Honeywell International Inc.

Other

Honeywell G.m.b.h.

Optical Solutions, Inc.

Timothy J Reilly

Steven H Thomas

Glen Brian Backes

Benjamin J Winstead

James R Hager

Todd R Burlet

James B Oven

Michael L Sheffels

Tika M Kude

James B Honeywell International Inc Oven

Systems and methods for using velocity measurements to adjust Doppler filter bandwidth are provided herein. In certain embodiments, a method for adjusting bandwidth for at least one Doppler filter in a Doppler beam sharpened radar altimeter comprises receiving a velocity measurement; adjusting the bandwidth of the at least one Doppler filter based on the velocity measurement; and transmitting a radar beam, wherein the radar beam is aimed toward a surface. The method further comprises receiving at least one reflected signal, wherein the at least one reflected signal is a reflection of the radar beam being reflected off of at least one portion of the surface; and filtering the at least one reflected signal with the at least one Doppler filter to form at least one Doppler beam.

Systems and methods for using velocity measurements to adjust doppler filter bandwidth

A method of compensating for component errors within a radar altimeter is described. The method includes periodically switching transmit pulses from a transmit antenna to a programmable delay device, calculating an altitude based on a transmit pulse received from the programmable delay device, comparing the calculated altitude to an expected altitude, the expected altitude based on a pre-set delay through the programmable delay device, and compensating an altitude measured by the radar altimeter, based on transmit pulses output through the transmit antenna, by an error correction amount based on a difference between the calculated altitude and expected altitudes.

High accuracy radar altimeter using automatic calibration

A radar sensor is described that includes a radar transmitter, a radar receiver configured to receive reflected returns of signals output by the radar transmitter, and a signal processing unit configured to process signals received by the radar receiver. The signal processing unit includes a comparator, a first filter comprising an output coupled to a reference input of the comparator, and a second filter comprising an output coupled to a signal input of the comparator. The first and second filters are configured to receive a common input related to the reflected returns. The first filter is configured to have a time constant such that a rise time of the first filter output is faster than a rise time of the second filter output.

Methods and systems providing an adaptive threshold for a beam sharpened pulse radar

In one aspect, a method of radar altimeter operation including a time dependent gain control is described. The method comprises triggering a Sensitivity Time Control (STC) gain control signal at a pulse repetition frequency (PRF) of a transmit pulse to attenuate interference from at least one of an antenna leakage signal and a signal reflected from equipment. The method also includes shaping the STC gain control signal from no attenuation at a first time, before a transmitter sends the transmit pulse, to a stable maximum attenuation at the time the transmitter sends the transmit pulse, to no attenuation at a second time, after the transmitter sends the transmit pulse. The method also includes matching a bandwidth of an intermediate frequency (IF) amplifier to the pulse width of a transmitted pulse.

Methods and systems for reducing interference caused by antenna leakage signals

A method of delaying propagation of a radio frequency (RF) signal through a circuit is described. The method comprises receiving data that represents a delay time interval, providing an RF signal when a start pulse triggers a memory device, initiating a count through the delay time interval based on receipt of a start pulse, and outputting the RF signal after the delay time interval has expired.

Precision radio frequency delay device

A method for phase calibrating antennas in a radar system is disclosed. The method comprises providing a transmit antenna and two or more receive antennas, the receive antennas each in communication with a respective receiver channel. A radio frequency pulse having a leakage pulse is transmitted from the transmit antenna. The leakage pulse is received at each of the receive antennas and respective receiver channel. The relative phase change between the receive antennas is determined by using the leakage pulse as a reference signal.

Method for phase calibrating antennas in a radar system

A radar processor for controlling detonation of a munition and operable to receive a detonation altitude from an external source is provided. The radar processor is configured to set a first range gate and a reference range gate based on the received detonation altitude, and cause a radar transmitter to operate in a continuous wave mode, for a predetermined period, upon receipt of radar return signals through the first range gate. The radar processor calculates a velocity of the munition from continuous wave return signals, and calculates a time delay for outputting a detonation signal based on the received detonation altitude, the calculated velocity, and a reference altitude of the munition, the altitude of the munition calculated based upon receipt of radar return signals through the reference range gate. The radar transmitter operates in a pulse mode while the munition is outside the reference range gate.

Methods and systems utilizing Doppler prediction to enable fusing

A method for controlling a detonation altitude of a radar equipped munition is described. The method includes calculating a velocity of the munition while the munition is at an altitude greater than the desired detonation altitude, determining when the munition is at a reference altitude, and calculating a time representing when the vehicle will reach the desired detonation altitude based on the calculated velocity and determined reference altitude. The method also includes generating a fusing signal to detonate the munition after the calculated time has passed.

A method for determining a mechanical angle to a radar target utilizing a multiple antenna radar altimeter is described. The method comprises receiving radar return signals at the multiple antennas, populating an ambiguity resolution matrix with the electrical phase angle computations, selecting a mechanical angle from the ambiguity resolution matrix that results in a least amount of variance from the electrical phase angle computations, and using at least one other variance calculation to determine a quality associated with the selected mechanical angle.

Methods and systems for identifying high-quality phase angle measurements in an interferometric radar system

A unit is described that is configured to control detonation of a munition such that the munition is detonated at a desired altitude. The unit includes a radar transmitter, a radar receiver that includes a radar range gate, and a sequencer. The sequencer is configured to receive a detonation altitude and set the range gate based on the received detonation altitude. The unit is also configured to output a detonation signal when radar return pulses received by the receiver aligned with gate delay pulses from the range gate.

Methods and systems for controlling a height of munition detonation

A PWM DAC including an emitter follower buffer circuit provides increased accuracy and reduced cost. The emitter follower buffer circuit that enables inexpensive implementation of the PWM DAC. A temperature compensation circuit adjusts the digital input value applied to the PWM to compensate for temperature-induced variation introduced by the emitter follower buffer circuit. The compensation circuit may incorporate circuitry that replicates the PWM DAC at least in part, and monitors the base-emitter voltage of a replicated emitter follower buffer to track temperature-induced variation in the PWM DAC. The compensation circuit generates an error value that can be used to compensate one or more PWM DACs within a particular system.

Digital-to-analog converter with temperature compensation

Disclosed is a data message voter system for data messages from a plurality of loosely synchronized redundant processors. The data message voter system comprises a data receiver associated with each processor for capturing the data message from the processor. In turn, the voter only votes on those data messages captured by the receivers within an approximate skew time.

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Plymouth, MN, United States of America

Timothy J Reilly