A modified fixed-point chirp scaling algorithm based on updating phase factors regionally for spaceborne SAR real-time imaging

To realize real-time imaging for the spaceborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) using the chirp scaling (CS) algorithm, high generation rates of phase factors and heavy computation loads are unavoidable. For example, updating phase factors continuously in the 2-D time or frequency space is difficult for generating phase factors for real-time imaging. To solve this problem, a modified CS algorithm based on updating phase factors regionally is proposed. Moreover, conventional floating-point arithmetic is unaffordable for real-time imaging onboard. Therefore, fixed-point processing is adopted. In the proposed imaging algorithm, the phase factors are updated only at some specified times and frequencies, and fixed-point operation is adopted. Furthermore, based on the paired echo theory and the finite word length error mathematical model, the effect of the proposed imaging algorithm on the SAR image quality is studied. Moreover, based on the above analysis and the experiments of Chinese HJ-1C and GF-3 spaceborne SAR practical measured data, a hardware system including digital signal processor and field-programmable gate array boards is constructed.