Ultra-broadband coherent radar transponder for precision tracking

摘要

An ultra-broadband coherent radar transponder for precision tracking, and in particular a transponder arrangement having an antenna, receiver, control logic, delay, and transmitter components arranged to coherently amplify, delay and repeat back a reference signal to be utilized by a microwave radar system for high fidelity tracking.

主权项

1. An ultra-broadband coherent radar transponder for precision tracking comprising:
an antenna section comprising;
a high band antenna operating in one of a frequency band of about 8 GHz to about 18 GHz, or a frequency band of about 2 GHz to about 18 GHz, anda low band antenna operating in a frequency band of about 2 GHz to about 4 GHz, wherein the antenna section operates either single mode or dual mode, a receiver section; a transmitter section comprising;
a low band amplifier,a high band amplifier, anda transmitter switch downstream of the low band amplifier, the transmitter switch providing mode control by directing the low band output to either the low band antenna or the high band antenna, wherein the antenna section is electrically connected to each of the receiver section and the transmitter section;the ultra-broadband coherent radar transponder further comprising:
a delay section comprising;
a radio frequency fiber optic transmitter, at least one fiber optic cable spool, wherein each of the at least one fiber optic cable spool has a cable length that determines a preset delay time, wherein the fiber optic cable spool comprises single mode fiber with a bandwidth capability of up to about 18 GHz, and a fiber optic receiver section;the ultra-broadband coherent radar transponder further comprising:
a control logic section having a microcontroller compatible with each of a plurality of preset delay times, said microcontroller programmed to blank the receiver for said preset delay time, wherein the receiver section is electrically connected to each of delay section and the logic section so that the output from the receiver section is split, with 50% going to the delay section as a delay section pulse and the remaining 50% going to the control logic section as a logic section pulse, and wherein the microcontroller in the control logic section is programmed to detect when a logic section pulse is received from the receiver section, and distinguishes whether said logic section pulse is within a high band or a low band frequency range, and selects and initiates the low band amplifier in the transmitter if said logic section pulse is in a low band frequency ranger, or selects and initiates the high band amplifier in the transmitter if said logic section pulse is in a high band frequency range, and wherein the microcontroller is further programmed to blank the signal within the receiver section, wherein said blanking is initiated when the microcontroller receives a desired logic section pulse, and wherein said blanking continues until said delay section pulse travels through the at least one fiber optic cable spool for said preset delay time, to the selected amplifier, and out the antenna section.