Method and apparatus that nearly instantaneously samples, processes and sorts received signals from very large numbers of radar and radio emitters for frequency and angle of arrival analysis

摘要

A method and apparatus is described that processes, samples and sorts, for subsequent analysis, very large numbers of randomly arriving pulsed and continuous wave radio and radar signals, while providing essentially 100% probability of intercepting all signals present at any moment. Such characteristics as angle of arrival, signal strength and frequency can be determined from the processed received signal samples. The method uses a rapidly swept frequency window, of specified width and shape, which separates into varying time positions, RF samples of each received signal, said time positions varying as a function of signal frequency. These time varying samples are then processed and separated into three video pulse outputs for frequency, signal strength and angle of arrival determining computations, respectively. The video pulses are again sampled by a step-swept time window with the resulting samples commutated into pulse streams that, with computational processes, result in the desired signal parameter indications. The illustrative embodiment uses several series tunnel diode amplifiers to normalize signal sample amplitudes and to provide logarithmic received signal strength information. Normalized, triangle shaped samples are formed and interpolated to indicate frequency. Phase comparative angle of arrival indications are generated and with available amplitude comparison data eliminates ambiguities typical of the phase data.