SAR System and Signals Part 2 EE880 Synthetic Aperture Radar M. A. Saville, PhD, PE Summer, 2012 EE880 SAR System & Signals Part 2 Lesson Overview • • • • Imaging radar requirements Array Basics SAR signal modeling Summary EE880 SAR System & Signals Part 2 2 Imaging Radar Requirements • • • • • Resolve scatterers in 1D,2D,3D Construct geospatial image Estimate reflectivity function Estimate RCS of scene scatterers Estimate cross-section coefficient of clutter • Image one uncompressed range cell or voxel (3D case) • Achieve specified resolution in 1, 2 or 3D • Perform above within time and computational constraints EE880 SAR System & Signals Part 2 3 Ideal 2D Radar Imaging Collection • Shown: ground plane imaging • Down-range resolution set by HRR waveform, i.e. bandwidth • Cross-range resolution set by narrow antenna beam • Each echo resolves both dimensions EE880 SAR System & Signals Part 2 4 Realistic Down-range Reconstruction Ideal down-range target profile rect(π‘) (infinite bandwidth) Time Domain βπ‘ Spectral Domain -2000 -1500 -1000 Ideal receiver filtering rect(π) (finite bandwidth) Lost energy -500 0 Time Domain βπ‘ 500 1000 1500 2000 Profile distortion & spreading Reconstructed down-range target profile is IDFT of windowed rect(π‘) Note duality and reciprocity in Fourier Transforms. If we start with ideal S, transform to s, window by applying a range-gate and inverse transform, we still observe spread in sw EE880 SAR System & Signals Part 2 5 Down-range Digital Signal Processing • Time/range domain • Frequency domain – finite signal bandwidth B << W – sampling period ΔT – record length T π Δπ = 2π = ππ D 1 ππ πΔπ π π Δπ = = = 2 2ππ 4π – Unambiguous spectrum π = fs/2 – spectral resolution Δf D-1 ππ π π = = 2 2βπ Δπ = π Δπ = 2π 1 π 1 2π = βπ range results from scaling time EE880 SAR System & Signals Part 2 6 Realistic Cross-range Reconstruction • Down-range resolved • Cross-range not resolved because of antenna beam • Solution: apply discrete-time Fourier principles to form narrow antenna beam EE880 SAR System & Signals Part 2 7 Cross-range Coordinates End synthetic aperture Θ π 0 1. Collection 4. Scene center reference Start synthetic aperture 2. Coordinate references 3. Synthetic aperture reference Ground plane π 0 Θ EE880 SAR System & Signals Part 2 Slant plane π ππ = π 0 sin Θ Cross range scene extent is set by beamwidth of real aperture 8 SAR Coordinate Reference • SAR coordinates are different from detection and tracking radar applications • Coordinates are referenced to the scene center • Synthetic aperture elements (spacing d and length L) are referenced to scene center in angular coordinates π₯π ← π₯π π, πΏ, π , π© ← π© π, πΏ, π • SAR is a receive array antenna Angle scene Angle scene Range radar EE880 SAR System & Signals Part 2 Radar centric Range radar Scene centric 9 Cross-range Digital Signal Processing • Array (angular) sampling: • Cross-range sampling – array defined in linear coordinates π, πΏ – array spacing π ← Δπ – array length πΏ = ππ ← Θ – conceptually: spatial samples πΏ = ππ π Angles are scaled array length and spacing EE880 SAR System & Signals Part 2 – Unambiguous spectrum Θ = π3dB – cross-range extent π ≈ RΘ – cross-range resolution Δπ = β¬ −1 Δπ, Θ π B B-1 Δπ π is based on arc-length, but resolution depends on the operator B and is subject of course 10 Antenna Array Basics • Array - collection of antenna elements • Each element is a single antenna • Typically, elements have identical radiation