Method for de-interleaving received radar pulses using dynamically updated weights

摘要

The present invention provides a method for separating, or de-interleaving, a stream of radar pulses, interleaved in time, received by a receiving antenna (10) and receiver (12) from several radar sources. De-interleaving the stream of received pulses may include forming clusters of pulses having similar parameter values around anchor points, where each cluster is defined by a window around its anchor point. The dimensions of each window may be determined by a weighted distance, i.e., a measure of dissimilarity, calculated using weights. Each weight may depend inversely on the measurement error in the parameter with which the weight is associated. Each anchor point may have a set of weights adjusted to its parameter values, and which may change as operating conditions change. The weights may be determined using a method including a calibration step, which may include injecting pulses with known parameters into the receiver (12).

主权项

1. A method for forming a cluster, the method comprising:
receiving a plurality of pulses, by a radar receiver; selecting a first pulse of the plurality of pulses as an anchor point; receiving a second pulse, by the radar receiver, the second pulse and the anchor point each having a respective feature vector, each feature vector having a plurality of features; generating at least one weight corresponding to a feature; calculating, using the weight, a weighted distance between the feature vector of the second pulse and the feature vector of the anchor point; comparing the weighted distance to a threshold; and determining that the second pulse is a member of the cluster when the weighted distance is less than the threshold, wherein the generating at least one weight corresponding to a feature comprises:
generating calibration pulses of known characteristics, by a pulse generator;injecting the calibration pulses of known characteristics into the radar receiver during operation;determining the variation in the feature measured; andcalculating the weight as a function of the variation in the feature measured.