US4435709A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Radar ranging system for use with sloping target
Assignee: RCA Corp
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Filing: 1981-05-26
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Granted: 1984-03-06
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Expires: 2001-05-26
Abstract
Abstract A signal processing system for use with a radar ranging system which transmits a radio frequency beam of finite angle to a sloping target of not greater than some known slope and creates from the return signal a beat frequency signal comprising various frequencies corresponding to the various distances from the ranging system to the target. The processing system includes a first tracking bandpass filter which is caused to seek and lock onto the lowest frequency FL in the beat frequency signal. Given frequency FL, the angle of the beam and the maximum slope of the target, a theoretical maximum frequency FX is computed. A second tracking bandpass filter tracks down from frequency FX to and locks onto frequency FH, the frequency component in the beat frequency signal associated with the maximum range to the target. From frequencies FL and FH and the beam angle, the average range to and/or slope of the target can be computed.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald W. Kipp
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 05:28
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S13/00; G01S13/02; G01S13/06; G01S13/08; G01S13/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
A signal processing system for use with a radar range measuring system which transmits a radio frequency beam of known finite angle toward a target which is at not greater than a known non-normal angle to the beam to illuminate a portion thereof and receives a return reflected signal therefrom and produces therefrom a beat frequency signal having various frequency components corresponding to various ranges between said target and said range measuring system, said signal processing system comprising in combination: means responsive to said beat frequency signal for determining the lowest frequency value F L thereof; means responsive to frequency F L and to a knowledge of the maximum angle said target can attain and to said angle of said transmitted beam for determining the maximum frequency F X associated with the maximum distance to said target; and means responsive to frequency F X and to said beat frequency signal for determining the actual maximum frequency F H contained in said beat frequency signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
164 words
A signal processing system for use with a radar range measuring system which transmits a radio frequency beam of known finite angle toward a target which is at not greater than a known non-normal angle to the beam to illuminate a portion thereof and receives a return reflected signal therefrom and produces therefrom a beat frequency signal having various frequency components corresponding to various ranges between said target and said range measuring system, said signal processing system comprising in combination: means responsive to said beat frequency signal for determining the lowest frequency value F L thereof; means responsive to frequency F L and to a knowledge of the maximum angle said target can attain and to said angle of said transmitted beam for determining the maximum frequency F X associated with the maximum distance to said target; and means responsive to frequency F X and to said beat frequency signal for determining the actual maximum frequency F H contained in said beat frequency signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination set forth in claim 1 further including means responsive to said signal at frequency F L and F H and to said antenna angle for determining the actual angle of said target.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
85 words
The combination set forth in either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said means for determining frequency F L comprises means producing a control signal at a succession of values and a tracking bandpass filter responsive to said beat frequency signal and to said control signal for passing said frequency F L at a particular value of control signal and means responsive to said frequency F L being passed by said tracking bandpass filter for locking said bandpass filter to said frequency F L .
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
76 words
The combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said means producing said control signal comprises a counter, means for advancing said counter and means for converting the count in said counter to said control signal and wherein said means responsive to said frequency F L being passed by said tracking bandpass filter comprises means responsive to the presence of said frequency F L for producing a signal for preventing said counter from changing its count.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said means for determining said maximum frequency comprises a look-up table responsive to the count in said counter when said counter is prevented from changing its count for providing a signal indicative of frequency F X .
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
90 words
The combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said means for determining frequency F H comprises means for producing a second control signal at a succession of values, a second tracking bandpass filter responsive to said beat frequency signal and to said second control signal for passing said frequency F H at a particular value of said second control signal and means responsive to said frequency F H being passed by said second tracking bandpass filter for locking said second tracking bandpass filter to said frequency F H .
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
The combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein said means responsive to said frequency F X comprises means for causing said means producing said second control signal to produce said second control signal of a value which causes said second tracking bandpass filter to pass a signal initially at frequency F X .
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
82 words
The combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein said means producing said second control signal comprises a second counter, means for decrementing said second counter and means for converting the count in said second counter to said second control signal and wherein said means responsive to said frequency F H being passed by said second tracking bandpass filter comprises means responsive to the presence of said frequency F H producing a signal for preventing said second counter from changing its count.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein said means responsive to said frequency F X includes means for setting said second counter to a count which causes said second tracking bandpass filter to initially pass frequency F X .
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The combination as set forth in either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said means for determining said maximum frequency comprises a look-up table responsive to the value of said frequency F L for providing a signal indicative of frequency F X .
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
88 words
The combination as set forth in either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said means for determining said frequency F H comprises means for producing a control signal at a succession of values, a tracking bandpass filter responsive to said beat frequency signal and to said control signal for passing said frequency F H at a particular value of control signal and means responsive to said frequency F H being passed by said tracking bandpass filter for locking said tracking bandpass filter to said frequency F H .
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
The combination as set forth in claim 11 wherein said means responsive to said frequency F X comprises means for causing said means producing said control signal to produce a signal of value which causes said tracking bandpass filter to pass a signal initially at frequency F X .
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
76 words
The combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said means producing said control signal comprises a counter, means for decrementing said counter and means for converting the count in said counter to said control signal and wherein said means responsive to said frequency F H being passed by said tracking bandpass filter comprises means responsive to the presence of said frequency F H for producing a signal for preventing said counter from changing its count.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination as set forth in claim 13 wherein said means responsive to said frequency F X includes means for setting said counter to a count which causes said tracking bandpass filter to initially pass frequency F X .
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-03-06 | 1987-09-05 | 1988-03-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-03-06 | 1991-09-05 | 1992-03-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-03-06 | 1995-09-05 | 1996-03-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |