Photonic-assisted digital radar system

摘要

A photonic-assisted digital radar system (1) comprising an active electronically-scanned antenna (2); a transmitting section (3) connected to the antenna (2) and configured to generate and transmit RF signals (SF1) via the antenna (2); and a receiving section (4) connected to the antenna (2) and configured to receive and process electric analog signals (SE2) associated to the RF signals (SF2) received from the antenna (2). The transmitting section (3) comprises a waveform generator (5) configured to generate a modulating signal in the form of a pulsed waveform (SWG); and a modulator (6) configured to receive a transmission carrier (STALO) and the modulating signal (SWG) and to modulate the transmission carrier (STALO) by means of the modulating signal (SWG), thereby generating a radiofrequency signal (SF1) to be transmitted via the antenna (2). The receiving section (4) comprises photonic-assisted analog-to-digital converting means (8) configured to convert electric analog signals (SE2) into electric digital signals (SED); and digital signal processing means (9) configured to receive and process the electric digital signals (SED). The photonic-assisted analog-to-digital converting means (8) comprises a mode-locked laser device (11) configured to generate an optical clock signal (SS); and electronic analog-to-digital converting means (13); the electronic analog-to-digital converter means (13), the waveform generator (5), the modulator (6) and the digital signal processing means (9) being configured to operate based on respective electric clock signals (CK3),(CK1),(CK2),(CK4) generated based on the optical clock signal (SS).