Modified transmitted reference technique for multi-resolution radar timing and synchronization

A novel approach to radar signal design and processing, the modified transmitted reference (MTR) technique enables multi-resolution timing and synchronization properties for radar systems. The MTR approach performs parasitic processing by supplementing existing signals in the ambient environment. The MTR technique augments ambient signals by generating copies of the waveforms, modifying the copies, and broadcasting the copies. The MTR technique encodes timing information via the relative differences between the ambient and copy signals, rather than the absolute properties of the signal. The MTR method modifies the copies in the ambiguity function domain, thus producing signals with desirable features for radar applications while concurrently facilitating robustness to adverse radar channels. In this paper, the modified transmitted reference technique is developed, and an application of the technique to the problem of wireless beaconing is presented. Modified transmitted reference wireless beaconing employs spatially distributed, coordinated signal transceivers that broadcast and collect wide-bandwidth data. Each transceiver coordinates with all other nodes to emit a cooperative waveform that defines a modified transmitted reference beaconing transmission. At signal reception, modified transmitted reference receivers processes the signals reflected from objects in the environment using the approach presented herein. Modified transmitted reference wireless beaconing systems enable discovery and localization of objects of interest, and may find utility in a broad range of applications.