and coherent pulse train (CPT). We discuss a phase-coded interrupted CW (ICW) signal which is the combination of CW signal and CPT. Phase codes used here are with perfect periodic autocorrelation. The periodic ambiguity function of ICW signals is studied including single-carrier signal and multi-carrier signal. It is interesting that the gate function has different effects on two signals and contributes to a multi-carrier ICW signal which yields nearly perfect autocorrelation. Meanwhile we also suggest an efficient receiver approach to ICW signals, which can reduce the computational burden of the processor and utilize the good properties of P3 and P4 codes.     

Delay-Doppler Ambiguity Function for Wideband Signals

The conventional ambiguity function is extended to include the Doppler distortions of the modulation function. The distinctive features of the extension are the use of the complex notation for wideband signals, and inclusion of the Doppler effect on the signal amplitude. The result is an ambiguity function from which Woodward's form can be found by inspection. It is shown that the well-known volume constraint also applies, in unchanged form, to the generalized ambiguity function. For the volume to be constant, it is not required that the distortions of the modulation function be neglected. Rather, the volume constancy is related to the sinusoidal fluctuations of a modulated carrier-type signal and thus is strictly a matter of the percentage bandwidth of the signal.     

一种时间传递系统中调制器时延的数字标定算法

针对传统示波器观察法测量BPSK（Binary phase shift keying,二进制相移键控）调制器时延时存在整码元模糊、噪声敏感、载波初相要求苛刻及标定精度低的缺点,利用软件无线电的相关处理技术,提出一种精密的BPSK调制器时延标定算法.通过高速数字示波器对BPSK调制器的输入基带信号和输出载波调制信号进行双通道同步过采样,对输出信号与输入信号采样值进行循环相关,根据相关峰值对应的样本点序号以及连接电缆的校准时延,计算得到BPSK调制器时延.仿真和试验验证表明：提出的算法不受载波初始相位影响,时延标定上限可达1个伪随机码周期,而且低载噪比情况下也能得到准确结果.数字示波器的通道采样率为10 GSa/s时,采用提出的算法进行BPSK调制器时延标定,标定结果的不确定度可以达到0.2 ns.     

Efficient particle filtering for road-constrained target tracking

The variable-structure multiple-model particle filtering approach for state estimation of road-constrained targets is addressed. The multiple models are designed to account for target maneuvers including "move-stop-move" and motion ambiguity at an intersection; the time-varying active model sets are adaptively selected based on target state and local terrain condition. The hybrid state space is partitioned into the mode subspace and the target subspace. The mode state is estimated based on random sampling; the target state as well as the relevant likelihood function associated with a mode sample sequence is approximated as Gaussian distribution, of which the conditional mean and covariance are deterministically computed using a nonlinear Kalman filter which accounts for road constraints in its update. The importance function for the sampling of the mode state approximates the optimal importance function under the same Gaussian assumption of the target state.     

Radar Waveform Synthesis by Mean Square Optimization Techniques

The synthesis of the phase-modulated waveform whose ambiguity function is the optimum estimate of some desired ambiguity function is accomplished by expanding the phase modulation in an orthogonal series. The ambiguity function x (?, ?d)|2 and the value of an arbitrary cost function defined on the (?, ?d) plane are then expressed in terms of the coefficients of the orthogonal series. The optimum waveform can then be determined by solving the variational equations for the coefficients. Numerical examples are presented for the case where it is desired to synthesize a desired ambiguity function x(?, ?d) for some rectangular region of the (?, ?d) plane.     

Matched-Filter Responses of the Linear FM Waveform

Although the properties of the linear FM signal have been studied previously in considerable detail, such studies have involved rather narrow aspects of the theory. This paper extends the work in several respects. By presenting three-dimensional projections of the conventional ambiguity function of the linear FM signal in more detail than was available before, we can study the sidelobe behavior off as well as on the axes, without weighting, with unilateral weighting in the receiver, and with bilateral weighting. These plots reveal interesting properties related to the signal symmetry in time and frequency. The matched-filter response is then extended to include Doppler distortions of the modulation function. The results show that Woodward's ambiguity function is valid only for signals with relatively modest sophistication, even though in most practical situations one is interested only in those undistorted parts of the matched-filter response in the vicinity of the delay axis. Plots of the response are presented for various degrees of distortion, for signals with and without weighting. Lastly, we consider the effects of a mismatch in range acceleration, again for the various cases of interest. The results convey a thorough insight into the properties of chirp radar under a broad range of operational conditions.     

Weight effects on the periodic ambiguity function

CW radar signals and processors are discussed. The use of the periodic ambiguity function (PAF) to analyze the delay-Doppler performance of CW signals and their corresponding correlation receivers, is extended to include weight function effects. This work provides tools which can predict the delay-Doppler response of almost any phase-coded CW radar. Examples demonstrate that a combination of CW signals having perfect periodic autocorrelation, a matched reference signal with a large number of modulation periods and a smooth weight function, can create a delay-Doppler response with extremely low sidelobes, strongly resembling the response of a coherent pulse train     

Ambiguity Resolution in Interferometry

A comprehensive theory of interferometry from a system viewpoint with particular emphasis on the ambiguity resolution problem is developed. The derived error equations include contributions from all system uncertainties, i.e., phase measurement, frequency, and element phase center position errors in three dimensions. The direction-of-arrival errors are inversely proportional to the interferometer baseline and it is customary to make the baseline large enough to meet the accuracy requirements. A system with a baseline greater than a half-wavelength results in the well known direction-of-arrival ambiguity problem with the addition of a third element to each baseline being a common method for resolving the ambiguity. It is shown that contrary to previous thinking there are many equally optimal positions for adding the third element to resolve the ambiguity. In addition, it is shown how the measurement made to resolve the ambiguity can also be applied to increase the accuracy of the angle-of-arrival measurement. A central result is the derivation of expressions specifying the probability of correct resolution of ambiguities as a function of system parameters and system errors. Moreover the concept of an acceptance criterion designed to reduce processing of erroneous measurements is developed. Narrowing the criterion reduces the percentage of data accepted for processing, but increases the probability of correct ambiguity resolution. This is analogous to the relationship between the probability of detection and the probability of false alarm in radar theory.     

