Method and apparatus for detecting multipath interference in a radar receiver

摘要

A method and apparatus for detecting the presence of multipath interference within a radar receiver disposed to form sum (&Sgr;) and difference (&Dgr;) signals by time-sampling a target return signal is disclosed herein. In accordance with this method there is formed a sequence of complex conjugates (&Sgr;*) of the sum signals (&Sgr;). Each of the &Sgr;* signals is multiplied with an associated one of the . DELTA. signals so as to form a time-sampled sequence of &Sgr;*&Dgr; signals. A power spectrum representation of the time-sampled sequence of signals &Sgr;*&Dgr; is then generated, wherein the presence of selected spectral components within the &Sgr;*&Dgr; power spectrum indicate the existence of multipath interference within the radar receiver. In a particular implementation the &Sgr;*&Dgr; power spectrum representation is quickly and reliably determined by performing a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) operation upon the time-sampled sequence of &Sgr;*&Dgr; signals.