University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

Erbtec Engineering, Inc.

Mitchell Alfred Randall

Joshua Michael Wurman

Chris Dale Burghart

Christopher Lee Holloway

Lee A Erb

Alan R Carr

Volker G Wulfmeyer

Brian D Bandhauer

Eric Loew

Paul G Beaty

A slave pulsed laser stabilizes the frequency by using the master laser frequency to stabilize a cavity in the slave pulsed laser. The slave pulsed laser includes an optical modulator, a cavity, a cavity modifier, and an output generator. The cavity includes an end reflector, a laser generator, an optical injector, and an output coupler. The optical modulator receives a continuous wave laser signal that includes a carrier frequency. The optical modulator then modulates the continuous wave laser signal to generate two sidebands around the carrier frequency. The laser generator generates a first laser signal in the cavity. The optical injector then injects the continuous wave laser signal with the first laser signal. The output generator generates an output signal based on the continuous wave laser signal. The cavity modifier then modifies a length of the cavity based on the output signal wherein the cavity is in resonance with the frequency of the continuous wave laser signal. The output coupler then transmits the pulsed first laser signal from the output coupler. The slave pulsed laser advantageously transmits the pulsed laser signal with non-detectable chirp for high signal-to-noise ratio.

Frequency stable pulsed laser

The bistatic radar system uses a scanning beam antenna located at the transmitter to transmit a focused beam of high frequency energy into a predefined space, with the transmitted beam comprising a series of pulses. The transmitter also includes apparatus for determining pulse origination data comprising: pulse origination time and direction of propagation for each of the pulses in the transmitted beam emanating from the antenna, where the antenna is scanned in a predetermined scan pattern in at least an azimuthal direction. The bistatic radar system also includes at least one receiver, located at a site remote from the transmitter and includes apparatus for generating pulse component receipt data indicative of receipt of components of the pulses that are contained in the transmitted beam that are reflected from scatterers in the predefined space. The receivers all transmit their data, substantially instantaneously, as received back to a central processor, which synchronizes (collates) the data in order to calculate, in near real-time, vector wind fields, divergence, vorticity, etc. These calculations typically are performed in polar coordinates or can be performed in Cartesian coordinates. Thus, the present bistatic radar system performs near-real-time synchronization, collating, transmission, and processing of data received from one or more bistatic receivers and from a transmitting radar to produce weather data in a more timewise efficient manner.

Bistatic radar system for centralized, near-real-time synchronized, processing of data to identify scatterers

The bistatic radar network uses an incoherent transmitter for determining the presence, locus, motion, and characteristics of scatterers in a predefined space. The incoherent transmitter generates pulses of high frequency energy that vary in frequency and/or phase. The bistatic radar network having an incoherent transmitter uses a scanning beam antenna located at the transmitter to transmit a focused beam of high frequency energy into a predefined space, with the transmitted beam comprising a series of pulses, each pulse in the series of pulses having a varying frequency, phase, pulse origination time and direction of propagation as it is emanated from said antenna. The transmitter also includes apparatus for determining pulse origination data comprising: frequency, phase, pulse origination time and direction of propagation, for each of the pulses in the transmitted beam emanating from the antenna, where the antenna is scanned in a predetermined scan pattern in at least an azimuthal direction. The bistatic network also includes at least one receiver, located at a site remote from the transmitter and includes apparatus for generating pulse component receipt data indicative of receipt of components of the pulses that are contained in the transmitted beam that are reflected from scatterers in the predefined space, and a processor, responsive to receipt of the pulse origination data from the transmitter and the pulse component receipt data, for generating scatterer location data indicative of presence, locus, motion, and characteristics of scatterers in the predefined space.

Bistatic radar network having incoherent transmitter operating in a scanning mode to identify scatterers

The multiple beam radar system uses multiple simultaneously transmitted beams of high frequency energy to identify scatterers that are located in a predetermined volume of space. This multiple beam radar system simultaneously transmits several beams of high frequency energy, produced by an antenna which operates in a mechanically scanning mode, and simultaneously receives the returned radiation, which constitutes components of this narrow beam that have been reflected off scatterers located in the path of the beam. The transmitted (and thus received) frequency of each beam is different, providing information relating to the presence, locus and characteristics of the scatterers by analyzing the plurality of received beams. Each of the simultaneously transmitted beams are focused in a different direction by virtue of the fact that the antenna transmits beams of different frequencies in different directions, with the direction of each beam and the separation between beams being a function of the transmitted frequencies and the characteristics of the antenna.

Radar system having multiple simultaneously transmitted beams operating in a scanning mode to identify scatterers

The personal computer based integrated radar acquisition (PIRAQ) system integrates a programmable timing generator, a digital Intermediate Frequency (IF) processor, and a digital signal processor on a standardized personal computer 'add-on' electronic circuit module that accepts standard IF input and produces standard radar display outputs. The digital intermediate frequency processor includes an IF pre-processor, a programmable digital matched filter, and a wide dynamic range digital baseband converter. Implementing the PIRAQ system in digital components on a single electronic circuit module for use in a personal computer provides and efficient, low-cost, portable, and programmable high-performance radar acquisition system hardware base from which radar signals can be digitally processed.

Radar acquisition system

A multiple-Doppler radar network can be constructed using only one, traditional, transmitting pencil-beam radar and one or more passive, non-transmitting receiving sites. Radiation scattered from the pencil beam of the transmitting radar as it penetrates weather targets can be detected at the receive-only sites as well as at the transmitter. In a bistatic system, the location of targets in Cartesian space can be calculated from the pointing angle of the transmitting antenna and the time between transmission of a radar pulse from the transmitter and detection at a passive receiver site.

Receiver antenna for bistatic doppler radar network

This amplifier is equipped with a digital bias control apparatus to provide precise, dynamic control over the operating point of a plurality of amplifying elements in the ampliifer. A processor optimizes the operating point of each individual amplifying element as a function of the amplifying element characteristics, the operating environment and the applied input signal. The use of a processor also enables the user to remotely program the operating point of each individual amplifying element in the amplifier. The processor further enables dynamic changes in the operating characteristics of the amplifier as the operating environment of these amplifing elements changes. The processor also generates an alarm signal if any particular amplifying element is operating out of its nominal specifications. This digital bias control apparatus can function in class A, AB, B or C type of amplifiers whether they are tuned or untuned and whether the amplifier operates in a pulsed or continuous mode.

Growing community of inventors

Boulder, CO, United States of America

Mitchell Alfred Randall