A Basic Pulse Radar

The Basic Radar Components

Power Supply:
Power is initially
provided from the
normal mains (440V
50Hz or 115V 60Hz).
2. A radar set requires
differing levels and
forms of supply, e.g.
180V, 800Hz or 115V,
400Hz, provided by
associated conversion
machinery.
1.

2. Transmitter
Designed to produce
pulses of electromagnetic
energy of a fixed duration
( Pulse Duration) at
regular intervals (PRFPulse Repetition
Frequency).
These pulses ideally must
be of square shape so
that the leading edges
are clearly defined for
ranging purposes. The
pulses generally are of a
given power at a fixed
frequency, and are
produced as follows:

2-a: Trigger
A.C. is fed to the trigger unit
(Synchronizer, or timer) which
converts the a.c. into a series
of short sharp pulses, low
powered, but at correct prf.
The trigger unit ensures:

That all circuits in the radar

operate in a definite timed
relationship.
Times the interval between
transmitted pulses to ensure that
the interval is of proper length.
The correct prf is set by any stable
or blocking oscillator.
Then pulse shaping circuits
produce timing pulses.

2-b: Modulator
At the same time Modulator is
receiving (from power supply)
and storing considerable
amount of energy.
The Modulator is triggered by
the pulses from the Trigger
and releases energy in the
form of high tension (ht) pulses
which are passed to the
Oscillator).
[Modulator voltage may be as
high as 100,000 V in hp
transmitters, so extreme care
is essential while handling
such parts of the radar]

2-c: Oscillator
The Modulator pulse is applied to
the cathode of the oscillator (which
could be a Klystron, or Magnetron ).
The Oscillator bursts into
oscillations while being supplied
with ht pulses, producing pulses of
em energy at the required
frequency.
When the Modulator is discharged,
the ht pulses cease, as does the
oscillation, and the transmitter is
quietest until the trigger unit
produces the next pulse when the
cycle is repeated

To emphasize the time scale of this process, if the pulse

duration is 2usec, and the PRF is 500 every second,
then the ht is provided to the oscillator for a period of
2usec every 2000usec, the oscillator being switched off
for 1998usec.
The Oscillator is the power output stage of the
transmitter passing radio frequency pulses to the aerial.
The radar displays must be synchronized with the pulse
transmissions so it is necessary for the synchronizing
pulses to be fed from the transmitter.
The synch. pulse starts the spot moving on the display
at the same instant at which the RF pulse begins to be
transmitted from the aerial.

3-The Aerial
The aerial is a rotate able unit on
the superstructure from which the
em energy in the form of radio
waves is directed into the
atmosphere.
Ideally for interference reasons
the receiver aerial should be
situated some distance from the
transmitter aerial, but due to
space and top weight restrictions,
[in a warship], a common aerial is
invariably used for both functions.
Like other units, aerial design
varies in detail from set to set
depending upon the purpose and
frequency of transmissions.

Ideally, the Oscillator should

be situated close to aerial, to
cut down power losses, but
This is not always possible.
So the most efficient method
Of transferring the energy
from the oscillator to the
aerial must be used

For Low Frequency metric Radars, it is

possible to use a special cable or feeder
(coaxial) as transmission line, but
At Higher frequencies Waveguides are
used.
Waveguides are carefully designed
trunking , which guide the waves from
oscillator to the aerial.

3-a:The Transmit-Receive Switch

Whenever a single
antenna is used for
both transmitting and
receiving, as in a radar
system, an electronic
switch must be used.
Switching systems of
this type are called
duplexers, Or T/R
Switch.

Switching the antenna between the transmit and

receive modes presents one problem;
ensuring that maximum use is made of the
available energy is another.
The simplest solution is to use a switch to
transfer the antenna connection from the
receiver to the transmitter during the transmitted
pulse and back to the receiver during the echo
pulse.
No practical mechanical switches are available
that can open and close in a few microseconds.
Therefore, electronic switches must be used.

