Radar Tester

This invention relates to radar testing apparatus in general and, more particularly, to apparatus for testing range capability and elevation target positioning in tracking radars.

Terrain-following radar is a specialized type of forward looking radar which provides a display of terrain ahead of a low flying military aircraft to permit manual or automatic control in order to maintain a constant altitude above the ground. This radar is comprised of complicated electronics and antenna elements usually located in the nose of the aircraft, such as with the AN/APQ-99 radar system of the RF-4C aircraft. As with any complex system, equipment malfunction and breakdowns do occur. Heretofore it has been the practice to appraise the operation of such a radar system using an AN/APM-395 Tester. This device automatically trouble-shoots, calibrates and initallizes the various components in the system but, unfortunately, requires in excess of eight hours to completely check out the radar. Additionally, the unit is large and cumbersome and requires two people to operate it. Quite often, an aircraft reports a radar malfunction along with a requirement that it be repaired within a certain time period which is substantially less than eight hours. In this situation, the only recourse is to perform trial-and-error component substitution relying on experienced technicians with day-to-day troubleshooting experience. Clearly, a need exits for some sort of text equipment to provide a quick reaction repair time capability with a reasonable degree of confidence that the basic functions of range accuracy and target elevation are operating properly.

An additional need exits with respect to the AN/APM-395 Tester. This testing device performs testing on the radar's target positioning circuits to observe its operation when presented with a target, such as a mountain. The AN/APM-395 performs this test by simulating a target which is infinitely high with respect to elevation and checking for a corresponding reaction of the radar's pitch steering bar. Clearly, it would be better to simulate a target with a definite altitude when checking the operation of the pitch steering bar.

Prior work in this area includes U.S. Pat. No. 2,876,447 which discloses an apparatus for monitoring a radar system by producing a visual indication when transmitter power and receiver sensitivity are within predetermined limits. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 4,053,890 teaches a radar testing apparatus in which a simulated target echo is automatically varied in range and signal strength and injected into a radar receiver to determine range sensitivity. While each of these patents is suitable for its intended purpose, neither invention is adaptable for use with the terrain-following radar onboard the RF-4C aircraft.

An object of the present invention is to test radar functions of prime importance within a minimum amount of time.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a simulated target echo which may be varied in range and altitude for use in testing radar receivers.

According to the invention, a signal from the radar representing the elevation position of the antenna is inputted to an analog comparator circuit for determining when the antenna position is within an adjustable specification window, thereby causing the invention to generate a simulated target echo of variable range when the invention receives the proper triggering signal. Buffering circuits for input and output signals are also provided, as is a power supply circuit. Range selectability circuits and target video adjustments are also included.

FIGS. 1a and 1b are schematic diagrams of the invention according to the preferred embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a layout diagram of a typical panel mounting arrangement of the user's controls of the invention.

Prior to describing the test set and how it interacts with the terrain-following forward looking radar, it is first necessary to describe some common signals that are utilized and their origin.

a. 28 VDC: 28 volts direct current is the input power to the test set and is acquired from the radar system via an accessory cable.

b. Elevation Scan Demodulated (E1 Scan Demod) Signal: This signal is a varying DC potential that is representative of the actual elevation position of the forward looking radar antenna. The signal is obtained from the radar system via the accessory cable and is used in determining where the antenna is positioned at any instant in time.

c. Pre-Master Trigger (PMT) Signal: This signal is a pulse which is generated by the modulator circuit of the forward looking radar for use in the radar transmitter. It is also used by all of the timing circuits in the radar system to synchronize all actions with the firing of the transmitter. The signal is obtained from the radar system to synchronize the actions of the test set with the timing of the forward looking radar.

d. Video Out Signal: This signal is the final resultant output signal of the test set which is routed to the video inputs of the forward looking radar's computer (via coax cables and T connectors). By injecting the video signal into the radar system, accurate simulated radar returns will be generated on the radar's indicators.

