Communications: directive radio wave systems and devices (e.g. – Testing or calibrating of radar system
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-11
2001-07-03
Gregory, Bernarr E. (Department: 3662)
Communications: directive radio wave systems and devices (e.g.,
Testing or calibrating of radar system
C342S02500R, C342S089000, C342S159000, C342S160000, C342S162000, C342S175000, C342S195000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06255985
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to radar systems and, in particular, to optimizing radar system performance, e.g., optimizing radar system design and/or operation. The invention provides an optimization tool that can be applied in a variety of applications, for example, with regard to a variety of radar types in a variety of contexts.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Radar system design and operation depends on many factors. Some of these factors include the type of radar system (e.g., Synthetic Aperture Radar or Moving Target Indicator), the radar mission (e.g., mapping, air traffic control), the parameter to be optimized (e.g., rate of area coverage, false alarm rates), system Pulse Repetition Frequency (PRF) and other operating parameters, etc. Many such factors are typically considered during the design phase to develop a radar system that satisfies the mission criteria. Such factors may also be considered in operating existing systems to obtain desired data.
Conventional numerical radar performance analyses generally rely on the analyst's knowledge of the specific radar system being analyzed. In this regard, the analyst may define the problem using “rules of thumb” and then apply simple iterative techniques to determine the optimal performance. Corresponding optimization software is generally system specific and/or context specific and therefore has very limited applicability. Accordingly, analysts have generally required separate optimization applications for analyzing radar systems of different types or for implementing different types of optimization functions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for optimizing radar system performance that is independent of any specific radar system application. The invention involves a generic optimization engine that obtains the information required for a particular optimization procedure based on standardized inputs and then implements an appropriate optimization procedure based on information derived from the standardized inputs. In this regard, the engine need not be pre-programed with knowledge of a specific radar system type or context under consideration in order to implement an appropriate optimization procedure. Moreover, the engine is not limited to use in connection with any such specific radar system type or context, but rather is applicable across a range of radar system optimization applications for enhanced system design and performance. The invention thereby reduces delays and costs associated with the development of dedicated optimization programs and promotes standardization and reliability with respect to radar system analysis and optimization.
According to one aspect of the invention, a method is provided for optimizing radar system performance. The method involves establishing optimization, constraint, objective, and variable modules along with one or more input modules and operatively interfacing the modules to perform and optimization procedure, e.g., by developing the associated logic and/or running such logic on a computer system. The optimization module uses the constraint, variable, and objective modules to determine the optimal set of radar parameter values for various radar applications involving various types of radar systems, for example, Synthetic Aperture Radar (“SAR”) and/or Moving Target Indicator (“MTI”) systems. The input module receives inputs sufficient to define the radar application under consideration. Each of the modules may include multiple components. In this regard, the input module may include multiple programs or logic for receiving inputs of multiple types that are used to configure the system constraints module, variables module and objectives module. The optimization module may be capable of selectively implementing any of various optimization techniques including linear, non-linear techniques suitable for use with continuous and discrete variables as configured by the input information. Once configured, the optimization module determines the optimal radar variable values (as configured in the variable module) that satisfy the constraints where optimal is defined by the objective module. By virtue of such operation involving a generic optimization module interfaced with one or more other modules for receiving inputs defining the optimization application, the optimization process is standardized for use in a variety of applications.
The input information can include information of various types for the application under consideration. Such information may involve system constraints, variables and objectives. System constraints include hardware constraints (such as PRF, pulse duration, data rate and power consumption) and operating constraints (such as pulse eclipsing, signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio, ambiguity noise ratio and resolution) as well as related geometry information (such as one or more data collection geometries considered particularly challenging). Potential objectives will typically depend on the mission of the radar system and may include, for example, maximizing rate of area coverage for a mapping mission or maximizing resolution for certain target identification applications. The variables are generally the values that can be varied to optimize performance for a particular application and may include radar pulse duration, PRF, dead time per cycle, and number of pulses per sampling period. It will be appreciated that the same values may be considered a constraint, variable and/or objective depending, for example, on the application, on whether the associated value is a range limit or data point within a range, or on whether the value is taken to be fixed or variable.
This information is preferably received relative to a standardized user interface. For example, the user interface may present a predefined constraint set, a predefined variable set and a predefined objective set, wherein a user is prompted to selectively activate or deactivate selections from the predefined sets and/or to enter values with respect to such selections. In one implementation, the associated program is menu driven and the user is provided with a series of graphical interfaces or screens with check boxes, blanks or other prompts for convenient data entry.
According to another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus is provided for use in optimizing radar system performance. The apparatus includes: an input system for receiving inputs relative to at least one of a predefined constraint set, predefined variable set and predefined objective set; a processing system for analyzing radar system performance for any one of multiple radar system types relative to input information so as to optimize radar system performance; and an output system for outputting information concerning the determined optimal performance. Regarding this “optimal performance,” it will be appreciated that such optimization will not necessarily relate to a single or best design or set of operating conditions, but may provide a range of options satisfying some or all of the input criteria, one design or set of operating conditions, not necessarily the “best,” satisfying some or all of input criteria, or different system designs or sets of operating conditions that have relative advantages and disadvantages with regard to various operating points for the application under consideration. The input system may include a mouse, keyboard, data port, network connection or other input device and associated logic for processing user inputs or receiving inputs from other programs. The processing system may be embodied as a CPU running logic implementing a generic optimization engine. The output system can include, for example, a printer or screen for providing optimization information directly to a user, a port for transmitting such information access a network, or a CPU executing logic for allowing a further program to access or receive such information.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4005415 (1977-01-01), Kossiakoff et al.
Brace Fred
Towner, III George C.
Gregory Bernarr E.
Lockheed Martin Corporation
Marsh & Fischmann & Breyfogle LLP
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