GB1597943A

GB1597943A - Radar systems

Info

Publication number: GB1597943A
Application number: GB1788576A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Marconi Co Ltd
Current assignee: BAE Systems Electronics Ltd
Priority date: 1975-07-26
Filing date: 1976-05-01
Publication date: 1981-09-16
Also published as: FR2463937A1; NL7608172A

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO RADAR SYSTEMS (71) We, THE MARCONI COMPANY LIMITED, a British company, of Marconi House, New Street, Chelmsford, Essex, CMl lPL, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to radar systems.

Simple radar systems utilise a rotating antenna which rotates at a constant rate so as to spread the energy transmitted equally over all bearings. However, it is sometimes desirable that energy should be concentrated on a specific bearing on which lies a target of interest. Radar systems capable of functioning in this manner are usually complex and expensive. One such radar system utilises a phased array antenna which utilises electronic control for the position of the radar beam. Another such radar system is such that the beam angle is frequency dependent and use is made of a frequency swept transmission which effectively cancels out the antenna rotation to produce a lengthened dwell time on the target of interest. In both cases the cost and complexity is increased and constraints are imposed upon the radar frequency.In the case of a phased array the settings of phase shifters have to be changed for each new frequency and in cases where the beam angle is frequency dependent, the frequency/scan constraint is at least equally restrictive. Furthermore, it is not possible to combine either of these known solutions with wide band simultaneous frequency diversity.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved relatively simple radar system in which one or more of the above disadvantages is reduced.

According to this invention, a radar system is provided which comprises means for increasing the average power output of the radar transmitter to a value above its rated mean power output during a dwell time during which the radar beam traverses a target of interest.

The term dwell time is understood to mean the time taken for the radar beam to rotate through one beam width. Preferably said increase in the average power output of the transmitter is arranged to be effective for a period of from one to five dwell times1 but no longer.

In practice, high power radar transmitter valves have outputs which are specified by two ratings. One rating is the peak output power which can be sustained for a few micro-seconds only. The other rating is the niean power, that is to say the average power which can be sustained for long periods of time, i.e.- for soine thousands of hours. Normally in carrying out the present invention increasing the power of the transmitting valve beyond its rated peak power would be avoided.

The arrangement should be such that the transmitter is afforded a period of recovery before its average power output is again increased during a dwell time Preferably the period of recovery is of the order of the period of one complete scan, but in some cases the period of recovery may be a substantial fraction of the period of one complete scan where, for example, there are two or three targets of interest on substantially different bearings.

Typically the increase in rated mean power is 10 dB.

In practice the average power output may be increased by increasing the output power or the pulse duration or the pulse repetition rate. It is possible to increase the average power output by any combination of the aforementioned three methods. In a practical exampIe of radar system in accordance with the present invention a simple wide band non-squinting antenna, as described in the specification of our patent number 1,148,888, is rotated continuously at constant speed so as to provide a dwell time of the order of 10 milliseconds. The pulse repetition rate of the radar is arranged to be increased by a factor of 10 for the period of three dwell times1 whilst the beam is traversing a target of interest so that the average power transmitted in creases by 10 dB.In order to avoid range ambiguities the increasing of the pulse rate by a factor of 10 is accomplished by utilising ten radar frequencies in sequence so that fo reach frequency the radar operates at its original pulse repetition rate. In addition to the avoidance of range ambiguities the availability of ten independently chosen radar frequencies may be utilised to improve the radar performance under hostile jamming conditions.

Whilst in many cases the power supply arrangement for the radar system may be conventional, in some cases the added demand during the increase in the average power output of the radar transmitter can adversely affect the operation of other equipments which are supplied from the same supply source as the power supply arrangement for the radar transmitter.

In order to reduce this last mentioned difficulty preferably said radar system includes a power supply arrangement operative normally to supply power to said transmitter and means for supplementing said power supply during periods in which the average power output of said radar transmitter is increased.

Preferably said normally operative power supply arrangement comprises a plurality of individual power supplying inverters each arranged to be supplied from a power source, said inverters being arranged to supply power to said transmitter sequentially and in turn and said means for supplementing said power supply arrangement comprises means for causing all of said inverters to supply power to said transmitter in unison during periods in which the average power output of said transmitter is increased.

