Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The invention relates generally to electronic warfare (EW) systems and, more particularly, to devices and techniques for jamming tracking radars.  
         [0002]     “Cross-eye” jamming is a known technique for masking an object or platform, e.g., an aircraft, from fire control radars. In a cross-eye system, a portion of the signal transmitted by a fire control radar—the threat signal—is received by the aircraft and is processed to form a jamming signal comprising a pair of inverted amplitude signals that have a phase relationship between them that is 180 degrees out of phase. The jamming signal is then transmitted back toward the radar antenna. When the pair of inverted amplitude signals arrive at the antenna of the fire control radar—the 180 degrees out of phase condition causes wavefront distortion, which further causes the fire control radar to re-align its antenna away from the aircraft. This type of cross-eye system  10  is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . (It should be noted that a cross-eye system can also be set up to perform as a “power match on transmit” system, where the amplitudes of the jamming signal pair are equal.)  
         [0003]     Cross-eye system  10  is mounted within airplane  5 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , two antennas ( 20  and  25 ) of cross-eye system  10  are placed on opposing wings of airplane  5  such that they are separated by a distance, d, where d is much greater than the associated wavelength, λ, of a fire control radar frequency of interest (i.e., d &gt;&gt;λ). In addition to antennas  20  and  25 , cross-eye system  10  also comprises amplifiers  30  and  40 , phase shifter  35 , and circulators  21  and  26 . In operation, each antenna receives the fire control radar signal, or threat signal. The received signal of antenna  20  is provided to amplifier  30 , via circulator  21 ; while the received signal of antenna  25  is provided to amplifier  40 , via circulator  26 . The gain of amplifiers  30  and  40  are adjusted to produce inverted amplitude output signals. (For example, if antenna  20  receives a higher amplitude signal than antenna  25 , then, on transmission, the output signal from amplifier  40  is now proportionally higher than the output signal from amplifier  30 .) The output signal from amplifier  40  is provided to antenna  20 , via circulator  21 , for transmission; while the output signal from amplifier  30  is phased shifted 180° by phase shifter  35  and then provided to antenna  25 , via circulator  26 , for transmission. The resultant jamming signal has inverted amplitude components that are 180 degrees out of phase with each other. The jamming signal is transmitted in the direction of the fire control radar. When the jamming signal reaches the radar antenna, the resulting wavefront distortion (caused by the inverted amplitude components that are 180 degrees out of phase with each other) causes the fire control radar to attempt to track the jamming signal instead of the aircraft—thus masking the aircraft. The final result is that the jamming signal causes large tracking errors in the fire control radar with the result that any missile launched toward the aircraft is misguided.  
         [0004]     In theory, as seen from the description above, cross-eye is a simple technique for providing protection to a platform from weapon systems employing radar guidance. Unfortunately—in practice—the performance of a cross-eye system is critically dependent upon how well the amplitude ratio and the out of phase condition of the jamming signal is controlled—especially in hostile environments where the platform is further subject to severe vibrations and temperature ranges.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     We have observed that the implementation of a cross-eye system can be simplified in such a way as to improve control of the amplitude ratio and the out of phase condition for the jamming signal in a hostile environment. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, an EW cross-eye system comprises a receiver for receiving a radar signal and at least one polarimeter for measuring or synthesizing the received radar signal for producing a jamming signal for transmission.  
         [0006]     In an embodiment of the invention, the EW cross-eye system comprises two antennas separated a distance, d, apart, where d is much greater than the wavelength, λ, of a tracking signal emitted by a fire control radar (i.e., d &gt;&gt;λ). The EW cross-eye system further comprises a receive polarimeter for measuring the tracking signal and a transmit polarimeter for synthesizing measured tracking signal to produce, for transmission, a jamming signal comprising a pair of inverted amplitude signals that are 180 degrees out of phase with each other. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  illustrates a prior art EW cross-eye technique;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  shows a block diagram of an EW cross-eye system illustrating one embodiment of the invention;  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  shows an illustrative flow chart for use in the EW cross-eye system of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0010]      FIGS. 4-6  illustrate various stages of operation of the EW cross-eye system of  FIG. 2 ; and  
         [0011]      FIGS. 7-8  show other illustrative embodiments of an EW cross-eye system in accordance with the principles of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0012]     The inventive concept is illustrated in the context of an aircraft comprising an EW cross-eye system for use in jamming a fire control radar (not shown). Other than the inventive concept, the EW cross-eye technique and circuitry for processing microwave signals are well-known and not described further herein. (For example, polarimeters, components based on monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) and stored-program control processors, e.g., a microprocessor, are well known and not described in detail herein.) In addition, the embodiments described herein are implemented using conventional programming techniques, which, as such, are not described herein.  
