KR100971767B1 - Automatic gain control apparatus and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An automatic gain controller and a method thereof are provided to measure a received radar signal per pulse in real time by gain controlling with automatic control. CONSTITUTION: A broadband LOG sensor(120) measures the intensity of the wideband signal of the input signal. An auto gain control part(128) generates a path control signal. A narrow band amplifier(130) selectively amplifies the narrow band signal of the input signal. The narrow band amplifier comprises a gain route and a general route. A delay line(132) delays the narrow band signal.

Description

Automatic gain control apparatus and method

At least one embodiment of the present invention relates to signal measurement, and more particularly, to signal measurement in an electronic warfare receiver.

The performance of an electronic warfare receiver, i.e., a receiver for Electronic Warfare (EW), can be evaluated as a determination of how accurately the received radar signal can be measured.

However, the conventional electronic warfare receiver cannot measure a radar signal by controlling a gain by pulse, and cannot measure a radar signal having a signal strength below a predetermined threshold. Have

In order to solve this problem, a receiver having a function of controlling the gain of a received radar signal has been proposed, but since such a receiver controls the gain manually, it is impossible to measure a signal in real time per pulse, and thus, such a receiver. Again, there are limits to the exact measurement of the signal.

An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic gain control apparatus that enables a receiver to accurately measure a signal having a signal strength less than or equal to a threshold.

Another object of at least one embodiment of the present invention is to provide an automatic gain control method that enables a receiver to accurately measure a signal having a signal strength below a threshold.

In order to achieve the above object, the automatic gain control apparatus according to at least one embodiment of the present invention includes a narrowband automatic gain control unit for generating a path control signal corresponding to the strength of the broadband signal of the input signal; And a narrowband amplifier for selectively amplifying the narrowband signal of the input signal in consideration of the path control signal.

The automatic gain control apparatus may further include a delay line for timing correction.

The narrowband automatic gain control unit may generate the path control signal according to whether the strength of the wideband signal exceeds a threshold.

Here, the narrowband amplifier may amplify the narrowband signal when the path control signal indicates that the strength of the wideband signal is less than or equal to a threshold.

Here, the narrowband amplifier includes an amplifier; A first switch selectively connected to the input terminal of the amplifier according to the path control signal; And a second switch selectively connected to the output terminal of the amplifier according to the path control signal.

Here, the narrowband amplifier includes a gain path for amplifying the narrowband signal and a general path for bypassing the narrowband signal, and using the gain path or the general path according to the path control signal. The narrowband signal can be selectively amplified.

Here, the automatic gain control apparatus narrowband pulse detail data generated by compensating the pulse detail data of the narrowband signal in consideration of the path control signal, the frequency of the narrowband signal passed through the narrowband amplifier, and the signal strength. It may further include a generator. In this case, the automatic gain control device includes a broadband pulse detail data generation unit for generating pulse detail data of the broadband signal in consideration of the frequency and signal strength of the broadband signal; And a processor configured to analyze a radar signal according to the pulse detail data of the wideband signal and the pulse detail data of the narrowband signal.

According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an automatic gain control method, including: generating a path control signal corresponding to the strength of a wideband signal of an input signal; And selectively amplifying a narrowband signal of the input signal in consideration of the path control signal.

Here, the automatic gain control method may further include the step of delaying the narrowband signal by a predetermined time and selectively amplifying the signal.

Here, the generating may generate the path control signal according to whether the strength of the wideband signal exceeds a threshold.

Here, the selectively amplifying may amplify the narrowband signal when the path control signal indicates that the strength of the wideband signal is less than or equal to a threshold.

Here, the selectively amplifying may selectively amplify the narrowband signal using a gain path for amplifying the narrowband signal or a general path for bypassing the narrowband signal according to the path control signal. Can be.

The automatic gain control method may further include generating pulse detail data of the narrowband signal in consideration of the path control signal, the frequency of the narrowband signal that has been selectively amplified, and the signal strength. Can be. In this case, the automatic gain control method may include generating pulse detail data of the broadband signal in consideration of the frequency and signal strength of the broadband signal; And analyzing a radar signal according to the pulse detail data of the wideband signal and the pulse detail data of the narrowband signal.

According to the automatic gain control apparatus and method according to at least one embodiment of the present invention, even if a signal having a signal strength lower than a threshold is received by the receiver, the receiver may amplify and measure it without distortion.

In addition, the automatic gain control apparatus and method according to at least one embodiment of the present invention can measure the received radar signal in real time for each pulse by performing gain control with automatic control instead of manual control.