一种MIMO雷达幅相误差估计方法

 针对单基地相关多输入多输出(MIMO)雷达中存在的阵列幅相误差问题进行了研究。给出了单基地相关MIMO雷达的阵列模型,并提出了一种MIMO雷达幅相误差估计方法。利用发射正交信号对阵列接收信号进行匹配滤波,可分离得到类似传统阵列的"虚拟阵列",利用分时信源数据将该阵列中真实导向矢量中信源波达方向(DOA)引起的相位与幅相误差分离开,通过构造代价函数得到波达方向估计值,进而分别得到发射阵与接收阵的幅相误差的估计值,同时给出了误差引入量分析。最后通过仿真验证了该方法的有效性。本文介绍的方法简单可行,适用于任意构型MIMO雷达的幅相误差估计。     

GPS多径信号的自适应滤波估计方法

 研究全球定位系统(GPS)多径信号估计的问题。通过分析自适应滤波器的原理,建立了数字中频信号处理的数学模型,提出一种用自适应滤波实现GPS多径幅度、码相位和载波相位估计的方法。该方法采用不同延迟的伪随机序列对信号进行解扩、解调和累加,得到了作为期望信号的系列自适应滤波相关值。对该方法与其他3种方法进行了理论上的分析比较,得出本方法具有信噪比高、自适应滤波性能好、带有码相位信息和不存在载波模糊度问题等优点。根据各种滤波器算法的特点和本应用的需求,给出了选用递归最小二乘算法实现的方法。通过计算机仿真,验证了提出的方法能够在14 dB的信噪比下,以1个采样间隔的时间延迟分辨率和0.005周的载波相位估计精度估计出GPS L1的多径信号。     

Small Aperture Angle Measurement for Active Echo Location Systems

The problem of bearing estimation for active systems is examined from the point of view of the generalized wideband ambiguity function (GAF). The maximum likelihood (ML) estimator is derived and its local and global properties are discussed. A structure is proposed which searches the three-dimensional ambiguity surface in two stages first, in range-Doppler, and then, in bearing with the goal of reducing search complexity when utilizing highly resolvent waveforms. Comparisons are made between the ML estimators and structures utilizing phase information which generate closed form estimators. The beneficial results of full bandwidth utilization are discussed in terms of both local and global properties of the GAF.     

Square-Wave Correlation Phase Detector with VLF Atmospheric Noise

Correlation phase detectors often include hard limiting of both received and reference signals. The characteristics of such " square-wave" correlation detectors for both Gaussian and impluse noise are derived as functions of both phase and carrier-to-noise ratio. Decoding algorithms and accuracy are discussed.     

Design of Zigzag FM Signals

Since no practical method is available for synthesizing radar waveforms, a sizable effort has been directed into studies of the matched-filter response, or ambiguity function, of many waveforms. In this paper, we investigate the class of FM signals whose instantaneous frequency varies in a zigzag pattern. The waveforms thus consist of linear FM segments and are relatively easy to generate and process. The paper discusses the relation between the characteristics of the waveform and the features of the associated ambiguity function. The effects studied include those of signal repetition, changes in the FM slope, phase-shift and frequency-shift coding, and staggering of frequency step and segment duration. Ambiguity functions of interesting waveforms illustrate the general results. These ambiguity functions are computer-plotted projections of the three-dimensional surface above the delay-Doppler plane.     

Ambiguity Functions for Quadratic Phase-Coded Pulse Trains

The matched filter ambiguity function is presented for a burst waveform composed of repeated subbursts, each one of which consists of N pulses in which the phase is varied quadratically from pulse to pulse. The resulting ambiguity function exhibits small residual ambiguities along the delay axis separated by the reciprocal of the pulse repetition frequency (PRF). A cross-ambiguity function is derived which reduces these ambiguities to zero amplitude. A third cross-ambiguity function is presented for a receiver matched to a generalized Hamming weighted repeated quadratic burst. The location in the delay/Doppler plane of the waveform ambiguities for these waveforms is compared with that of an uncoded pulse burst.     

单载机相位差无源定位系统可观测性分析(英文)

With a pair of antennas spaced apart, an airborne passive location system measures phase differences of emitting signals. Regarded as cyclic ambiguities, the moduli of the measurements traditionally are resolved by adding more antenna elements. This paper models the cyclic ambiguity as a component of the system state, of which the observability is analyzed and compared to that of the bear- ings-only passive location system. It is shown that the necessary and sufficient observability condition for the bearings-only passive location system is only the necessary observability condition for the passive location system with phase difference measurements, and that when the system state is observable, the cyclic ambiguities can be estimated by accumulating the phase difference measurements, thereby making the observer able to locate the emitter with high-precision.