Radar Basics

Dr.V.R.S.Mani
Asso.Prof. (SG) / ECE
NEC
I. Learning Objectives
A. The student will comprehend the basic
operation of a simple pulse radar system.

B. The student will know the following

terms: pulse width, pulse repetition frequency,
carrier frequency, peak power, average power,
and duty cycle.

C. The student will know the block

diagram of a simple pulse radar system and
will comprehend the major components of that
system.
 D. The student will comprehend the basic
operation of a simple continuous wave radar
system.

E. The student will comprehend the

concept of doppler frequency shift.

F. The student will know the block

diagram of a simple continuous wave radar
system and will comprehend the major
components of that system, including
amplifiers, power amplifiers, oscillators, and
waveguides.
 G. The student will comprehend the use
of filters in a continuous wave radar system.

H. The student will know the

fundamental means of imparting information
to radio waves and will comprehend the uses,
advantages, and disadvantages of the various
means.

I. The student will comprehend the

function and characteristics of radar/radio
antennas and beam formation.
 J. The student will comprehend the
factors that affect radar performance.

K. The student will comprehend

frequency modulated CW as a means of range
determination.

L. The student will comprehend the

basic principles of operation of pulse doppler
radar and MTI systems.
Normal radar functions:
1. Range (from pulse delay)
2. Velocity (from Doppler frequency shift)
3. Angular direction (from antenna pointing)
• Signature analysis and inverse scattering:
4.Target size (from magnitude of return)
5. Target shape and components (return as a
function of direction)
6. Moving parts (modulation of the return)
7. Material composition
• The complexity (cost & size) of the radar increases
with the extent of the functions that the radar
performs.
 Two Basic Radar Types

 Pulse Transmission

 Continuous Wave
Pulse Transmission
 Range vs. Power/PW/PRF

•Minimum Range: If still transmitting when return

received RETURN NOT SEEN.

•Max Range:
AveragePow er
PeakPower  PW
PRT  PW *PRF

As min Rh max Rh
PW
PRF
 2. Pulse repetition frequency (PRF)
 a. Pulses per second
 b. Relation to pulse repetition time (PRT)
 c. Effects of varying PRF
 (1) Maximum range
 (2) Accuracy
 3. Peak power
 a. Maximum signal power of any pulse
 b. Affects maximum range of radar
  4. Average power
 a. Total power transmitted per unit of time
 b. Relationship of average power to PW and PRT
 5. Duty cycle
 a. Ratio PW (time transmitting) to PRT (time of entire
cycle, time transmitting plus rest time)
 b. Also equal to ratio of average power to peak power
 C. Discuss the determination of range with
a pulse radar.
 Determining Range With Pulse Radar

Range  c*t
2

c = 3 x 108 m/sec
t is time to receive return
divide by 2 because pulse traveled to object and back
 Pulse Transmission
 Pulse Width (PW)
 Length or duration of a given pulse
 Pulse Repetition Time (PRT=1/PRF)
 PRT is time from beginning of one pulse to the
beginning of the next
 PRF is frequency at which consecutive pulses are
transmitted.
 PW can determine the radar’s minimum detection range;
PW can determine the radar’s maximum detection range.
 PRF can determine the radar’s maximum detection range.
 D. Describe the components of a pulse
radar system.
 1. Synchronizer
 2. Transmitter
 3. Antenna
 4. Duplexer
 5. Receiver
 6. Display unit
 7. Power supply
 Pulse Radar Block Diagram

Transmitter
Synchronizer

RF ATR

Duplexer Antenna
Power
(Switching Unit)
Supply
Echo TR

Receiver
Display Video

Antenna Bearing or Elevation

 Different Types of Radar
Bistatic : the transmit and receive antennas are at
different locations as viewed from the target (e.g.,
ground transmitter and airborne receiver).
• Monostatic : the transmitter and receiver are
colocated as viewed from the target (i.e., the same
antenna is used to transmit and receive).
• Quasi-monostatic: the transmit and receive
antennas are slightly separated but still appear to
be at the same location as viewed from the target
(e.g., separate transmit and receive antennas on
the same aircraft).
Continuous Wave Radar
 Employs continual
RADAR transmission

 Separate transmit and

receive antennas

 Relies on the
“DOPPLER SHIFT”
Doppler Frequency Shifts

Motion Away:
Echo Frequency Decreases

Motion Towards:
Echo Frequency Increases
 Continuous Wave Radar
Components
Transmitter Antenna
CW RF
Oscillator OUT

Discriminator AMP Mixer IN

Antenna

Indicator
 Pulse Vs. Continuous Wave
Pulse Echo Continuous Wave
 Single Antenna  Requires 2 Antennae
 Gives Range,  Range or Alt. Info
usually Alt. as well  High SNR
 Susceptible To  More Difficult to Jam
Jamming But Easily Deceived
 Physical Range  Amp can be tuned to
Determined By PW look for expected
and PRF. frequencies
 RADAR Wave Modulation
 Amplitude Modulation
– Vary the amplitude of the carrier sine wave
 Frequency Modulation
– Vary the frequency of the carrier sine wave
 Pulse-Amplitude Modulation
– Vary the amplitude of the pulses
 Pulse-Frequency Modulation
– Vary the Frequency at which the pulses occur
 Amplitude Freq. mod.
modulation
Modulation

Pulse-amplitude modulation

Pulse frequency modulation

 Antennae
 Two Basic Purposes:
 Radiates RF Energy
 Provides Beam Forming and Focus
 Must Be 1/2 of the Wave Length for the
maximum wave length employed
 Wide Beam pattern for Search, Narrow for
Track
Beamwidth Vs. Accuracy

Beamwidth vs Accuracy

Ship A Ship B
Azimuth Angular
Measurement

Azimuth Angular Measurement

Relative Bearing = Angle from ship’s heading.
True Bearing = Ship’s Heading + Relative Bearing

Ship’s Heading
N Angle

Target Angle
Determining Altitude

Determining Altitude

Altitude

Angle of Elevation

Altitude = slant range x sin0 elevation

 Concentrating Radar
Energy Through Beam
Formation
 Linear Arrays
 Uses the Principle of wave summation
(constructive interference) in a special direction
and wave cancellation (destructive interference) in
other directions.
 Made up of two or more simple half-wave
antennas.