In order to fully understand the present invention, the operational advantages of the present invention, and the objects achieved by the practice of the present invention, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings that illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and the accompanying drawings.

Hereinafter, an automatic gain control apparatus and method according to at least one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an automatic gain control apparatus according to at least one embodiment of the present invention, which includes an antenna 110, a first RF down converter 112, a first local oscillator 114, and a 4-way power source. Divider 116, wideband digitized frequency discriminator (DFD) 118 wideband LOG detector 120, wideband Pulse Description Words (PDW) generator 122, second RF down converter 124, first 2 local oscillator 126, narrowband automatic gain control unit 128, narrowband amplifier 130, delay line 132, 2-way power divider 134, narrowband DFD 136, narrowband LOG detection The unit 138 includes a narrowband pulse detail data generation unit 140 and a processor 142.

Antenna 110 receives the radar signal. The spiral antenna is an example of the antenna 110 herein.

The first RF down converter 112 performs down converting on the radar signal received by the antenna 110. The first local oscillator 114 is a local oscillator for the first RF down converter 112.

A 4-way power divider 116 branches the power of the radar signal input from the first RF down converter. In the present specification, the 'input signal' means a signal input to the 4-way power divider 116.

The wideband DFD 118 measures the frequency of the wideband signal of the input signal. Here, the wideband signal of the input signal means an input signal as a wideband signal.

The broadband LOG detector 120 measures the strength of the broadband signal of the input signal. The wideband LOG detector 120 measures a power amplitude (PA) of a wideband signal of an input signal.

The wideband pulse detail data generation unit 122 considers the frequency measured by the wideband DFD 118 and the input signal strength measured by the wideband LOG detector 120 to determine the pulse detail data PDW of the wideband signal of the input signal. : Pulse Description Word) is generated.

The second RF down converter 124 down converts the input signal to view the narrowband signal of the input signal. The second local oscillator 126 is a local oscillator for the second RF down converter 124.

The narrow band automatic gain control unit 128 generates a path control signal corresponding to the strength of the wideband signal of the input signal. Specifically, the narrowband automatic gain control unit 128 generates a path control signal according to whether the strength of the wideband signal exceeds a threshold. The path control signal thus indicates whether the strength of the wideband signal exceeds a threshold (eg -50 dBm).

The narrowband amplifier 130 (NB) selectively amplifies the narrowband signal of the input signal in consideration of the path control signal generated by the narrowband automatic gain control unit 128. Here, the narrowband signal of the input signal means an input signal as a narrowband signal.

Specifically, the narrowband amplifier 130 amplifies the narrowband signal of the input signal when the path control signal indicates that the strength of the wideband signal is less than or equal to the threshold.

More specifically, when the path control signal means that the strength of the broadband signal exceeds the threshold, the narrowband amplifier 130 bypasses the amplified signal without amplifying the narrowband signal. If the intensity is less than the threshold value 'narrowband amplifier 130 amplifies the narrowband signal by a predetermined degree (for example, 30dB).

Referring to the operation of the narrowband amplifier 130 from another angle as follows.

The narrowband amplifier 130 includes a gain path for amplifying the narrowband signal and a normal path for bypassing the narrowband signal.

The narrowband amplifier 130 selectively amplifies the narrowband signal using a gain path or a general path according to the path control signal.

Specifically, when the path control signal means that the strength of the broadband signal exceeds the threshold, the narrowband amplifier 130 outputs the narrowband signal input to the narrowband amplifier 130 as it is through the normal path. By outputting it without any amplification.

In contrast, when the path control signal indicates that the strength of the wideband signal is less than or equal to the threshold, the narrowband amplifier 130 outputs the narrowband signal input to the narrowband amplifier 130 through the gain path to narrow the signal. Amplifies and outputs a band signal.

In FIG. 1, a 30dB gain path means a gain path and a normal path means a normal path. For convenience of description, it is assumed herein that the degree of amplification through the 'gain path' is 30 dB.

The narrowband amplifier 130 includes a first switch 130-1, a second switch 130-2, and an amplifier 130-3. The gain path refers to a path formed by the first switch 130-1, the amplifier 130-3, and the second switch 130-2, and the general path is the first switch 130-1 and the second switch. It means a path made by (130-2).

The first switch 130-1 is selectively connected to the input terminal of the amplifier 130-3 in response to the path control signal. In addition, the second switch 130-2 is selectively connected to the output terminal of the amplifier 130-3 in response to the path control signal.

Specifically, when the path control signal means that the strength of the broadband signal exceeds the threshold, the first switch 130-1 is connected to the second switch 130-2, thereby forming a general path.

