www.radartutorial.eu www.radartutorial.eu Radar Basics

Frequency Diversity Radar

diplexer
duplexer
frequency
selector
receiver
f₂
receiver
f₁
delay
stage
summator
summator
Multipli-
cator
transmitter
f₁
transmitter
f₂
modulator
modulator
Synchro-
nizer

Figure 1: Block diagram of a frequency-diversity radar

diplexer
duplexer
frequency
selector
receiver
f₂
receiver
f₁
delay
stage
summator
summator
multipli-
cator
transmitter
f₁
transmitter
f₂
modulator
modulator
synchro-
nizer

Figure 1: Block diagram of a frequency-diversity radar
(Please hold the mouse-pointer over dedicated components of the block diagram and you'll get a describing text)

Frequency Diversity Radar

In order to overcome some of the target size fluctuations many radars use two or more different illumination frequencies. Frequency diversity typically uses two transmitters operating in tandem to illuminate the target with two separate frequencies like shown in the picture.

The received signals can be separately processed to maintain coherence. In addition to the doubling in performance achieved by using two transmitters in parallel, the use of two separate frequencies improves the radar performance once again by almost the double performance in the receiving path (typically 2.8dBs).

With the frequency diversity radar, it is possible to achieve a considerably higher range with the same probability of detection and the same false alarm rate. The physical basis is the smoothing of the fluctuation of the complex echo signal. As a result of the differences in the target’s secondary radiation pattern for the different carrier frequencies, the extremes (minima and maxima) are shifted relative to each other, which, when the individual signals are summed, leads to a smoothing of the resulting signal. A necessary condition for this range increase by increasing the probability of target detection is the independence of the reflected individual signals. This is precisely the case when the different spectra of the transmitted and thus the echo signals do not overlap.

The multiple frequency procedure is used by the following technical methods:

  1. Simultaneous transmission of several pulses at different carrier frequency in the simplest form can be made with several transmitters and receivers working simultaneously.
     
  2. Succession following radiation of several signals the carrier frequency can be changed by changing the frequency:
    • of each pulse after the other (frequency agility),
    • within the duration of a single pulse (frequency diversity) and
    • after several pulses (possible at higher pulse repetition frequencies only).

    Combinations of several methods are also used.

Example given: the ATC-radar ASR-910 uses multiple frequencies, transmitting two pulses closely following the other (frequency diversity), and the AN/FPS-117 air defense radar is also equipped with two frequency carriers and an additional pulse compression. (Since the spectra of the transmitted frequencies cover themselves in the pulse compression, other rules have to be considered.)

The delayed radiation of several signals has advantages opposite to the simultaneous radiation of several signals:

An important advantage of the multiple frequency procedure is the high jamming immunity of the procedure. The further processing of the single received signals has a contribution to that. The linear addition of the signals of different frequency components increases the probability of detection of the target. However, this brings disadvantages with regard to the jamming immunity like radar with a single Tx-frequency only.

The work with two transmitters of different frequencies (E.g.: ASR-910) is often looked at falsely only for reasons of the redundancy. („However, if a transmitter fails, I still have the other transmitter!”) The projected maximum range of the radar unit is then reduced to 70%[1]. This fact is usually noticed by the flight checker, however, the cause is usually checked somewhere else.

  1. fourth root from the losses of 3dB (decreased Tx-power) plus 2 to 2,5dB increasing of the fluctuations loss
diplexer
duplexer
frequency
selector
receiver
f₂
receiver
f₁
delay
stage
summator
summator
Multipli-
cator
transmitter
f₁
transmitter
f₂
modulator
modulator
Synchro-
nizer

Figure 1: Block diagram of a frequency-diversity radar

Principle of Operation

Synchronizer

The synchronizer supplies the synchronizing signals that time the transmitted pulses, the indicator, and other associated circuits.

Modulator

The oscillator tube of the transmitter is keyed by a high-power dc pulse of energy generated by this separate unit called the Modulator.

Transmitter

The radar transmitter produces the short duration high-power rf pulses of energy that are radiated into space by the antenna.

Commutator
f1
f2
Gate pulse
for f1
Gate pulse
for f2

Figure 2: Commutator

Kommutator
f1
f2
Gate pulse f1
Gate pulse f2

Figure 2: Commutator

A commutator is actually a time controlled switch. The word comes from Latin and means „collecting bar” or „call handling”. Either the commutator works passively (all incoming RF pulses on the three input jacks will be conduct to the output jack) or actively (the RF input pulses are switched to the output time controlled by separate gate pulses like shown in the figure.)

Since very high frequencies must be switched very fast, the commutator uses a wiring technology like the one used by the duplexer.

Duplexer

The duplexer alternately switches the antenna between the transmitter and receiver so that only one antenna is used. This switching is necessary because the high-power pulses of the transmitter would destroy the receiver if energy was allowed to enter the receiver.

Antenna

The antenna transfers the transmitter energy to signals in space with the required distribution and efficiency. This process is identical during reception.

Frequency Selector

The frequency selector is a frequency-separating filter. It separates the received echo signals into the receivers depending on the frequency.

Receivers

The receivers amplify and demodulate the received RF-signals. The receiver provides video signals on the output.

Delay stage
f2  f1
oscilloscope
delay time

Figure 3: delay time

f2  f1
oscilloscope
delay time

Figure 3: delay time

At the transmitter, pulse f2 is delayed by a predetermined time with respect to pulse f1. To undo this delay on the receiving path (The pulse f2 won't dwell faster, even if we want it!), the pulse f1 must be delayed exactly with the same time delay. Now the signal processor can process both signals simultaneously. Notice, that the first pulse transmitted is shown on the oscilloscope as the first pulse as well, i.e. on the left side of the screen!

Signal Processing

The single signals are processed in parallel in separate channels at a multiple frequency radar unit. These signals are then accumulated and compared with a threshold value. Several processing procedures are used:

High effectiveness is reached when using one of the mentioned processing procedures.
But which procedure to use to which radar unit is usually highly classified.

Indicator

The indicator should present to the observer a continuous, easily understandable, graphic picture of the relative position of radar targets.