On finite word length computing error of fixed-point SAR imaging processing

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging system is generally realized by fixed-point with the purpose of reducing system implementation scale and enhancing real-time performance. Finite word length computing error of fixed-point SAR imaging system is studied. The characteristic of computing error in SAR imaging system is analyzed. A finite word length computing error model of SAR imaging system is built, by means of which the empirical formula of system's output noise-to-signal ratio is derived. Based on the empirical formula, SAR imaging system processing word length is presented according to different processing granularities. The validity of this proposed finite word length computing error model of SAR imaging system is verified by system level fixed-point simulation.