Monopulse sum and difference signals with compensation for a failed feed element. Issue 6 (1st April 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sheret, Tamara Louise; Allen, Ben; Parini, Clive G.
• Is Part Of: IET microwaves, antennas & propagation. Volume 10:Issue 6(2016)
• Page Start: 645
• Page End: 650
• Publication Date: 2016-04-01
• Subjects: compensation -- antenna feeds -- anechoic chambers (electromagnetic) -- signal processing; hardware comparator network -- anechoic chamber measurement -- monopulse antenna -- antenna feed element -- multiple overlapping beam -- amplitude based monopulse antenna system -- airborne radar -- monopulse sum‐difference signal -- compensation; Microwaves -- Periodicals; Microwave antennas -- Periodicals; Antennas (Electronics) -- Periodicals; Radio wave propagation -- Periodicals; Microwave communication systems -- Periodicals; 621.381305
• DOI: 10.1049/iet-map.2015.0537
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1751-8725

Abstract

Abstract : 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.