         [0013]     Turning to  FIG. 2 , an illustrative cross-eye system  200  in accordance with the principles of the invention is shown. Cross-eye system  200  comprises antennas  220  and  225 , circulators  221  and  226 , a receive polarimeter  240 , a transmit polarimeter  230 , a processor  250 , an electronic counter-measures (ECM) signal source  255  and an inline phase adjuster  260 .  
         [0014]     The operation of cross-eye system  200  will be explained with reference  FIG. 3 , which illustrates a flow chart for use in accordance with the principles of the invention. The flow chart of  FIG. 3  illustratively shows three stages of operation for cross-eye system  200  of  FIG. 2 —a measure stage  310 , a match, or synthesize, stage  315 , and a jamming stage  320 . Each of these stages of operation is further illustrated in the context of cross-eye system  200  in  FIGS. 4, 5  and  6 .  
         [0015]     In step  305 , of  FIG. 3 , cross-eye system  200  receives a radar tracking signal, or threat signal, from a fire control radar (not shown), via antennas  220  and  225  of  FIG. 2 . (It is assumed that antennas  220  and  225  each transmit and receive. Alternatively, there may be separate transmit and receive antennas. In addition, it is not required that these antennas be disposed on the wings.) The components of the received threat signal, signal A and signal B, are applied to receive polarimeter  240  via circulators  221  and  226 .  
         [0016]     Before continuing further, some background on a polarimeter is provided. A conventional analog polarimeter provides four bidirectional ports—two input/output (I/O) ports, a difference (Δ) port and a sum (Σ) port; along with two phase parameter ports, γ and φ, for adjusting values of two phase shifters (not shown) within the polarimeter. The output signal on the Σ port represents the sum of the input signals applied to the I/O ports for particular γ and φ values; while the output signal on the Δ port represents the difference of the input signals applied to the I/O ports for particular γ and φ values. In other words, the parameters that characterize the polarization of the input signals, e.g., A and B, such as the amplitude ratio  
       B   A       
 
 and the phase difference α between the signals A and B can be found from the phase shifter values φ and γ that yield the null condition or minimum ratio  
              Δ             ∑          .       
 
         [0018]     In addition to conventional analog polarimeters, digital polarimeters are also available (although without the bi-directional nature of the ports) such as described in the following co-pending, commonly assigned, U.S. patent applications: “Instantaneous Measurement of Signal Polarization,” application Ser. No. 09/850,371, filed May 7, 2001; and “Wideband Instantaneous Polarization Measurement,” application Ser. No. 09/924,567, filed Aug. 8, 2001; both of which are incorporated by reference. A digital polarimeter makes use of a processor, memory, registers to simulate the functions found in an analog polarimeter.  
         [0019]     Turning back to  FIG. 3 , the measure stage is represented by step  310  in which receive polarimeter  240  is used for measuring the amplitude and phase of the received threat signal. The receive polarimeter  240  can either be of analog or digital form. Reference can also be made at this time to  FIG. 4 , which shows the relevant parts of cross-eye system  200  during this stage of operation. It should be noted that in this stage of operation, transmit polarimeter  230  is disabled. As can be observed from  FIG. 4 , receive polarimeter  240  receives signals A and B, where signal A represents that portion of the threat signal received via antenna  220  and circulator  221 , while signal B represents that portion of the threat signal received via antenna  225  and circulator  226 . Receive polarimeter  240  compares the amplitude and phase of signals A and B utilizing phase parameters γ r  and φ r , the values of which are adjusted by processor  250 . (The adjustment of these parameter values can occur in any of a number of ways, e.g., holding one value constant while varying the other, etc.) In particular, processor  250  varies phase parameters γ r  and φ r  while monitoring the signal on the Δ (difference) port of receive polarimeter  240  for a predefined value, here represented by a value of zero (or null).  
         [0020]     When processor  250  detects that the value of the output signal on the Δ port is zero (or null), processor  250  stops adjustment of signal parameters γ r  and φ r . In accordance with this embodiment of the invention, the particular values of signal parameters γ r  and φ r  that result in a null being detected are referred to as γ R  and φ R , which are representative of the measured received threat signal. Processor  250  stores the values γ R  and φ R  in, e.g., a register (not shown). These values are also referred to as the polarimeter setting.  
         [0021]     Once the received threat signal has been measured —execution proceeds to step  315 , of  FIG. 3 , to synthesize the received threat signal. In this synthesizing stage, the measured signal properties (as represented by γ R  and φ R ) are used to synthesize (in amplitude and phase) an Electronics Countermeasures (ECM) signal (or jamming signal) for transmission back toward the fire control radar. Reference can also be made at this time to  FIG. 5 , which shows the relevant parts of cross-eye system  200  during this stage of operation. In particular, processor  250 , of  FIG. 5 , sets the values (in radians) of γ t  and φ t  of transmit polarimeter  230  such that: 
 
γ t =π−γ R ; and
 
φ t =(3π/2)−φ R .
