The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 15, 1992
Filed:
Oct. 11, 1988
William C Holzer, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
Arthur H Hardy, Jr, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
Santa Barbara Research Center, Goleta, CA (US);
Abstract
The range (R) to a target (12) is precisely determined by controlling the amplitude of the carrier before modulation using a feedback signal derived from the detected return. The amplitude of the carrier is adjusted (40) so that all return pulses have a constant amplitude. Hence, for any given range, all return pulses cross threshold at the same time, thereby eliminating ranging errors due to phase distortion. The return pulses are threshold detected (54) and converted to a CW signal, which is then down converted. The phase information, which is indicative of target range, is preserved in the down conversion process and is extracted by phase comparison (72) with a reference signal to determine the target range.