Phase-normalized parallel tuned receiver channel system

Abstract

A system having a plurality of parallel tuned receiver channels, wherein a normalized phase relationship is maintained in the respective channels between amplified pulsed high frequency carrier signals having a given frequency is disclosed. Each of a plurality of parallel channels for receiving pulsed high frequency carrier signals from disparate sources includes a tuned frequency amplifier for amplifying a given frequency component of a signal in the channel within a predetermined bandwith. A continuous wave reference signal having the given frequency is inserted into each channel before the input of the tuned frequency amplifier. For each channel a phase comparator compares the phase of the reference signal components of the amplified signal with the phase of the reference signal; and a phase adjuster controlled by the phase comparator responds to the phase comparison by adjusting the phase of the signal that is provided to the amplifier. A separate switch is connected to each channel for providing the amplified signal to the phase comparator for that channel. A pulse detector and processor circuit receives the amplified signal from the plurality of channels and detects a coherent pulsed signal when such is present in any of the amplified signals received from the separate channels. A switching control logic circuit is connected to the signal detector and processor circuit, for enabling the generation of the reference signal, and for enabling the switches to provide the amplified signals in the plurality of channels to all of the respective channel phase comparators simultaneously during a predetermined interval in response to detection of the coherent pulsed signal by the pulse detector and processor circuit, thereby causing the phase adjustments in the separate channels to be made simultaneously to normalize the phase shift between the reference signal and the amplified signals in the plurality of channels.