Patent Document ID: 5394151
Application ID: 08129499
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. A system for generating three-dimensional radar image data from radar target return signals generated by aperture elements of a synthetic aperture radar on a vehicle moving along a path that is curvilinear with respect to said target, which system discriminates against spurious responses associated with the sparseness of the synthetic array, comprising in combination; means for generating line of sight angle values from said curvilinear path to said target; processor means for: a) generating phase and amplitude values of scattering points from said radar return signals by Fourier transforming said radar return signals from said target to generate three-dimensional image data and identifying a highest peak of said three-dimensional image data as a scattering point of said target; b) subtracting a Fourier transform of a weighted, shifted point spread function based on said line of sight angle values and element weights from said radar returned digital data to yield, as a result of said subtraction process, modified digital data; and c) iteratively identifying highest peaks of three-dimensional image data as scattering points of said target; and d) subtracting a Fourier transform of a weighted, shifted point spread function from said modified digital data to yield estimated scattering element positions and strengths from target scattering points in three dimensions.