Preferably in the output path of each inverter to a common supply point for said transmitter is included a re-circulatory current inductive circuit which is such that current in said re-circulatory inductive circuit tends to be maintained after that inverter ceases to supply power in its turn.

Preferably said re-circulatory current inductive circuit comprises a bridge rectifier arrangement having one of its corners connected to the output path of the inverter, an opposite corner connected to the common supply point for said transmitter and an inductor connected across the remaining corners of said bridge, the rectifiers in the arms of said bridge being so poled that current in either direction always passes in the same direction through said inductor.

Preferably said power supply arrangement includes a chargeable pulse forming network and means for discharging said pulse forming network in parallel with said power source as said average power output of said radar transmitter is increased.

The invention is illustrated in and further described with reference to the drawing accompanying provisional specification number 17885/76 which is a block schematic diagram of one example of radar system in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to the drawing, the radar transmitter is represented by the block 1. This comprises (not separately shown) a simple wide band non-squinting antenna, as described in the specification of our patent number 1,148,888, is rotated continuously at constant speed so as to provide a dwell time of the order of 10 milliseconds. The pulse repetition rate of the radar is arranged to be increased by a factor of 10 for the period of three dwell times, whilst the beam is traversing a target of interest so that the average power transmitted increases by 10 dB. In order to avoid range ambiguities the increasing of the pulse rate by a factor of 10 is accomplished by utilising ten radar frequencies in sequence so that for each frequency the radar operates at its original pulse repetition rate.

The source of power for the transmitter 1 is represented by the block 2. This source may, in addiiton, be utilised to drive other apparatus. The power source 2 is conencted via a smoothing arrangement represented by the inductor 3 and capacitor 4 to supply each of a series of individual inverters 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. Each inverter 5 to 9 is arranged to supply power in sequence and in turn, during normal operation, to the primary winding of a transformer 10, from the secondary winding of which the transmtter 1 derives power. The control means for achieving this will not be described in detail but may be considered to comprise a suitable clock and, within each inverter, a suitable clock controlled switching circuit.

Connected in the output path from each inverter 5 to 9 to the primary winding of transformer - 10 is a re-circulatory current inductive circuit 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 respectively. Each re-circulatory current inductive circuit 11 to 15 is similar and only that referenced 11 will be described in detail.

The circuit 11 consists of a rectifier bridge circuit, one corner 16 of which is connected an inductor 18. The arms of the bridge contain rectifiers 19, 20, 21 and 22 which are so poled that current in either direction always passes in the same direction through inductor 18. Thus, during normal operation, when, in its turn, inverter 5 ceases to supply power to transformer 10 current tends to continue to circulate around bridge circuit 11.

The re-circulatory current inductive circuits 12, 13, 14 and 15 operate in similar fashion.

A control signal is arranged to be supplied to the inverters $ to 9 via lead 23 from the transmitter 1 so that as the average power output of the transmitter 1 is increased so, during that period of increased average power output, all of the inverters 5 to 9 are controlled to act in unison.

Re-circulatory current inductive circuits 11 to 15 are provided in order to ensure that the change over from inverter to inverter during normal operation is smooth.

Whilst the re-circulatory current inductive circuits 11 to 15 are shown as containing a simple inductor such as inductor 18, this may take the form of an inductive network.

In addition to the power supply source 2, a pulse forming network conventionally represented at 24 is arranged to be charged during periods of normal operation of the transmitter 1. At these times the pulse forming network 24 is arranged to derive its charge from the power supply source 2.

The pulse forming network 24 is connected via a silicon controlled rectifier 25, across the primary winding of a transformer 26, the secondary winding of which is connected in parallel with the connection of the power supply source 2 to the inverters 5 to 9. Rectifier 27 is provided merely as a d.c. blocking device.

Silicon control rectifier 25 is controlled from the control lead 23 so as to be rendered conductive as the average power output of the transmitter 1 is increased, whereby the energy stored in the pulse forming network 24 is applied to supplement the energy supplied direct from the power supply 2 to the inverters 5 to 9.