 Quasi-optical
 Uses reflectors and “lenses” to shape the beam.
 Reflector Shape
 Paraboloid - Conical Scan used for fire
control - can be CW or Pulse
 Orange Peel Paraboliod - Usually CW
and primarily for fire control
 Parabolic Cylinder - Wide search beam
- generally larger and used for long-
range search applications - Pulse
Wave Shaping -Quasi-Optical Systems

Reflectors Lenses
 Wave Guides
 Used as a medium for
high energy shielding.
 Uses A Magnetic Field
to keep the energy
centered in the wave
guide.
 Filled with an inert gas
to prevent arcing due
to high voltages within
the waveguide.
Questions?

.
Radar Principles and Systems
Part II
 Factors That Affect Radar
Performance
 Signal Reception  Signal-to-noise ratio
 Receiver Bandwidth  Receiver Sensitivity
 Pulse Shape  Pulse Compression
 Power Relation  Scan Rate
 Beam Width  Mechanical
 Pulse Repetition  Electronic
Frequency
 Antenna Gain
 Carrier Frequency
 Radar Cross Section of
 Antenna aperture
Target
 Radar Receiver
Performance Factors
 Signal Reception
 Signal-to-Noise Ratio
 Receiver Bandwidth
 Receiver Sensitivity
Signal Reception

• Only a minute portion of the

RF is reflected off the target.
• Only a fraction of that returns
to the antenna.
• The weaker the signal that
the receiver can process, the
greater the effective range .
 Signal-to-Noise Ratio
 Measured in dB!!!!!
 Ability to recognize target in random noise.
 Noise is always present.
 At some range, noise is greater that target’s return.
 Noise sets the absolute lower limit of the
unit’s sensitivity.
 Threshold level used to remove excess
noise.
 Receiver Bandwidth
 Is the frequency range the receiver can
process.
 Receiver must process many frequencies
 Pulse are generated by summation of sine waves
of various frequencies.
 Frequency shifts occur from Doppler Effects.
 Reducing the bandwidth
 Increases the signal-to-noise ratio(good)
 Distorts the transmitted pulse(bad)
 Receiver Sensitivity
 Smallest return signal that is
discernible against the noise
background.
 Milliwatts range.
 An important factor in determining
the unit’s maximum range.
 Pulse Effects on Radar
Performance
 Pulse Shape
 Pulse Width
 Pulse Compression
 Pulse Power
 Pulse Shape
 Determines range accuracy and
minimum and maximum range.
 Ideally we want a pulse with vertical
leading and trailing edges.
 Very clear signal – easily discerned when
listening for the echo.
 Pulse Width
 Determines the range resolution.
 Determines the minimum detection
range.
 Can also determine the maximum
range of radar.
 The narrower the pulse, the better the
range resolution.
 Pulse Compression
 Increases frequency of the wave
within the pulse.
 Allows for good range resolution
while packing enough power to
provide a large maximum range.
 Pulse Power
 The “Ummph” to get the signal out a
long way.
 High peak power is desirable to
achieve maximum ranges.
 Low power means smaller and more
compact radar units and less power
required to operate.
 Other Factors Affecting Performance

 Scan Rate and Beam Width

 Narrow beam require slower antenna rotation rate.
 Pulse Repetition Frequency
 Determines radars maximum range(tactical factor).
 Carrier Frequency
 Determines antenna size, beam directivity and target size.
 Radar Cross Section (What the radar can
see(reflect))
 Function of target size, shape, material, angle and carrier
frequency.
Summary of Factors and Compromises

Summary of Factors and Compromises

Factor Desired Why Trade-off Required

Pulse Shape Sharp a rise as possible Better range accuracy Require infinite bandwidth, more complex
Tall as possible More power /longer range Requires larger equipment/more power

Pulse Width Short as possible Closer minimum range Reduces maximum range
More accurate range

Pulse Repetition Freq. Short Better range accuracy Reduces maximum range
Better angular resolution
Better detection probability

Pulse Compression Uses technique Greater range More complex circuitry

Shorter minimum range

Power More Greater maximum range Requires larger equipment & power

Beam Width Narrow Greater angular accuracy Slow antenna rate, Detection time

Carrier Frequency High Greater target resolution Reduces maximum range

Detects smaller targets
Smaller equipment

Receiver Sensitivity High Maximizes detection range More complex equipment

Receiver Bandwidth Narrow Better signal-to-noise ratio Distorts pulse shape

 Specific Types of Radar
 Frequency Modulated CW Radar
 Use for radar altimeters and missile guidance.
 Pulse Doppler
 Carrier wave frequency within pulse is compared with a
reference signal to detect moving targets.
 Moving Target Indicator (MTI) System
 Signals compared with previous return to enhance moving
targets. (search radars)
 Frequency Agile Systems
 Difficult to jam.
 Specific Types of Radar
 SAR / ISAR
 Phased Array - Aegis
 Essentially 360° Coverage
 Phase shift and frequency shift allow the
planar array to “steer” the beam.
 Also allows for high / low power output
depending on requirements.
Questions?

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