 
 In addition, and as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the values of γ r  and φ r  for receive polarimeter  240  are fixed at γ R  and φ R , respectively. 
 
         [0023]     In this embodiment the bilateral nature of a conventional analog polarimeter can be used for generation of the jamming signal. In particular, when a signal is applied to an input port of an analog polarimeter for set values of γ and φ—two signal components are produced by the analog polarimeter on the Σ and Δ ports, with precisely inverted amplitudes and a phase relationship between them that is 180 degrees out of phase. This is illustrated in  FIG. 5 , wherein an analog polarimeter—represented by transmit polarimeter  230 —produces, at the Σ and Δ ports, a jamming signal comprising components represented by signal C and signal D, respectively.  
         [0024]     In particular, in step  315  the values of γ t  and φ t for transmit polarimeter  230  are set by processor  250 . In addition, ECM signal source  255  generates an ECM signal (at this point serving as a test signal) for application to an input port of transmit polarimeter  230 . (As known in the art, ECM signal source  255  comprises a memory (not shown) for use in storing parameter/properties (e.g., periodicity, frequency of interest) of the received threat signal for use in forming the ECM signal. As such, antenna  220  and/or antenna  225  can be used to collect this threat signal information a priori, or, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , a third antenna,  295 , can be used to copy this information beforehand.)  
         [0025]     As such, ECM signal source  255  applies, in effect, a replica signal (other than in amplitude and phase) of the threat signal to the input port of transmit polarimeter  230 . The latter is tasked to further modify the amplitude and phase of the ECM signal (as determined by the set values of γ t  and φ t ) to provide signal C and signal D, each signal, C and D, being a component of the jamming signal and having a phase relationship between them that is 180 degrees out of phase. As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the jamming signal is fed to receive polarimeter  240 , via circulators  221  and  226 . (The circulators are suitably controlled as this point to block the threat signal from reaching receive polarimeter  240  and the jamming signal from being prematurely transmitted.) At this time, phase shifter  260  is initially set to a value of 0, i.e., no phase shift is added to one component—signal C—of the jamming signal.  
         [0026]     However, typically there is a phase delay in the electromagnetic wave front reaching the two antennas  220  and  225 , which causes a phase shift α. In order to provide an effective cross-eye technique, that phase shift must be compensated for. The relative phase of signals A and B is measured by the receive polarimeter  240 . The value of α is derived from the measures of the polarimeter φ phase shifter setting that is an inherent attribute of the polarimeter device, i.e., φ R =(3π/2)−α, or α=(3π/2)−φ R . Thus, the derived value of a is negated by setting the phase shifter  260  to φ R , i.e., ψ=φ R . The phase shifter  260  must be inserted in the Σ line of the transmit polarimeter  230 . With ψ=φ R , the transmit polarimeter  230  output signals are applied to the receive polarimeter. The transmit polarimeter  230  phase shifters, φ t  and γ t , are further adjusted to obtain the deepest null possible, via processor  250 . When the signal on the receive polarimeter  240  Σ port is null—the signals C and D are 180 degrees out of phase. However, a null on the receive polarimeter  240  Σ port does not provide a cross-eye condition at the radar. In order to achieve 180 degrees of phase separation between signals C and D as they meet on the radar antenna aperture, and in accordance with an aspect of the invention, phase shifter  260  must be set to a value of ψ=2φ R . The explanation is as follows. In effect, signal B travels a longer path to antenna  225  because of phase shifter  260 , than the signal A does to antenna  220 . Analytically, these two signals as they impinge on the ECM system antenna apertures are defined as, for antenna  225 , signal B=bexpj (ωt+α), and for antenna  220 , signal A=aexpj (ωt). As a response, transmit polarimeter  230  provides, at antenna  225 , output signal B′=aexpj (ωt+π+α), and at antenna  220 , output signal A′=bexpj (ωt). Signal B′ has been imparted with a phase value of (α+π) in the polarimeter. When the signal B′ reaches the radar platform, it traveled an extra distance to acquire a phase shift α. Without the compensation provided by phase shifter  260 , the signals would meet on the radar aperture such that signal B′=aexpj (ωt+π+α+α) and signal A′=bexpj (ωt). This is the reason for the double phase angle compensation. Note that when ψ=2φ R , with the same input signal to the receive polarimeter, the null disappears from the Σ port output signal. To verify the system operation status, processor  250  has to reduce the ψ value by ½ to check the null depth at the Σ port output or go through a calibration step.  
