Search and Warning Applications
The search and warning function of radar is the one most commonly used, being the detection of an object (e.g. an airplane in flight viewed on a radar screen by a ground-based radar or a land mass viewed by a ship-borne or air-borne radar). Such “targets” are usually struck many times by the signal due to many scans (rotations) of the radar antenna. The most typical application is the radar system is at an airport. Their antennas are especially noticeable at smaller airports, where they are much more visible and can be seen rotating. At larger airports the antennas, many of them protected by domes, are located in more remote areas. Another area where this type of radar system is visible is at shipping ports and marinas. Freighters, tankers, cruise ships and recreational yachts all have radar systems on them with rotating antennas for navigation and weather monitoring purposes.
Tracking and Measurement Applications
Once a target is detected through a search function (scan), in some cases the scanning can be ceased while keeping the radar beam focused on the target. This is called tracking. Tracking and measurement radars “lock” or remain on to a target and track it for a certain distance or for a certain time period. While locked to the target, a number of parameters may be measured, such as target size, range, velocity, acceleration and other features that can be used for identification and characterization. Typical application is vehicles tracking for fleet management, such as delivery trucks or buses.
Imaging Applications
Imaging radar forms an image being two-or three-dimensional in nature, usually in azimuth and range coordinates. A typical airborne application is the imaging of terrestrial features. As the radar moves over the ground, multiple radar returns are processed to form the image. This type of system can also be used to analyze mechanical systems for stress fractures and (with very low power transmitters) for some medical applications and can provide a three-dimensional image of a tumor to aid in cancer diagnoses.
Dynamic Engineers offers a diverse range of OCXO’s with high stability and low phase noise for better precision and wide range of operating temperature to suit different radar applications.
For additional information regarding fundamentals of TCXO or other RF / microwave topics, please contact your local Dynamic Engineers sales representative or Inquiry@DynamicEngineers.com