Referring to FIG. 1, the circuit of the preferred embodiment is composed of seven sections of which the first to be discussed is the power supply section. The power supply circuit derives a regulated source 12 of +20 volts DC from a source 10 of +28 volts DC aircraft power that is used as an input to the test set. The source 10 of 28 volts DC runs through a switch S1B to a transistor Q4 serving as a series regulator to produce the +20 volt source. Two zener diodes CR3 and CR4 are connected from the output of transistor Q4 to the input of an op amp IC3 to establish a reference voltage. A series of resistors R12, R13, and R14 are connected from the output of transistor Q4 to ground with R13 being a variable resistor also connected to op amp IC3 and providing feedback loop operation. A comparison within the op amp IC3 creates an op amp difference output signal which is fed as a control signal to transistor Q4. An additional bias from the regulated output through zener diode CR2 to op amp IC3 is also provided. Adjustment of the variable resistor controls the regulation of the +20 volt DC output 12 which is distributed throughout the system to other sections of the test set. The regulation of the power supply is effective in reducing the effects of varying input voltage and changing loads. Switch S1B is one side of a double pole, 3-position switch which allows normal power circuit operation in the ON position and no operation in the OFF position. A third position, known as the SCAN INTERRUPT position, allows the +28 volt DC to flow via diode CR1 to the previously discussed power regulation circuitry and also allows the +28 volt DC to flow back to the radar system's antenna scan circuit 13 via an accessory cable to cause the antenna movement to be interrupted. The other pole of switch S1 is connected to the Pre-Master Trigger input signal to permit it to enter the test set. Switch S1A allows this trigger signal into the test set when switch S1B is in either the ON or SCAN INTERRUPT position; however, the OFF position disconnects the trigger signal from the test set. This disconnect, which increases the input impedance, is to insure that the existence of the test set is as transparent to the radar system as possible.

The section of the circuit known as the elevation scan circuit is used to determine when the position of the radar system's antenna is within the user selected variable window of allowable specifications for elevation scanning. A source 14 of the elevation scan demodulated input signal is buffered via an emitter follower configuration of transistor Q1 and fed to the negative input of op amp IC1a and the positive input of op amp IC1b. Op amps IC1a and IC1b are quarter sections of an open collector output quad comparator, typically an LM339. The input signal, which is representative of the antenna position, is compared with DC potentials applied to the positive input of op amp IC1a and the negative input of op amp IC1b. The two DC potentials used are created by a resistive ladder consisting of four series resistors. R1a, R2, R3 and R1b between +20 volts and ground. Resistors R1a and R1b are variable resistors, ganged and balanced, which determine the levels of the reference voltages while variable resistor R2 determines the difference between the two DC potentials which are picked off between R1a and R2 for op amp IC1a and between R3 and R1b for op amp IC1b. The output signal of op amp IC1a will be high when the e1 scan demod signal is less than the reference voltage taken from the top of the resistive ladder and the output of op amp IC1b will be high when the e1 scan demod signal is greater than the reference voltage obtained from the bottom of the ladder, the net result being that the outputs of both op amp IC1a and IC1b will be high whenever the position of the radar's antenna is within the selected window. Resistors R1a and R1b are the e1 scan position controls on the front of the test set, while resistor R2 is the scan arc length control. The output signal of op amp IC1a is coupled through a resistor R6 to a switch S2A. The output signal of op amp IC1b is coupled through a resistor R8 to a switch S2B. An additional resistor R5 is connected just prior to resistor R6 to a positive 20 volts with a parallel resistor R7 connected just prior to resistor R8 also to a positive 20 volts. Resistors R5 and R7 are comparator pull up resistors which are necessary to the operation of the open collector outputs of op amps IC1a and IC1b.

A third section of the circuit allows the entrance of the Pre-Master Trigger signal from a source 16 through switch S1. The signal is fed through transistor Q2 in an emitter follower configuration for amplification and then to switch S2 via resistor R9. This section serves as a buffer to allow high input impedance current amplification of the trigger signal. Resistor R9 is variable to provide control of the impedance.