         [0027]     Ideally, at this point, the signal appearing on the Σ port of receive polarimeter  240  should be zero since the components of the jamming signal, signal C and signal D should cancel out each other. However, typically there is a phase delay in the system that must be accounted for because of the separation of the antennas. As such, to improve performance, processor  250  further adjusts the value, ψ, of phase shifter  260  until the value of the signal on the Σ port of receive polarimeter  240  is zero (null). Once the value of the signal on the Σ port of receive polarimeter  240  is null, processor  250  stops adjustment of phase shifter  260 . The particular phase shift value at this point is referred to a ψ T  and compensates for the system phase delay. (It should be noted that phase shifter  240  could equivalently be placed in the path to antenna  220 , or multiple phase shifters in each antenna path could be used.)  
         [0028]     At this point, transition to the jamming stage occurs in step  320 , which is also illustrated in  FIG. 6 . As noted above, ECM signal source  255  applies a signal to the input port of transmit polarimeter  230 , which modifies the applied signal (in accordance with the set values of φ R  and (π−γ R ) to generate two components, signal C and signal D, of a jamming signal. The respective components of the jamming signal are applied to antennas  220  and  225 , via circulators  221  and  226 . As can be observed from  FIG. 6 , one component (signal C) of the jamming signal is further phase shifted by phase shifter  260  before transmission.  
         [0029]     The inventive concept makes possible an implementation of a cross-eye technique comprising a polarimeter-based approach. The system illustrated by  FIG. 2  is a linear system that generates a jamming signal having inverted amplitude components 180 degrees out of phase with each other. For example, if one antenna (e.g., antenna  220 ) receives a threat signal component 3 dB (decibels) higher in amplitude than the threat signal component received by the other received antenna (e.g., antenna  225 ), the resulting jamming signal generated by transmit polarimeter  230  will have signal components 3 dB higher on the opposite antenna (in this example, antenna  225 ).  
         [0030]     Turning now to  FIG. 7 , another embodiment of the invention is shown comprising receiver  720 , polarimeter-based subsystem  740  and transmitter  725 . The receiver  720  receives a radar tracking signal  721  from a fire control radar (not shown). The received radar tracking signal is applied to polarimeter-based subsystem  740 , which comprises at least one polarimeter for use in developing, for transmission, a jamming signal  726 , via transmitter  725 . As described above in accordance with the flow chart of  FIG. 3 , polarimeter-based subsystem  740  measures and synthesizes the received tracking signal for generating the jamming signal  726 .  
         [0031]     Turning now to  FIG. 8 , another embodiment of the invention is shown. Cross-eye system  800  of  FIG. 8  is similar to cross-eye system  200  of  FIG. 2  and, as such, elements with like numbers are not described further herein. As noted above, receive polarimeter  240  can be either a digital polarimeter or an analog polarimeter. In cross-eye system  800 , the transmit polarimeter is emulated by digital signal processor (DSP)  830 , which comprises a memory (not shown). In accordance with the flow chart of  FIG. 3 , once processor  250  determines the particular values of γ R  and φ R , these values are passed to DSP  830 , which is suitably programmed to emulate a polarimeter for modification of the ECM source signal as described above to synthesize the jamming signal. (Indeed, in this case phase shifter  260  may not be required and, instead, processor  250  can provide feedback on any required phase adjustment directly to DSP  830 .)  
         [0032]     It should be noted that the measure and synthesize stages of operation illustrated in  FIG. 3  should be periodically, or aperiodically, repeated to ensure adequate jamming of the threat signal. Also, should the transmit power levels be of concern in the synthesizing stage, suitable attenuators can be used to cut down the amplitude of the jamming signal before application to the receive polarimeter. Finally, although not required, it is recommended that the system utilize MMIC GaAS (Gallium Arsenide) nonreciprocal polarimeters to make the above-described cross-eye system implementation more efficient.  
         [0033]     Although the invention herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. For example, although the invention is illustrated herein as being implemented with discrete functional building blocks, e.g., a receive polarimeter, etc., the functions of any one or more of those building blocks can be carried out using one or more appropriate programmed processors. As such, the invented technique is equally applicable to analog and digital methods of amplitude and phase measurement. In this regard, a polarimeter such as the receive polarimeter can be implemented in a suitably programmed digital signal processor or even be implemented using processor  250 . In addition, it should be appreciated that the inventive concept is not limited to fixed-wing aircraft and applies to any object or vehicle, mobile or fixed, with or without wing type structures. Finally, although illustrated in the context of adjusting both phase parameters γ and φ of a polarimeter, the inventive concept is applicable to adjustment of only one parameter. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Technology Category: 3