On the other hand, when the path control signal means that the strength of the broadband signal is less than or equal to the threshold value, the first switch 130-1 is connected to the input terminal of the amplifier 130-3 and the amplifier 130-3. The output terminal of is connected to the second switch 130-2, thereby forming a gain path.

Delay line 132 means an RF cable for timing correction.

The path control signal should be given to the narrowband amplifier 130 when the narrowband signal to be controlled through the path control signal is input to the narrowband amplifier 130. However, if the delay line 132 is not provided in the block diagram according to FIG. 1, when the path control signal is given to the narrowband amplifier 130, the narrowband signal to be controlled by the path control signal is already narrowband amplifier. After passing through 130, for example, in the narrowband pulse detail data generation unit 140, even if the amplification according to the present invention selectively amplifies the narrowband signal through the path control signal, the amplification result is distorted rather than a desired result. It's just a signal. Therefore, delay line 132 is necessary.

The 2-way power divider 134 branches the power of the narrowband signal through the narrowband amplifier 130.

Narrowband DFD 136 measures the frequency of the narrowband signal input to narrowband DFD 136.

The narrowband LOG detector 138 measures the strength of the narrowband signal input to the narrowband LOG detector 138. The narrowband LOG detector 138 measures the PA of the narrowband signal.

The narrowband pulse detail data generating unit 140 considers the path control signal, the frequency measured by the narrowband DFD 136, and the narrowband signal strength measured by the narrowband LOG detector 138, and thus the input signal. Generates pulse description data (PDW) of narrowband signals.

The processor 142 analyzes the radar signal according to the pulse detail data generated by the wideband PDW generator 122 and the pulse detail data generated by the narrowband pulse detail data generator 140. The analysis result may be displayed as a symbol or a sign through a display device (not shown).

2 is a timing diagram illustrating examples of one pulse of a radar signal that is an input signal. FIG. 2 (a) shows one pulse of a wideband signal having a signal strength of -20 dBm (hereinafter referred to as 'signal A' business card), and FIG. 2 (b) shows a wideband signal having a signal strength of -65 dBm. One pulse (hereinafter referred to as 'signal B'). Both signals are input to the wideband LOG detector 120. The broadband LOG detector 120 measures the signal strength at the moment indicated as PA measurement in FIG. 2. According to the conventional electronic transceiver, although the wideband signal could not accurately measure the narrowband signal of the input signal (for example, signal B) having a signal strength smaller than the threshold (for example, -50 dBm), the present invention disclosed through the description of FIG. According to at least one embodiment, the wideband signal can accurately measure the narrowband signal of an input signal (eg, signal B) having a signal strength less than a threshold (eg, -50 dBm) without distortion.

3A is a timing diagram illustrating that the aforementioned signal A and the signal B are input to the wideband LOG detector 120 in the form of a pulse, and FIG. 3B is a narrow diagram of the signal A and the signal B in the form of pulses. A timing diagram indicating input to the band LOG detector 138.

As shown in Fig. 3A, signal B has a low signal strength below the threshold in wideband, but such signal B is amplified by narrowband amplifier 130, i.e., in narrowband Since B is amplified by a signal having a high signal strength (see FIG. 3 (b)), the signal B can also be accurately amplified without distortion in a narrow band.

FIG. 4A is an enlarged view of only one pulse of the signal A in FIG. 3A, and FIG. 4B is a pulse of the signal A in FIG. 3B. Figure 4 shows the pulse corresponding to the pulse shown in (a) (Fig. 3, Fig. A). As shown in (a) and (b) of FIG. 4, the signal A is not amplified because it passes through a general path in the narrowband amplifier 130.

As shown in (a) and (b) of FIG. 4, 'PA measurement # 1' refers to a point in time at which signal strength is measured by the wideband LOG detector 120, and 'switching control' is narrowband automatic. The path control signal is generated by the gain control unit 128, and 'PA measurement # 2' means the time when the signal strength is measured by the narrow-band LOG detector 138.

As shown in (a) and (b) of FIG. 4, the difference between the time point 'PA measurement # 1' and the time point 'PA measurement # 2' is due to the delay effect by the delay line 132.

FIG. 4C is an enlarged view of only one pulse of the signal B in FIG. 3A, and FIG. 4D is a pulse of the signal B in FIG. 3B. Figure 4 shows the pulse corresponding to the pulse shown in (a) (Fig. 3, Fig. B). As shown in (c) and (d) of FIG. 4, the signal B is amplified because it passes through a gain path in the narrowband amplifier 130. In the present specification, for convenience of explanation, the signal is amplified by 30 dB.

