Open AccessMonopulse sum and difference signals with compensation for a failed feed element
Author(s) -
Sheret Tamara Louise,
Allen Ben,
Parini Clive G.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
iet microwaves, antennas and propagation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.555
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1751-8733
pISSN - 1751-8725
DOI - 10.1049/iet-map.2015.0537
Subject(s) - monopulse radar , amplitude comparison monopulse , antenna (radio) , comparator , compensation (psychology) , signal (programming language) , antenna feed , anechoic chamber , electronic engineering , radar , acoustics , computer science , engineering , dipole antenna , physics , electrical engineering , telecommunications , coaxial antenna , radar imaging , radar engineering details , psychology , programming language , voltage , psychoanalysis
Monopulse antenna systems are commonly used in airborne radar as they give angular information in a single measurement. For amplitude based monopulse antenna systems, multiple overlapping beams are sent out from the antenna feed elements. These signals may then be re‐combined using a comparator network to form the sum and difference signals, which provide angular information relating to the target position. This study investigates a proposed method by which the individual feed element signals from the monopulse antenna are captured and combined in software, thus removing the need for a hardware comparator behind the feed elements. Results of a sum and difference signal created by a comparator and by this proposed method are compared. This study then verifies a method by which the individual feed element signals from the monopulse antenna are captured, combined in software and presents a novel method to compensate for a failed feed element signal, verified in both simulation and anechoic chamber measurements. It is shown that this new compensation for a single failed feed element works well for a signal in the centre of the monopulse antenna, where gain and sum patterns are shown to be conserved.