Spectrum analysis radar system

Claim 2

A spectrum analysis radar method comprising illuminating a target by exclusively a time stationary signal such as unmodulated noise, summing the reflected signal from said target and a portion of the time stationary signal to provide a modulated power spectrum having nulls, equalizing the magnitude of said time stationary signal and said reflected signal prior to said summing, and measuring the frequency difference between the nulls to provide target information.

Claim 3

A spectrum analysis radar method as described in claim 1 wherein the step of illuminating said target is comprised of the step of generating said time stationary signal, and the step of transmitting said time stationary signal toward said target.

Claim 4

A spectrum analysis radar method as described in claim 1 wherein the range to said target is equal to or greater than the speed of light divided by the bandwidth of the time stationary signal.

Claim 5

A spectrum analysis radar system comprising means to generate exclusively a time stationary signal such as unmodulated noise, means to direct said time stationary signal towards a target to provide a reflected signal therefrom, means to sum said reflected signal and said time stationary signal to provide a modulated power spectrum having nulls, means to equalize the magnitude of said time stationary signal and said reflected signal prior to the summing operation, and means to measure the frequency difference between said nulls to provide target information.

Claim 6

A spectrum analysis radar system comprising means to generate exclusively a time stationary signal such as unmodulated noise, means to direct said time stationary signal towards a target to provide a reflected signal therefrom, means to sum said reflected signal and said time stationary signal to provide a modulated power spectrum having nulls, means to equalize the magnitude of said time stationary signal and said reflected signal prior to the summing operation, and means to measure the frequency difference between said nulls to provide target information.

Claim 7

A spectrum analysis radar system as described in claim 4 further including means to couple a portion of said time stationary signal from said generating means.

Claim 8

A spectrum analysis radar system as described in claim 4 wherein said means to measure said frequency difference is comprised of a spectrum analyzer measuring the output of said summing means.

Claim 9

A spectrum analysis radar system as described in claim 6 wherein said means to measure said frequency difference is comprised of a first spectrum analyzer receiving the output of said summing means, a detector and a filter receiving the output of said first spectrum analyzer, and a second spectrum analyzer receiving the output from said detector and filter.

Claim 10

A spectrum analysis radar system as described in claim 4 further including means to restrict the bandwidth of said time stationary signal to a preselected value.

Claim 11

A spectrum analysis radar system comprising means to generate exclusively an unmodulated noise signal, filter means to restrict the bandwidth of said noise signal to a preselected value, a directional coupler receiving the output from said filter means, said directional coupler providing a first output noise signal, and a second output noise signal with said second output noise signal being a preselected portion of the output from said filter means, an antenna receiving said first output noise signal to be directed to a target of interest to provide a reflected signal therefrom, a summing network receiving said reflected signal and said second output signal and providing as an output a modulated power spectrum having nulls, attenuator means interposed between said directional coupler and said summing means to adjust the magnitude of said second output noise signal to be substantially equal to that of the amplified reflected signal prior to the summing operation, and means to measure the frequency difference between said nulls to provide target information.

Claim 12

A spectrum analysis radar system comprising means to generate exclusively an unmodulated noise signal, filter means to restrict the bandwidth of said noise signal to a preselected value, a directional coupler receiving the output from said filter means, said directional coupler providing a first output noise signal, and a second output noise signal with said second output noise signal being a preselected portion of the output from said filter means, an antenna receiving said first output noise signal to be directed to a target of interest to provide a reflected signal therefrom, a summing network receiving said reflected signal and said second output signal and providing as an output a modulated power spectrum having nulls, attenuator means interposed between said directional coupler and said summing means to adjust the magnitude of said second output noise signal to be substantially equal to that of the amplified reflected signal prior to the summing operation, and means to measure the frequency difference between said nulls to provide target information.

Claim 13

A spectrum analysis radar system as described in claim 9 further including a first amplifier interposed between said filter means and said directional coupler, and a second amplIfier receiving said reflected signal prior to the summing operation.