Integrated time–frequency synchronisation method for cooperative bistatic radar

Abstract

Bistatic radar system has some advantages over conventional monostatic radar system. However, time and frequency synchronisation is a crucial issue for bistatic radar. This study proposes an integrated time–frequency synchronisation method for cooperative bistatic radar based on GPS disciplined frequency standard. The method uses a high-precision GPS-disciplined frequency source as the frequency reference of the transmitter and receiver, and the frequency synchronisation is realised by full-coherent frequency synthesis. Using GPS time information and PPS signal to generate the PRT trigger signal, and using the local oscillator frequency source to maintain the PRT trigger signal and triggering again within a fixed time, time synchronisation is realised. Through the experiments, the effectiveness of the time-frequency synchronisation method is verified, and it can well meet the imaging requirements of bistatic radar.

Keywords

• Global Positioning System
• synchronisation
• frequency standards
• integrated time–frequency synchronisation method
• bistatic radar system
• conventional monostatic radar system
• frequency standard
• high-precision GPS-disciplined frequency source
• frequency reference
• full-coherent frequency synthesis
• GPS time information
• PRT trigger signal
• local oscillator frequency source
• fixed time
• time synchronisation
• time-frequency synchronisation method