Patent ID: 9494681
Filing Date: 2016-11-15
CPC Classification: G01S,H01Q,Y02A

Claim Text:
1. An apparatus for measuring depolarization ratios in a weather radar, comprising: a. a radar transmitter for generating an energy pulse train suitable for radar transmissions: b. a power splitter connected to said radar transmitter for dividing said pulse train into two transmission streams; c. a phase shifter connected to said power splitter for altering the phase of one of said transmission streams such that the difference in phase between each said two transmission streams is approximately 90 degrees; d. an antenna connected to said phase shifter for directing said two transmission streams into space in orthogonal spatial orientation relative to one another and for receiving radar reflectivity signals; e. a processor connected to said antenna for processing said radar reflectivity signals; f. said processor including means for calculating the power of a horizontally polarized component in said radar reflectivity signals; g. said processor including means for calculating the power of a vertically polarized component in said radar reflectivity signals; h. said processing including means for calculating the cross-covariance between said horizontally polarized component and said vertically polarized component; and, i. said processor including means for calculating a circular depolarization ratio based upon said horizontally polarized power component, said vertically polarized power component, and said cross-covariance value.