Radar Basics

Pulse Compression
Pulse compression is a generic term that is used to describe a waveshaping
process that is produced as a propagating waveform is modified by the
electrical network properties of the transmission line. The pulse is frequency
modulated, which provides a method to further resolve targets which may
have overlapping returns. Pulse compression originated with the desire to
amplify the transmitted impulse (peak) power by temporal compression. It is
a method which combines the high energy of a long pulse width with the high
resolution of a short pulse width. The pulse structure is shown in the figure 1.

Uin
Uout
Figure 1: separation of frequency modulated pulses

Since each part of the pulse has unique frequency, the returns can be completely
separated.

This modulation or coding can be either

FM (frequency modulation)

linear (chirp radar) or

non-linear,
time-frequency-coded waveform (e.g. Costas code) or

PM (phase modulation).

Now the receiver is able to separate targets with overlapping of noise. The
received echo is processed in the receiver by the compression filter. The
compression filter readjusts the relative phases of the frequency components so
that a narrow or compressed pulse is again produced. The radar therefore
obtains a better maximum range than it is expected because of the
conventional radar equation.

Figure 2: short pulse (blue) and a long pulse with intrapulsemodulation (green)

The ability of the receiver to improve the range resolution over that of the conventional
system is called the pulse compression ratio (PCR). For example a pulse compression ratio
of 50:1 means that the system range resolution is reduced by 1/50 of the conventional
system. The pulse compression ratio can be expressed as the ratio of the range resolution of
an unmodulated pulse of length τ to that of the modulated pulse of the same length and
bandwidth B.

(c0 · τ /2)
PCR = =B·τ
(c0 / 2B) (1)

This term is described as Time-Bandwidth-product of the modulated pulse and is equal to

the Pulse Compression Gain, PCG, as the gain in SNR relative to an unmodulated pulse.
Alternatively, the factor of improvement is given the symbol PCR, which can be used as a
number in the range resolution equation, which now achieves:

Rres = c0 · (τ / 2) = PCR · c0 /2 B (2)

The compression ratio is equal to the number of sub pulses in the waveform, i.e., the
number of elements in the code. The range resolution is therefore proportional to the time
duration of one element of the code. The radar maximum range is increased by the fourth
root of PCR.

The minimum range is not improved by the process. The full pulse width still applies to the
transmission, which requires theduplexer to remained aligned to the transmitter
throughout the pulse. Therefore Rmin is unaffected.

Advantages Disadvantages
lower pulse-power high wiring effort
therefore suitable for Solid-State-amplifier

higher maximum range bad minimum range

good range resolution time-sidelobes

better jamming immunity

difficulter reconnaissance

Table 1: Advantages and disadvantages of the pulse compression

Pulse compression with linear FM waveform

At this pulse compression method the transmitting pulse has a linear FM waveform. This
has the advantage that the wiring still can relatively be kept simple. However, the linear
frequency modulation has the disadvantage that jamming signals can be produced
relatively easily by so-called “Sweeper”.

The block diagram on the picture illustrates, in more detail, the principles of a pulse
compression filter.
filters for frequency components

delay lines for the time duration

summary devices

Uin

Uin

Uout

Uout

time duration of
a frequency component

Figure 3: Block diagram (an animation as explanation of the mode of operation)

The compression filter are simply dispersive delay lines with a delay, which is a linear
function of the frequency. The compression filter allows the end of the pulse to „catch up”
to the beginning, and produces a narrower output pulse with a higher amplitude.
As an example of an application of the pulse compression with linear FM waveform
the RRP-117 can be mentioned.

Filters for linear FM pulse compression radars are now based on two main types.

Digital processing (following of the A/D- conversion).

Surface acoustic wave devices.

Uout

side lobe of antenna

(angularly)

aim

time (range) side lobes

Figure 4: View of the time side lobes at an oscilloscope (upper figure) and at B-scope

Time-Side-Lobes

The output of the compression filter consists of the compressed pulse accompanied by
responses at other times (i.e., at other ranges), called time or range sidelobes. The figure
shows a view of the compressed pulse of a chirp radar at an oscilloscope and at a ppi-scope
sector.
Amplitude weighting of the output signals may be used to reduce the time sidelobes to an
acceptable level. Weighting on reception only results a filter „mismatch” and some loss of
signal to noise ratio.

The sidelobe levels are an important parameter when specifying a pulse compression
radar. The application of weighting functions can reduce time sidelobes to the order of
30 db's.

Pulse compression with non-linear FM waveform

The non-linear FM waveform has several distinct advantages. The non-linear FM

waveform requires no amplitude weighting for time-sidelobe suppression since the FM
modulation of the waveform is designed to provide the desired amplitude spectrum, i.e.,
low sidelobe levels of the compressed pulse can be achieved without using amplitude
weighting.

Matched-filter reception and low sidelobes become

compatible in this design. Thus the loss in signal-to-
noise ratio associated with weighting by the usual
mismatching techniques is eliminated.

A symmetrical waveform has a frequency that

increases (or decreases) with time during the first half
of the pulse and decreases (or increases) during the
last half of the pulse. A non symmetrical waveform is
obtained by using one half of a symmetrical waveform.

The disadvantages of the non-linear FM waveform are

Greater system complexity pulse width

The necessity for a separate FM modulation design for linear FM
each type of pulse to achieve the required sidelobe
level. non-linear
symetrically
 Figure 5: symetrically waveform

Figure 6: A non-symmetrical waveform (Output of

the Waveform-Generator

pulse width

Figure 7: non-symetrically
waveform

Phase-Coded Pulse Compression

Figure 8: diagram of a phase-coded pulse compression

Phase-coded waveforms differ from FM waveforms in that the long pulse is sub-divided
into a number of shorter sub pulses. Generally, each sub pulse corresponds with a range
bin. The sub pulses are of equal time duration; each is transmitted with a particular phase.
The phase of each sub-pulse is selected in accordance with a phase code. The most widely
used type of phase coding is binary coding.
The binary code consists of a sequence of either +1 and -1. The phase of the transmitted
signal alternates between 0 and 180° in accordance with the sequence of elements, in the
phase code, as shown on the figure. Since the transmitted frequency is usually not a
multiple of the reciprocal of the sub pulsewidth, the coded signal is generally discontinuous
at the phase-reversal points.

Length of Peak-sidelobe
Code elements
code n ratio, dB
2 +- -6.0
3 ++- -9.5

4 ++-+ , +++- -12.0

5 +++-+ -14.0

7 +++--+- -16.9

11 +++---+--+- -20.8

13 +++++--++-+-+ -22.3

Table: Barker Codes

The selection of the so called random 0, π phases is in fact critical. A special class of binary
codes is the optimum, or Barker, codes. They are optimum in the sense that they provide
low sidelobes, which are all of equal magnitude. Only a small number of these optimum
codes exist. They are shown on the beside table. A computer based study searched for
Barker codes up to 6000, and obtained only 13 as the maximum value.

It will be noted that there are none greater than 13 which implies a maximum compression
ratio of 13, which is rather low. The sidelobe level is -22.3 db.

Publisher: Christian Wolff

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