Photonics-Based Multifunction System for Radar Signal Transmit-Receive Processing and Frequency Measurement

Dengcai Yang; Ya Zhang; Feng Yang; Mei Yang; Yinhua Cao

doi:10.3390/mi15091080

Micromachines (Aug 2024)

Photonics-Based Multifunction System for Radar Signal Transmit-Receive Processing and Frequency Measurement

Dengcai Yang,
Ya Zhang,
Feng Yang,
Mei Yang,
Yinhua Cao

Affiliations

Dengcai Yang: School of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Institute of Laser Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
Ya Zhang: School of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Institute of Laser Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
Feng Yang: School of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Institute of Laser Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
Mei Yang: School of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Institute of Laser Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
Yinhua Cao: School of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Institute of Laser Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/mi15091080
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 15, no. 9
p. 1080

Abstract

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A novel photonic-assisted multifunctional radar system was proposed and experimentally investigated. This system can simultaneously achieve frequency-doubled linear frequency modulation (LFM) signal generation, de-chirp reception, self-interference cancellation, and frequency measurement in an integrated transmit-receive radar. First, a high-frequency and broadband LO signal was obtained with photonic frequency doubling, which improved the center frequency and bandwidth of the radar detection system. Then, photonic-assisted interference cancellation was used to reduce the impact of interference signals in radar de-chirp reception. Finally, the microwave frequency measurement was achieved by establishing a mapping relationship between the envelope response time of the intermediate frequency (IF) electrical filter and the microwave frequency to be tested. Both theoretical and experimental investigations were performed. The results showed that an LFM signal with a frequency range of 12–18 GHz was obtained with photonic frequency doubling. Photonic-assisted self-interference cancellation reduced the impact of interference signals in radar de-chirp reception by more than 12.1 dB for an LFM signal bandwidth of 6 GHz. In the frequency measurement module, the difference between the frequency to be tested, generated by the external signal source, and that calculated in the experiment is the measurement error, and a measurement resolution better than 14 MHz was achieved in the range of 12.14 GHz–18.14 GHz. The proposed system is suitable for miniaturized multifunctional radar signal processing systems with continuous operation of transmitting and receiving antennas in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), automotive radar, relatively close spatial locations, and so on. In addition, it can simplify the system structure and reduce space occupation.

Published in Micromachines

ISSN: 2072-666X (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Technology: Mechanical engineering and machinery
Website: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/micromachines

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