As shown in (c) and (d) of FIG. 4, 'PA measurement # 1' refers to a point in time at which signal strength is measured by the wideband LOG detector 120, and 'switching control' refers to narrowband automatic. The path control signal is generated by the gain control unit 128, and 'PA measurement # 2' means the time when the signal strength is measured by the narrow-band LOG detector 138.

As shown in (c) and (d) of FIG. 4, the difference between the time point 'PA measurement # 1' and the time point 'PA measurement # 2' is due to the delay effect by the delay line 132.

5 to 8 are reference diagrams for describing operations of the wideband LOG detector 120 and the narrowband LOG detector 138 according to at least one embodiment of the present invention. 5 to 8, 'WB' means wideband and 'NB' means narrowband.

As shown in Figure 5, the threshold in the present specification is -50dBm, the wideband LOG detector 120 can measure the signal strength of -50dBm to 0dBm, and the gain path of the narrowband amplifier 130 Since the gain path of the general path is set as a default, the narrowband LOG detector 138 is set to default to measure signal strength of -80 dBm to -30 dBm. If the gain path is not conducted in the narrowband amplifier 130 and the general path is conducted, the narrowband amplifier 130 may measure the signal strength of -50 dBm to 0 dBm.

FIG. 6 illustrates the operation of the narrowband LOG detector 138 when a signal A having a signal strength of -65 dBm of the wideband signal is received by the electronic warfare receiver shown in FIG. This is a reference diagram for explanation.

Since the signal strength of the signal A is -65 dBm or less than the threshold of -50 dBm, the narrowband automatic gain control unit 128 generates a path control signal so that the narrowband amplifier 130 amplifies the narrowband signal using the gain path. Accordingly, the narrowband amplification unit 130 maintains the state set as the default so that the signal strength of -80 dBm to -30 dBm can be measured, and the signal A of -65 dBm by a certain degree (for example, 30 dB). Amplify. As a result, the narrowband LOG detector 138, which cannot detect the signal strength of less than -50dBm, may measure the signal strength of the narrowband signal of the signal A. However, the narrowband pulse detail data generation unit 140 knows that the signal A detected by the narrowband LOG detection unit 138 is amplified by 30 dB in consideration of the path control signal, and the narrowband of the signal A The signal strength of the signal is determined to be -65dBm instead of -35dBm, and based on this, the pulse detail data of the narrowband signal of signal A is generated.

FIG. 7 illustrates the operation of the narrowband LOG detector 138 when the signal B having a signal strength of -20 dBm of the wideband signal is received by the electronic warfare receiver shown in FIG. This is a reference diagram for explanation.

Since the signal strength of the signal B exceeds -50 dBm, which is a threshold value of -20 dBm, the narrowband automatic gain control unit 128 outputs the narrowband amplification unit 130 without amplifying the narrowband signal by using a general path. Generates a path control signal. Accordingly, the narrowband amplifier 130 may measure a signal strength of -50 dBm to 0 dBm in a state set as a default (that is, a state capable of measuring signal strength of -80 dBm to -30 dBm). To '.

After this change, the narrowband LOG detector 138 measures the signal strength of the narrowband signal of the signal B. Meanwhile, the narrowband pulse detail data generation unit 140 knows that the signal B detected by the narrowband LOG detection unit 138 is an amplified signal (by 30 dB) in consideration of the path control signal, and thus the signal B The signal strength of the narrowband signal of is determined to be -20dBm measured by the narrowband LOG detector 138, and generates pulse detail data of the narrowband signal of the signal B based on this.

FIG. 8 illustrates the operation of the narrowband LOG detector 138 when both the signal A and the signal B mentioned above are received in the 'electronic warfare receiver shown in FIG. 1' indicating the attributes as shown in FIG. It is for reference only.

In this case, the narrow-band automatic gain control unit 128 uses the narrow-band amplification unit 130 to alternately use the gain path and the general path, and thus the narrow-band amplification unit 130 operates on the signal A and the signal B. The narrowband amplifier 130 generates a path control signal to alternately perform an operation. Here, the operation of the narrowband amplifier 130 for the signal A is replaced with the description of FIG. 6, and the operation of the narrowband amplifier 130 for the signal B is replaced with the description of FIG. 7. As a result, in the case of Figure 8, the narrow-band LOG detector 138 is to operate to measure the signal strength of -80dBm to 0dBm.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an automatic gain control method according to at least one embodiment of the present invention. Steps for allowing a receiver to accurately measure a signal having a signal strength less than or equal to a threshold are received by the receiver. Step 910 to step 960). 9 will be described with reference to FIG. 1.

