Radar Signal Parameters Estimation Using Phase Accelerogram in the Time-Frequency Domain

Radar signal parameter estimation, in the context of the reconstruction of the received signal in a passive radar utilizing other radars as a source of illumination, is one of the fundamental steps in the signal processing chain in such a device. The task is also a crucial one in electronic reconnaissance systems, e.g., electronic intelligence systems. In order to obtain accurate results it is important to measure, estimate and precisely reconstruct the considered signal. Then it is necessary to identify it. The following paper presents a new approach to the estimation of the phase parameters of radar pulses. The novel method of chirp-rate estimation is described and used to analyze such signals. First, the method was examined by simulated pulses, and then true measured signals collected from the air traffic control radar were utilized. Using the phase accelerogram, an instantaneous chirp-rate was computed thanks to three novel estimators and the results were compared to results acquired using a different, already known, and estimation method of the phase coefficients based on matching filtration- extended generalized chirp transform.