Switch S2 is a double pole, two position switch within the fourth section of the circuit, the gating and decision making section. Switch S2 can be positioned to select the terrain following operation (TFO) of the radar system or a second "other" operation. When in the "TFO" position, if the elevation scan demodulation signal is less than the high reference voltage and greater than the low reference voltage, and a Pre-Master Trigger signal is received by the test set, a reply will be generated. One pole of the switch S2A, connects the output signal of op amp IC1a to the input of another op amp IC2, while the second pole of the switch, S2B, connects the output signal of op amp IC1b to the same input of op amp IC2. The Pre-Master Trigger signal is also coupled to the same input of op amp IC2. A second input to op amp IC2 comes from a resistive ladder between a positive 20 volts and ground consisting of a resistor R17 in series with a variable resistor R18 with the input taken from the junction between the two. Resistor R18 is adjusted so that together with resistor R17 they will provide a reference voltage of 7.5 VDC to op amp IC2. Op amp IC2 typically functions as an active comparator, an analog AND gate, and includes a J-FET device. With switch S2 positioned to select TFO, and when the collectors of IC1a and IC1b are open allowing a portion of the 20 volts to pass via resistors R5, R6, R7, and R8 to op amp IC2 along with the coincidently arriving PMT signal through resistor R9, then the input of op amp IC2 will exceed 7.5 VDC at which time the output of op amp IC2 goes high for the duration of the PMT signal. The net result is that the test set will generate a reply when the elevation position of the antenna is within the selected window and the PMT signal is generated. Resistor R9 is adjustable so that a narrow PMT signal just causes the breaking of the 7.5 volt threshold voltage during the PMT signal and proper elevation positioning of the antenna. When switch S2 is positioned to accept other than TFO, the outputs of op amps IC1a and IC1b are disconnected and another voltage, from the +20 volt source coupled through a variable resistor R16, is connected in its place. Resistor R16 is adjusted so that the current through it will be enough, when summed with the PMT signal, that the threshold voltage will also be exceeded across resistor R15. When switch S2 is positioned to select "other" than TFO, the test set will process every transmitter pulse regardless of the elevation position of the antenna. For internal calibration, resistors R9, R16 and R18 are all trim pots located within the test set.

The output signal of op amp IC2 flows to the fifth section of the circuit, a range control circuit to enable the user to simulate targets at a variety of ranges. The output signal of op amp IC2 consists of the positive going pre-master trigger signal from the output of the analog AND gate and is fed through a capacitor C3 which differentiates it, resulting in a positive going spike followed closely by a negative going spike. This signal rides a DC potential created by a resistor R19 between the signal and ground and a variable resistor R20 between the signal and a positive 20 volts. The signal is fed into one shot multivibrator IC1c, typically LM339. A diode CR5 is inserted from ground to the signal, immediately following capacitor C3. By adjusting variable resistor R20, a delay trigger level sensitivity adjustment is tuned so that the negative going spike just exceeds the necessary level to forward bias diode CR5. This action will cause the triggering of the one shot multivibrator to produce a positive pulse as an output signal. The length of the pulse in time is determined by the charge time of a capacitor C4 connected to the output of the one shot through a connected resistor network. The network is composed of a directly connected resistor R21 to a positive 20 volts, another resistor R22 from the opposite side of capacitor C4 to a switch S3, and another resistive device which is selected by positioning switch S3. The switch S3 is a single pole, six position switch with each position selecting a different resistive value corresponding to a different range value. Position 1 on the switch connects a variable potentiometer R23 between resistor R22 and ground to allow the user an adjustment to determine the value of the first selectable range distance. Position 2 connects a resistor R24 between resistor R22 and position 1 of the same switch, thereby increasing the range an incremental amount. Position 3 connects a resistor R25 between resistor R22 and position 2, also increasing the range by the value of resistor R25. Position 4 connects a resistor R26 between resistor R22 and position 3, thus providing a fourth range setting with a degree of variability by pot R23. Position 5 connects a trim pot R27 between resistor R22 and ground to provide a more or less fixed calibrated range, typically one mile. Position 6 connects another trim pot R28 between resistor R22 and ground for a second calibrated range selection, typically eight miles. Resistors R27 and R28 are usually mounted internally while resistor R23 is typically mounted on a control panel along with switch S3. A shunt connection is inserted from the one shot IC1c to the junction between resistor R22 and capacitor C4 and a diode CR6 is inserted from ground to the same junction to speed up the resetting of the one shot. The output pulse signal from the one shot IC1c is differentiated through a capacitor C5 to obtain a positive spike followed by a negative spike where the negative (trailing edge of former pulse) spike will represent the desired delay in range. The pulse signal has now been replaced by a positive followed by a negative spike, the distance between varied by switch S3 and resistors R23, R24, R25, R26, R27 and R28.

