Improved High Range Resolution profiling using synthetic spectrum processing and stepped-frequency LFM waveforms

In this paper, an improved synthetic spectrum signal processing schemes using stepped-frequency waveforms is presented which enables High Range Resolution Profiles (HRRP) of targets. This synthetic spectrum schemes contrasted with conventional or hybrid stepped-frequency methods achieves both unambiguous range coverage as well as good range grating lobes without requiring a large number of frequency steps. We present the reason why the grating lobes are located and why the ambiguous ranges are occurred by analyzed the ambiguity function, autocorrelation function and parameter setting of such signal. Because this method need more data memory and computation resource, we studied the factors which effected the performance of high range resolution profiling, such as waveform, processing parameter and system delay, and give a realized application for real time system.