Detecting active emitters using scan rate correlation of tracking receiver and radar data

• Main Authors: KENNEDY; THOMAS A, ROTH; STEVE
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 30.12.1997
• Edition: 6
• Subjects: ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION ORRERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; MEASURING; PHYSICS; RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; TESTING

A method wherein the scan rate of an active emitter is simultaneously estimated by a tracking receiver and a radar system and are then compared to correlate tracks generated by the tracking receiver and the radar system. The output produced by the present method provides for data that is more accurately indicative of the locations and identifications of emitters tracked by the tracking receiver and the radar system. More specifically, the method comprises the following steps. An active emitter having a scanning antenna is simultaneously tracked using a tracking receiver and a radar system. The location of the emitter is estimated using the tracking receiver by processing measurements of the electromagnetic signals generated by the emitter. The scan rate of the emitter is estimated using the tracking receiver by detecting strobing of the main lobe of the signals generated the emitter. The scan rate of the emitter is estimated using the radar system. Finally, the respective estimated scan rates are correlated to improve the accuracy of the estimated location and identification of the emitter.