Moving receive beam method and apparatus for synthetic aperture radar

Patent · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2001

OSTI ID:873501

Kare, Jordin T ^[1]

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1. San Ramon, CA

A method and apparatus for improving the performance of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) systems by reducing the effect of "edge losses" associated with nonuniform receiver antenna gain. By moving the receiver antenna pattern in synchrony with the apparent motion of the transmitted pulse along the ground, the maximum available receiver antenna gain can be used at all times. Also, the receiver antenna gain for range-ambiguous return signals may be reduced, in some cases, by a large factor. The beam motion can be implemented by real-time adjustment of phase shifters in an electronically-steered phased-array antenna or by electronic switching of feed horns in a reflector antenna system.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• Assignee: Regents of University of California (Oakland, CA)
• Patent Number(s): US 6175326
• OSTI ID: 873501
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

moving
receive
beam
method
apparatus
synthetic
aperture
radar
improving
performance
systems
reducing
effect
edge
losses
associated
nonuniform
receiver
antenna
pattern
synchrony
apparent
motion
transmitted
pulse
ground
maximum
available
times
range-ambiguous
return
signals
reduced
factor
implemented
real-time
adjustment
phase
shifters
electronically-steered
phased-array
electronic
switching
feed
horns
reflector
return signal
aperture radar
phase shift
phase shifter
synthetic aperture
transmitted pulse
phased-array antenna
phase shifters
receiver antenna
electronic switch
beam method
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