Patent ID: 6421008
Filing Date: 2002-07-16
Classification: G01S

Abstract:
A method for resolving interferometric ambiguities for an interferometer system with antenna elements that define an overall baseline, the method comprising the steps of:employing an angular accuracy requirement and an achievable phase measurement accuracy to determine an overall baseline dimension for the interferometer system; selecting a secondary element baseline dimension, for a secondary element to be located within the overall baseline, as an integer fraction of the overall baseline dimension, the secondary element and one of the antenna elements defining a fractional baseline, such that ambiguities produced by the fractional baseline coincide with a portion of ambiguities produced by the overall baseline and such that angular accuracies of interferometric element outputs increase with increases in frequency of signals incident on the interferometric elements; and eliminating from consideration as possible signal directions the ambiguities of the overall baseline that do not coincide with the ambiguities of the fractional baseline.