patterns • Isotropic elements used in analysis for convenience EE880 SAR System & Signals Part 2 AN/SPY-1A 11 Array Antenna (1/4) Isotropic transmit antenna Received P0 Power level (dB) P0 - 6 P0 - 12 P0 - 18 R0 R0 2R0 4R0 8R0 Observation angle ZL Receive antennas Note: Antenna observation is defined in angle coordinates because pattern is range-invariant EE880 SAR System & Signals Part 2 12 Array Antenna (2/4) Array of Q isotropic transmit elements π2 1 π≈ = ππΏ ππΏ Spherical observation surface 2 π ππ = πΊπ0 π=1 ZL π = ππΈ π₯, π¦, π§, π‘ πΈ∈β Electric fields combine in a constructive or deconstructive manner at different points on the observation surface EE880 SAR System & Signals Part 2 13 Array Antenna (3/4) Radiation pattern of array of isotropic elements GP0 Received GP0 - 6 Power level (dB) GP0 - 12 GP0 - 18 G R0 2R0 4R0 8R0 Observation angle ZL πΉ π cos π , π sin π = π π−1 −πππ π=0 πΌπ π ππΔπ Δπ π = ππ sin π πΉ π = πΌ0 π π π−1 Δπ π 2 πΔπ π 2 Δπ π sin 2 sin Null-to-null beamwidth πππ ≈ π π π −πππ 2π πΏ Half-power beamwidth π3dB ≈ 0.866π πΏ Note: transmit array radiation pattern is the same as the receive array pattern. EE880 SAR System & Signals Part 2 14 Array Antenna (4/4) • Fields observed far from array • Array pattern looks like I/DFT of rect π • Differential phase πΌ on elements steers array π β«πΏ πΏ π+πΌ πΏ = π−1 π πΉ π = π−1 π=0 πΌ0 π ππΔπ π Δπ π = ππ sin π + πΌ πΉ π = planar wave fronts π−1 π π π 2 πΌ0 π EE880 SAR System & Signals Part 2 ππ π 2 π π sin 2 sin Phase shift across dimension of array causes angular shift (translation) to angle πΌ, i.e. property of DFT. 15 Synthetic Array • Synthetic aperture is a receive aperture • Fields caused by scatterers (targets, clutter) • Differential angle πΌ causes differential phase π β«πΏ πΏ π+πΌ πΏ = π−1 π πΉ π = π−1 π=0 πΌ0 π ππ Δπ π +πΌ Δπ π = 2ππ sin π πΉ π = planar wave fronts π−1 π π π 2 πΌ0 π π π = Δπ π + πΌ EE880 SAR System & Signals Part 2 ππ π 2 π π sin 2 sin target Synthetic array formed by correcting phases caused by differential ranges. For linear array, DFT along array dimension results in cross-range compression, i.e. resolution. 16 Synthetic Aperture for Cross-range Resolution • SAR spatially samples along array dimension Δπ π = 2ππ sin π differential phase shift across echoes Incremental path length Point target π 2π sin π = DFT π πΔπ π π =DFT{π [ππ]}, π = 1, β― , π sin −Θ 2 ≤ sin π ≤ sin Θ 2 EE880 SAR System & Signals Part 2 Incremental Incremental position angle Cross-range resolution equals arc length π βπ 17 SAR Signal Modeling Requirements • N-D images require N-D signal representation • Parameterize 2D signals (range,angle) with time • Time has two scales (PRI-ππ , and CPI-πππ ) • System design must support stable collection method and accurate coherent measurement CPI (inter-pulse sampling) 0 ππ slow time π [ms] EE880 SAR System & Signals Part 2 PRI (intra-pulse sampling) πππ 0 Δπ ππ fast time π‘ [πs] 18 SAR Radar System and Signals • SAR System differs from classic radar system • Collection method (transmit and store), receiver design to support imaging, signal processing TX Differences in CONOP sTX(t) s(t) SAR Simple view TX Ant gc(t) π TX Env RT , σ RG, σ0 RJ, sjam Differences in receiver RX r(t) yI(t) yQ(t) π , π sRX(t) Differences in RSP π RX d[n] DB output π , π t, Tp, Fp, τ EE880 SAR System & Signals Part 2 β RX Ant RSP SYNC input DM β−1 SAR is an inverse problem 19 Detailed SAR Modeling • Signal development from signal processing perspective • Math development from inverse problem perspective • Algorithm processing from linear systems perspective • Outline: – Coordinate systems – Transmit “signal” – Scatterer response – Received signal – Operator representation EE880 SAR System & Signals Part 2 20 Coordinate Systems (1/3) • Lower case letters: global coordinates • Primed lower case letters: local scene coordinates • Upper case letters: local antenna coordinates π Antenna position π«π = π±π₯π + π²π¦π +π³π§π π π« = π±π₯ + π²π¦+π³π§ π«′ = π±′π₯′ + π²′π¦’+π³′π§′ π = ππ + ππ + ππ Scene center position π«π = π±π₯π + π²π¦π +π³π§π π π«π π π³′ π²′ π³ π² π«π π±′ π± EE880 SAR System & Signals Part 2 Scene center position relative to antenna position π = π π = π«π − π«π 21 Coordinate Systems (2/3) • Local coordinates show variation in position Antenna position Scene center position π«π + βπ π«π + π«′ Scene center position relative to antenna position π = π«π + π«′ − π«π + βπ π π βπ π«π π π • Typically assume βπ = 0 • Scene defined by π«′ π³′ π²′ π³ π² π± EE880 SAR System & Signals Part 2 π«π π«′ π±′ π = π«π + π«′ − π«π π = π 0 + π«′ • Position parameterized with slow time π 22 Coordinate System (3/3) • Waveform definition in fast time coordinates π‘ • Reference to scene center -- not antenna • Signal has dependency on both π‘ and π π π‘, π = βπ π π‘ π πππ‘ π −πππ complex envelope π π‘ = π π‘ cos π π‘ π π = π π EE880 SAR System & Signals Part 2 electromagnetic wave behavior + ππ π‘ sin π π‘ = π 0 π + π«′ π π Can be phase, frequency, or amplitude encoded Assumes π π βͺ π Typically, π« ′ π = 0 23 Transmit Signal • Wideband signal (LFM or stepped frequency) • Directional (line-of-sight to scene) π π‘, π€ π = βπ π π‘ π πππ π‘ π −ππ π€βπ π π0 π π€ π = π0 π = π 0 π Cutaway view of a helix Traveling wave tube. (1) Electron gun; (2) RF input; (3) Magnets; (4) Attenuator; (5) Helix coil; (6) RF output; (7) Vacuum tube; (8) Collector. [wikipedia.com] π π π π€ β π π = π 0 π β π π ≈ π 0 π + βπ π π0 βπ π ≈ π€ π β π«′ Differential path length for arbitrary location in scene EE880 SAR System & Signals Part 2 Flight path π³′ π²′ π π«′ Scene π±′ 24 Scattered Signal • Clutter & targets, atmospheric and space loss L – In SAR, heterogeneous clutter = “target” – Approximate target signal model is simple sum of isotropic point scatterers: amplitude scaled, time, frequency/phase shifted π΄π π π‘ − 2π0 π πππ π π‘, π = π‘−2π0 π −ππ2 π 0 π +βπ π π π • EM physics (with typical approximations) π π‘, π = πΏπ π‘ − 2π0 π πππ π‘−2π0 π −π2ππ 0 π π π« ′ = πΏ π« ′ − π«π π π« ′ π −π2ππ€ π βπ« ′ ππ« ′ πππππ SAR approximates scene’s reflectivity function EE880 SAR System & Signals Part 2 25 Received Signal (1/2) • Signal comprises all echoes during synthetic aperture π ′ π‘, ππ ; π = 1, β― , π • Inertial navigation system provides motion compensation timing, i.e., compensates for aperture deviation from flight path compensation π π‘, ππ = π ′ π‘, ππ π π2ππ€π ββππ π€ π = π€ ππ = π 0 ππ = π 0,π Flight path π π βπ π • Slow-time recorded in angle coordinates π π 0,π π³′ π²′ ππ ππ , ππ = π ππ , π ππ EE880 SAR System & Signals Part 2 Scene π±′ 26 Received Signal (2/2) • Fast-time signals sampled according to signal bandwidth π π‘π , ππ ; π = 1, β― , π • Signals recorded either with absolute time or relative to initial or middle pulse in collection with respect to scene center • LFM signal recovered using deramp and deskew receiver -- relates sample time to instantaneous frequency EE880 SAR System & Signals Part 2 27 SAR