Pulse forming network 24 may either be arranged to be recharged rapidly so as to be in a state of readiness at an early stage, or it may be arranged to be charged more slowly during the period of recovery afforded the transmitter, depending upon the requirements in any particular case.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: - 1. A radar system comprising means for increasing the average power output of the radar transmitter to a value above its rated mean power output during a dwell time during which the radar beam traverses a target of interest.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1 and wherein said increase in the average power output of the transmitter is arranged to be effective for a period of from one to five dwell times, but no longer.

3. A system as claimed in any of the above claims and wherein the arrangement is such that the transmitter is afforded a period of recovery before its average power output is again increased during - a dwell time said period of recovery being at least a substantial fraction of the period of one complete scan.

A. A system as claimed in any of the above claims and wherein the increase in rated mean power is of 10 dB.

5. A system as claimed in any of the above claims and wherein the average power output is increased by increasing the output power.

6. A system as claimed in any of the above claims and wherein the average power output is increased by increasing the pulse duration.

7. A system as claimed in any of the above claims and wherein the average power output is increased by increasing the pulse repetition rate.

8. A system as claimed in any of the above claims and including a power supply arrangement operative normally to supply power to said transmitter and means for supplementing said power supply during periods in which the average power output of said radar transmitter is increased.

9. A sytsem as claimed in claim 8 and wherein said normally operative power supply arrangement comprises a plurality of individual power supplying inverters each arranged to be supplied from a power source, said inverters being arranged to supply power to said transmitter sequentially and in turn and said means for supplementing said power supply arrangement comprises means for causing all of said inverters to supply power to said transmitter in unison during periods in which the average power output of said transmitter is increased.

10. A system as claimed in claim 9 and wherein in the output path of each inverter to a common supply point for said transmitter is included a re-circulatory current inductive circuit which is such that current in said re-circulatory inductve circuit tends to be maintained after that inverter ceases to supply power in its turn.

11. A system as claimed in claim 10 and wherein said re-circulatory current inductive circuit comprises a bridge rectifier arrangement having one of its corners connected to the output path of the inverter, an opposite corner connected to the common supply point for said transmitter and an inductor connected across the remaining corners of said bridge, the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. fashion. A control signal is arranged to be supplied to the inverters $ to 9 via lead 23 from the transmitter 1 so that as the average power output of the transmitter 1 is increased so, during that period of increased average power output, all of the inverters 5 to 9 are controlled to act in unison. Re-circulatory current inductive circuits 11 to 15 are provided in order to ensure that the change over from inverter to inverter during normal operation is smooth. Whilst the re-circulatory current inductive circuits 11 to 15 are shown as containing a simple inductor such as inductor 18, this may take the form of an inductive network. In addition to the power supply source 2, a pulse forming network conventionally represented at 24 is arranged to be charged during periods of normal operation of the transmitter 1. At these times the pulse forming network 24 is arranged to derive its charge from the power supply source 2. The pulse forming network 24 is connected via a silicon controlled rectifier 25, across the primary winding of a transformer 26, the secondary winding of which is connected in parallel with the connection of the power supply source 2 to the inverters 5 to 9. Rectifier 27 is provided merely as a d.c. blocking device. Silicon control rectifier 25 is controlled from the control lead 23 so as to be rendered conductive as the average power output of the transmitter 1 is increased, whereby the energy stored in the pulse forming network 24 is applied to supplement the energy supplied direct from the power supply 2 to the inverters 5 to 9. Pulse forming network 24 may either be arranged to be recharged rapidly so as to be in a state of readiness at an early stage, or it may be arranged to be charged more slowly during the period of recovery afforded the transmitter, depending upon the requirements in any particular case. WHAT WE CLAIM IS: -

1. A radar system comprising means for increasing the average power output of the radar transmitter to a value above its rated mean power output during a dwell time during which the radar beam traverses a target of interest.

rectifiers in the arms of said bridge being so poled that current in either direction always passes in the same direction through said inductor.

12. A system as claimed in any of claims 8 to 11 and wherem said power supply arrangement includes a chargeable pulse forming network and means for discharging said pulse forming network in parallel with said power source as said average power output of said radar transmitter is increased.

13. A radar system substantially as herein described with reference to the drawing accompanying provisional specification number 17885/76.