Duplexers are constructed in many forms, such as

hybrid-ring duplexer, or
resonant cavity coaxial or waveguide systems,
with TR- and ATR- tubes,
or with pin diodes

Waveguide and hybrid-ring duplexers are most common

in radar systems.
The simplest solution would be here to use a
ferrite circulator. However, it is complicated to make
circulators for top performances up to many 100 kW in
the practice. In addition, circulators have a decoupling of
hardly more as 30 to 40 dB and cannot protect the highly
sensitive receiver from the high transmit powers
sufficiently.

At first in Ferrite circulators the

energy divides into two equal parts at
the entrance (1), but these parts get
a different propagation speed by the
influence of the ferrite.
At the connection 3 both signal
parts are on in opposition, they well
extinguish themselves.
Both signal parts are in-phase at the
connection 2, they add themselves
up to the complete signal power.

Ferrite Circulators
Ferrite circulators are often used
as a duplexer, generally in
modules for active antennae.
The operation of a circulator can
be compared to a revolving door
with three entrances and one
mandatory rotating sense.
This rotation is based on the
interaction of the
electromagnetic wave with
magnetised ferrite.
A microwave signal entering via
one specific entrance follows
the prescribed rotating sense
and has to leave the circulator
via the next exit.
Energy from the transmitter
rotates anticlockwise to the
antenna port. Virtually all
circulators used in radar
applications contain ferrite.

By the symetric construction of the ferrite

circulator it is possible always to
determine a defined way direction by the
choice of the connection. If an antenna is
in a connection, transmitting energy is
always escorted to the antenna while the
echo signals always find the way to the
receiver without influencing one another

4- Receiver Input
The echo fed into the receiver via the T/R Switch
is minute in terms of power. This is because the
transmitted pulse is dissipated as it radiates out
wards. The greater the range of the target the
less the energy intercepted by the target.
The echo pulse reflected by the target likewise
spreads out on its return trip to aerial.
The main function of the receiver is to amplify or
increase the strength of these tiny echo pulses
so that they may be seen and identified as
echoes on a display. The design and
maintenance of the receivers is most important
however, because electronic units make their
own electronic noise.

To avoid swamping the tiny echo

pulses with the internal noise,
receiver circuits must have low
noise characteristics.
An A-Scan with this noise, or
grass is shown.>>
The Target echo here is much
pronounced than noise and can be
clearly seen, but target echo may
be too week to be marginally
greater than the noise and could
not be seen.
The relation between the echo and
noise is known as Signal to Noise
Ratio, and greater this ratio, more
efficient the receiver.
Unwanted signals which include
external noise may also obscure
the very small target echoes.
Remember, the Receiver amplifies
all inputs regardless of source.

4-a Mixing
Another complication
in general receiver
design is that it is not
easy electronically to
amplify signals at RF,
although modern
technology does allow
some form of RF
Amplifier fitted as first
stage (dotted).

Frequency must generally be lowered

before amplification can take place; the
translation of RF to Lower Frequency,
Known as Intermediate Frequency (IF) is
called Mixing.
The operation takes place in the mixer,
and uses the Heterodyne principle.

5- HETERODYNING
If two frequencies are superimposed one on another, or
mixed together in a suitable circuit, several frequencies
are produced; one of which is the difference frequency of
the two
Let us take one frequency to be that of incoming signal at
say 3 GHz (3*109Hz).
L.O. produces the secondary frequency which differs by a
small amount, say 3.01 GHz.
The difference frequency is 0.01GHz=10MHz
This frequency is the IF at which incoming signals can be
amplified.
Other frequencies resulting from mixing are eliminated
using filter ccts.

The IF echo oscillations

are amplified to a suitable
level, and then passed
through a detector which
produces a dc pulse from
each ac one
(Demodulation).
The dc pulses after
further amplification are
then suitable for
application to CRT where
they produce video
signals.

PRODUCTION OF VIDEO
PULSES

Remaining to be completed by
The class, in accordance with H.O.