The output signal from the range delay circuit flows to the target width circuit, whose operation is identical to that of the range delay circuit. The spikes that comprise the signal from the range delay circuit ride a DC potential created by a variable resistor R29 between the signal and a positive 20 volts and a fixed resistor R30 between the signal and ground. This signal is then fed into a one shot multivibrator IC1N, typically an LM339. A diode CR7 is inserted from ground to the signal immediately following capacitor C5. By adjusting resistor R29, the negative spike just exceeds the necessary level to forward bias diode CR7 which causes the triggering of one shot IC1d to produce a positive pulse as an output signal. (The positive spike has no effect on the multivibrator.) The width of the pulse is determined by the charge time of a capacitor C6 connected to the output of the one shot through a connected resistor network comprising a resistor R33 between a positive 20 volts and one side of a capacitor C6, and another resistor R31 from the opposite side of C6 to a variable pot R32, which is connected to ground. A shunt connection is inserted from the one shot IC1d to the junction between resistor R31 and capacitor C6 and a diode CR8 is inserted from ground to the same junction to speed up the resetting of the one shot. Resistor R29 is a trim pot only used internally for calibration, similar to pot R20. Operationally, the user adjusts the variable potentiometer R32 to control the width of the output pulse, thereby controlling the width of a simulated target. Typically, the user sets the pot so that the simulated radar return will be as narrow as can possibly be seen.

The output signal from the target width circuit flows to the seventh section, that is the output buffer circuit. This circuit is merely an isolation amplifier used to transfer the video signal output from multivibrator IC1d to a forward looking radar system 18. This signal from one shot IC1d is fed into the base of a transistor Q3 whose collector is biased with a positive 20 volts. Transistor Q3's emitter is fed into a variable resistor R34, which is grounded. The center tap of resistor R34 serves as the output path of the Video Out Signal and is connected to appropriate terminals of the forward looking radar system. Transistor Q3 coupled through resistor R34 thus prevents the radar system from externally loading the output of one shot IC1d which would affect its operation.

Referring to FIG. 2, the front panel of the radar tester is shown with the user's controls indicated. As each of these controls were discussed earlier, only a brief description is now provided.

Switch S1 is the power switch for the radar tester which contains a third position to interrupt the scan of the forward looking radar's antenna while still maintaining power to the test set.

Switch S2 selects the mode of operation of the test set, either the terrain following operation (TFO) or an "other" mode. In the terrain following position, the elevation scan positioning and arc controls operate to select a window of antenna positioning so that the test set will simulate a target return signal when the radar's antenna is within the window. In the "other" position, the test set will supply a target return signal regardless of the positioning of the antenna or adjustments to the elevation scan and arc controls.

Potentiometer R1 is the elevation scan positioning control which determines the relative center elevation position of the antenna within the window. Potentiometer R2 is the arc control which determines how large the swing of the antenna is for the purpose of establishing the window. For example, if the elevation scan positioning control is set at +3 degrees and the arc control is set at +4 degrees, the test set will simulate a target return signal during the time the antenna travels from +1 degree to +5 degrees of elevation scan.

Switch S3 is the six position range switch which allows the simulated target return signal to be generated as though the target was at one of the six available ranges. Two of the six ranges are preset, while the remaining four are somewhat variable, with incremental advances by switch position. Control of this variability is provided by potentiometer R23 which adjusts a common resistor between the four switch positions, thereby adjusting the distance.

Potentiometer R32 varies the width of the simulated return signal. Typically, the operator adjusts this pot so that the target signal will be as narrow as can be seen.

Thus, while preferred constructional features are embodied in the structure illustrated herein, it is understood that changes and variations may be made by the skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.