Signal Processing Overview • Signal model after A/D ππΌπΉ π‘π , ππ = π‘π − πππππ − 2 π 0,π π rect πππ’ππ π π=0 π−1 × π πΦ π‘π ,ππ π π« ′ π −π2ππ€ π βπ« ′ ππ« ′ πππππ • LFM transmit phase profile Φ π‘, ππ = 2πππ π‘ + ππΎ π‘ − πππππ 2 Chirp πΎ [Hz/sec] • LFM receive (deramp) phase profile Φ π‘π , ππ = −π 4ππΎ ππ 2π 0,π + π‘π − πππππ − π πΎ π EE880 SAR System & Signals Part 2 π π − π 0,π + 4ππΎ π π − π 0,π 2 π 2 28 Deramp & Deskew Receiver (1/5) • Recall LFM waveform with chirp πΎ Hz/sec [Sullivan, 7.2]: transmit π‘ − πππππ π 2πππ π‘+ππΎ = π΄0 rect π πππ’ππ π πππ₯ π‘, ππ receive ππ π₯ π‘, ππ π‘−πππππ π‘ − πππππ − 2 π π π = ππ rect πππ’ππ π xπ π 2πππ π‘−2π π π +ππΎ π‘−πππππ −2π π π 2 2 Reference to Scene Center (motion compensation point) ππ ππ π‘, ππ = EE880 SAR System & Signals Part 2 π 2πππ π‘−2π 0 π +ππΎ π‘−πππππ −2π 0 π π 2 29 Deramp & Deskew Receiver (2/5) • Mix reference signal with echo ππ π₯ π‘, ππ X π‘ = π‘ − πππππ ππΌπΉ π‘, ππ fast time within PRI conj ππ ππ π‘, ππ intermediate frequency ππΌπΉ π‘, ππ π‘ − 2 π π π −π4ππΎ = ππ rect π π πππ’ππ π ππ 2π 0 + π‘− π π −π 0 πΎ π 2 4ππΎ π 2 π π −π 0 π π Received pulse train from q-th target ππΌπΉ π‘, ππ = ππ Φ π‘, ππ = −π EE880 SAR System & Signals Part 2 π−1 π=0 rect π‘ − 2 π π π πΦ π πππ’ππ π 4ππΎ ππ 2π 0 +π‘− π πΎ π π‘,ππ π π − π 0 + 4ππΎ π π − π 0 2 π 2 30 Deramp & Deskew Receiver (3/5) • Signal phase Φ π‘, ππ = −π 4ππΎ ππ 2π 0 +π‘− π πΎ π π π − π 0 + 4ππΎ π π − π 0 2 π linear phase, easily compensated 2 quadratic phase, not easily corrected, often dismissed as phase error term • For a fixed target range, the instantaneous received frequency is π π‘, ππ 1 πΦ 2πΎ = =− π π − π 0 2π ππ‘ π constant range-dependent frequency is dechirped or deramped EE880 SAR System & Signals Part 2 31 Deramp & Deskew Receiver (4/5) Adapted from [SUL,7.2] frequency ππππ’ππ π πππ’ππ π ππ π΅ time Near Scene πππ’ππ π 2π π Scene Center π Far Scene before deramp frequency after Targets at different ranges have different frequencies π΅πΌπΉ < π΅ time Deramping also reduces A/D sampling speeds EE880 SAR System & Signals Part 2 32 Deramp & Deskew Receiver (5/5) • Each echo contains multiple tones from scatterers at different ranges in the scene that occur at different times 2 π π − π 0 ππ π‘π = π =− πΎ • SAR processing requires one-to-one mapping of frequency to sample time, i.e. no time-delay • Correct as Φ ← Φ π‘π , π πππ 2 −π πΎ π • IFT each echo to recover frequencies EE880 SAR System & Signals Part 2 frequency Deramped and deskewed π΅πΌπΉ < π΅ time 33 Operator Modeling β ππ¦ πππ₯ π¦ πππ₯ TX ENV πππ₯ π β³1 β ππ¦ πππ₯ RX RSP MF β± −1 ππ π₯ β³2 β ππ¦ πππ₯ PFA, CBP π π¦ represents antenna radiation of signal from transmitter β represents scattering from scatterer β³ represents receiver front end (mixing, matched filtering, etc…) ππ π₯ = β³1 β ππ¦ πππ₯ These operations can be approximated as a forward Fourier transform EE880 SAR System & Signals Part 2 ≈ β±β΄ The approximation depends on simple linear superposition of scatterers and far field reception 34 Summary of SAR Systems & Signals Part 2 • • • • Imaging requirements Antenna array SAR signal modeling Operator modeling EE880 SAR System & Signals Part 2 35 Lesson References • [Levanon] N. Levanon, Radar Signals, Wiley-IEEE Press, 2004. • [Stimson] G. Stimson, Introduction to Airborne Radar, SciTech Publishing Inc., 1998. • [Sullivan] R. Sullivan, Foundations for Imaging and Advanced Concepts, SciTech Publishing Inc., 2004. EE880 SAR System & Signals Part 2 36