First, the wideband LOG detector 120 measures the signal strength of the wideband signal of the input signal (step 910).

After operation 910, the narrowband automatic gain control unit 128 determines whether the intensity measured in operation 910 is smaller than a threshold (operation 920).

In operation 920, if it is determined that the intensity measured in operation 910 is equal to or less than a threshold, the narrowband amplifier 130 maintains a gain path set as a default. In other words, if it is determined in step 920 that the intensity measured in step 910 is less than or equal to the threshold, the narrowband amplifier 130 amplifies the narrowband signal of the input signal (step 930).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 920 that the intensity measured in step 910 exceeds a threshold, the narrowband amplifier 130 changes the gain path set as a default to a normal path. In other words, if it is determined in step 920 that the intensity measured in step 910 exceeds a threshold, the narrowband amplifier 130 outputs the narrowband signal of the input signal without amplification (step 940).

After operation 930 or 940, the narrowband LOG detector 138 measures the signal strength of the narrowband signal (operation 950).

After operation 910, the wideband pulse detail data generator 122 generates the pulse detail data PDW of the wideband signal in consideration of the wideband signal, and the narrowband pulse detail data generator 140 controls the narrowband signal and the path control. The pulse detail data of the narrowband signal is generated in consideration of the signal (operation 960).

So far, the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be implemented in a modified form without departing from the essential features of the present invention. Therefore, the disclosed embodiments should be considered in descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. The scope of the present invention is shown in the claims rather than the foregoing description, and all differences within the scope will be construed as being included in the present invention.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an automatic gain control apparatus according to at least one embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a timing diagram illustrating examples of one pulse of a radar signal that is an input signal.

3 to 8 are reference diagrams for describing operations of the wideband LOG detector 120 and the narrowband LOG detector 138.

9 is a flowchart illustrating an automatic gain control method according to at least one embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (15)

In the automatic gain control device for an electronic warfare receiver, A wideband LOG detector for measuring the strength of the wideband signal of the input signal; A narrowband automatic gain control unit for generating a path control signal according to whether the strength of the measured wideband signal of the input signal exceeds a threshold; A narrowband amplifier for selectively amplifying a narrowband signal of the input signal in consideration of the path control signal, the narrowband amplifier including a gain path for amplifying the narrowband signal and a general path for bypassing the narrowband signal; And selectively amplifying the narrowband signal using the gain path or the general path according to the path control signal, wherein the path control signal indicates that the strength of the wideband signal is less than or equal to the threshold. A narrow band amplifier for amplifying the narrow band signal; And And a delay line delaying the narrowband signal and inputting the narrowband signal to the narrowband amplifier. delete delete delete The method of claim 1, wherein the narrowband amplification unit Amplification unit; A first switch selectively connected to the input terminal of the amplifier according to the path control signal; And And a second switch selectively connected to the output terminal of the amplifier according to the path control signal. delete The method of claim 1, wherein the automatic gain control device And generating and compensating pulse detail data of the narrowband signal in consideration of the path control signal, the frequency of the narrowband signal passing through the narrowband amplifier, and signal strength. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the automatic gain control device A wideband pulse detail data generation unit generating pulse detail data of the wideband signal in consideration of the frequency and signal strength of the wideband signal; And And a processor for analyzing a radar signal according to the pulse detail data of the wideband signal and the pulse detail data of the narrowband signal. In the automatic gain control method for an electronic warfare receiver, Measuring the strength of the wideband signal of the input signal; Generating a path control signal according to whether the strength of the wideband signal of the measured input signal exceeds a threshold; Delaying the narrowband signal of the input signal by a predetermined time; And Selectively amplifying a narrowband signal of the input signal in consideration of the path control signal, a gain path for amplifying the narrowband signal according to the path control signal, and a general path for bypassing the narrowband signal Selectively amplifying the narrowband signal by using amplifying the narrowband signal through the gain path when the path control signal indicates that the strength of the wideband signal is less than or equal to the threshold. Automatic gain control method. delete delete delete delete The method of claim 9, wherein the automatic gain control method After completing the step of generating the path control signal and selectively amplifying the narrowband signal, the path control signal, the frequency and the signal strength of the narrowband signal which have been selectively amplified And generating a pulse description word of the narrowband signal in consideration of the automatic gain control method. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the automatic gain control method Generating a pulse description word of the wideband signal in consideration of the frequency and signal strength of the wideband signal; And And generating a signal image according to the pulse description word of the wideband signal and the pulse description word of the narrowband signal.

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