TECHNOLOGIES & APPLICATIONS

A SOLID-STATE NANOSECOND MICROWAVE RADAR

Purpose

A solid-state nanosecond microwave radar

The transceiver is designed to operate as a component of a high-resolution short-range radar. It can be used on see and river ships, at airports as a component of runway observing systems, as part of security systems, etc.

The transceiver offers range resolution of the order of 1 m. It is capable of distinguishing small object located near other objects having a significantly larger effective reflecting surface, e.g., small ships and boats near a shore or a big ship or sports airplanes near passenger aircrafts.

Outline and technical and economic characteristics

The transceiver consists of a Gunn-diode-based nanosecond micro-wave pulse generator and a wideband superheterodyne operating in the three-centimeter wavelength range.

The operating circuit of the transmitter involves a power supply, a modulator consisting of an energy store and a semiconductor switch, resonator chamber with a Gunn diode, and an output waveguide with a Y-circulator.

Carrier frequency 10 GHz
Frequency spread not over 0.1%
Microwave pulse FWHM duration ~10 ns
Microwave peak power ~30 W
Peak power pulse-to-pulse spread not over 1%
Pulse repetition rate 1 kHz

The transmitter is made to consist of two modules: a Gunn-diode nanosecond voltage pulse former, equipped with a resonator chamber, and a power supply.

Overall dimensions: 42x85x116 mm
Dimensions of the Gunn-diode nanosecond voltage pulse former 29x65x100 mm
Dimensions of the power supply 82x150x160 mm
Dimensions of the output waveguide path 23x10 mm

The receiver is made based on a superheterodyne equipped with a controllable high-power-level protection device. The transmission actor at the input is controllable within a 30-dB band.

The receiver lso incorporates two voltage-controllable attenuators of intermediate frequency (IF) signals.

Carrier frequency: 10 GHz
Carrier frequency spread: not over 0.1%
Transmission bandwidth: 100 MHz
Self noise level: 120dB/W
Maximum dynamic range: 50 dB
Output signal clipping level: 0.3 V
Intermediate frequency: 1200 MHz
IF amplification control range: 30 dB
Dynamic range at a maximum IF amplification: 30 dB
Output impedance: 50 ohm

The receiver is included into a waveguide channel common with the transmitter, connected to an antenna. The receiving and transmitting channels are decoupled with a Y-circulator.

The receiver is constructed to consist of two modules: a microwave amplifier and a videoamplifier equipped with a supply voltage source.

Overall dimensions of the microwave amplifier module 68x92x95 mm
Overall dimensions of the videoamplifier module 70x160x180 mm
Dimensions of the input waveguide channel 23x10 mm
The total mass of the transceiver is no more than 6 kg
The power supply is accomplished from a 220-V line
The required power is no more than 5 W

A modification of the transceiver is possible with the pulse repetition rate increased to 5 kHz and a required frequency adjusted within the three-centimeter range.

Actuality

The principal advantage of the transceiver proposed over now available devices of this type is an order of magnitude shorter duration of the microwave pulse it produces. This offers the possibility to enhance the contrast of the received signal by a respective factor and to increase the resolving power of the radiolocation system.

Development phase

The R&D work is completed.

Suggestions for collaboration

It is suggested to jointly bring the system to a commercial level and to arrange production of the transceiver on the partnership basis.

For further information please contact:

Vladislav V. Rostov
Dr. Sci. (Phys. & Math.), Department Head

Phone: (3822) 49-16-41
Fax: (3822) 49-21-34
E-mail: rostov@lfe.hcei.tsc.ru

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